Cairo features a hot desert climate with long, scorching summers and mild, dry winters. The city enjoys abundant sunshine year-round, with very little rainfall and dramatic temperature swings between day and night. Spring and autumn offer comfortable weather, while summer heat and occasional sandstorms shape the city’s unique atmosphere.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Cairo’s climate is defined by its location on the edge of the Sahara Desert and the Nile River. Summers (May–September) are intensely hot and dry, with average highs of 34–40°C and peaks above 45°C in the hottest months. Nights remain warm, rarely dropping below 20°C. Humidity is lowest in summer, falling to 26–27%, which makes the heat more bearable, but the intense sun and minimal rainfall – often zero from May to September – create classic desert conditions. Sandstorms, known as khamsin winds, can occur in spring, bringing dust and sudden temperature spikes.
Winters (December–February) are mild and dry, with average highs of 17–21°C and lows near 8–11°C. Rain is rare and usually limited to brief showers, with annual precipitation around 40–55 mm, mostly falling in winter months. Frost and snow are extremely rare. Spring (March–April) and autumn (October–November) are transitional and pleasant, with highs of 22–30°C and cool nights. These seasons are ideal for sightseeing, as humidity is moderate and skies are mostly clear. Cairo enjoys 3,800–4,000 hours of sunshine annually, with daylight ranging from 10 hours in winter to over 14 hours in midsummer. Winds are generally light to moderate (15–25 km/h), but can be brisk during sandstorms or storms.
| Average climate data for Cairo, Egypt | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 19 | 20 | 23 | 28 | 32 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 29 | 25 | 20 | 35 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 9 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 25 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 15 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 59 | 53 | 53 | 48 | 47 | 49 | 58 | 62 | 59 | 60 | 60 | 61 | 56 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 9 |
| Average UV index | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
The best time to visit Cairo is from October to April, especially in spring (March–April) and autumn (October–November), when temperatures are comfortable (20–30°C), humidity is moderate, and skies are clear. These months offer ideal weather for sightseeing, outdoor activities, and exploring the city’s ancient sites without the intense summer heat.
The least favourable time to visit is from June to September, when daytime temperatures regularly exceed 35°C, humidity is low but the sun is intense, and sandstorms can occur in spring. Outdoor activities can be uncomfortable or even dangerous in the midday heat, though crowds and prices are lower.
Cairo has a hot desert climate with long, very hot summers and mild, dry winters. Rainfall is scarce, and sunshine is abundant throughout the year. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable weather for travel.
Summer temperatures in Cairo often reach 34–40°C, with peaks above 45°C in the hottest months. Nights remain warm, and humidity is very low, making the heat dry but intense.
Snow is extremely rare in Cairo. Winter temperatures usually range from 8–21°C, though cold snaps can bring chilly nights. Frost is uncommon, and most days are sunny and mild.
Rain falls mainly in winter (December–February), but even then, it is rare and brief. Annual precipitation is only 40–55 mm, and some years see almost no rain at all.
Khamsin winds are hot, dry, dusty winds that blow from the desert in spring (March–May). They can cause sudden temperature spikes, reduced visibility, and dust storms, but usually last only a few hours or days.
Pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection for summer. In winter, bring layers and a jacket for cool evenings. A scarf or mask is useful in spring for sandstorms, and always carry water to stay hydrated.
Cairo enjoys 3,800–4,000 hours of sunshine annually, with up to 13–14 hours of daylight in summer and 10 hours in winter. The city is one of the sunniest in the world.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (34.7 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (18.8 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 27.7 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (22 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (9.1 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 15.8 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is December (5.9 mm). The driest months, with the least amount of precipitation, are July, August and September (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 24.7 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is January (3.5 days). The months with the fewest days of rain are August and September (0 days). Over the whole year there are 14.6 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is August (61.6 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (47 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 55.7 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 10 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 11.2 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 6.1 h). Over the whole year there are 9 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June and July (UV index: 12). The month with the lowest average UV index is December (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 7.8.
