Jerusalem features a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The city’s elevation brings cooler nights and less humidity than coastal areas. Spring and autumn are short but pleasant, offering mild temperatures and ideal conditions for exploring the city’s rich history and vibrant outdoor life.
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.
Jerusalem’s climate is shaped by its position on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains, at 754 metres above sea level. Summers (June–September) are hot and dry, with average highs of 29–32°C and lows around 18–21°C. Rainfall is virtually nonexistent in summer, and the sun shines for up to 13 hours daily. Despite the heat, humidity is moderate, and evenings are often pleasantly cool. Occasionally, hot desert winds (sharav/khamsin) can cause brief, intense heatwaves or dust storms, but these are rare and short-lived.
Winters (December–February) are mild to cool and wet, with average highs of 11–15°C and lows of 4–8°C. January is the coldest and wettest month, with 90–150 mm of rain and about 10 rainy days. Snow is rare but possible, typically falling once every three to four years and rarely lasting long. Winter days are often sunny between showers, but nights can be chilly, especially after rain. Spring (March–May) and autumn (October–November) are short, transitional seasons with mild, variable weather – daytime highs range from 17–27°C, and nights cool to 10–16°C. Rain is possible in early spring and late autumn, but most days are dry and sunny. Annual rainfall averages 530–550 mm, almost all falling from October to May. Jerusalem enjoys about 9–10 hours of sunshine daily in spring and autumn, and daylight varies from 10 hours in winter to 14 hours in midsummer. Winds are generally light to moderate, with brisker gusts during storms.
| Average climate data for Jerusalem, Israel | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 17 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 23 | 18 | 33 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 11 | 9 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 13 | 13 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 19 | 95 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 45 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 61 | 60 | 56 | 50 | 47 | 51 | 55 | 57 | 59 | 52 | 51 | 58 | 55 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 6 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 9 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 25 | 25 | 23 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 22 | 13 |
| Average UV index | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
The best time to visit Jerusalem is in spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), when temperatures are mild (17–27°C), rainfall is low, and the city is vibrant with festivals and outdoor events. These seasons offer ideal weather for sightseeing, walking tours, and enjoying Jerusalem’s gardens and historical sites, with fewer crowds than in peak summer.
The least favourable time to visit is in winter (December–February), when Jerusalem is coldest, rain is frequent, and nights can be chilly. While the city’s festive atmosphere endures, outdoor exploration can be limited by wet, unpredictable weather. Summer (July–August) can also be uncomfortable for some due to high daytime temperatures and strong sun.
Jerusalem has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Spring and autumn are short and pleasant, with mild temperatures and little rain. The city’s elevation brings cooler nights and less humidity than coastal areas.
Summer temperatures in Jerusalem typically reach 29–32°C, with occasional heatwaves above 35°C. Nights are cooler, and humidity is moderate, making the heat more bearable than in coastal cities.
Snow is rare in Jerusalem but possible, usually falling once every three to four years. When it does occur, snow is typically light and melts quickly, though heavy snowfalls can happen occasionally.
Rain falls mainly from October to April, with January being the wettest month. Summers are almost completely dry, and winter sees the most rain, with occasional heavy showers and rare snow.
Jerusalem enjoys abundant sunshine, with up to 13 hours per day in summer and 9–10 hours in spring and autumn. Winter days are shorter but still often sunny between rain showers.
Bring light, breathable clothes and sun protection for summer. In spring and autumn, pack layers and a light jacket. For winter, warm, waterproof layers and sturdy shoes are recommended, as rain and chilly nights are common.
Jerusalem is generally not very humid, especially in summer. Winds are usually light to moderate, but can be brisk during storms or desert winds (sharav/khamsin), which occasionally bring dust and brief heatwaves.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (33.3 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (16.5 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 25.8 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (22.9 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (9.3 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 16.4 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is March (19.8 mm). The driest months, with the least amount of precipitation, are July and August (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 94.8 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is February (7.1 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is August (0 days). Over the whole year there are 45.3 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is December (2 mm). The months with the least snowfall are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 4 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (0.3 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are August and November (0 days). Over the whole year there are 0.9 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (61.1 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (46.5 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 54.7 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is January (11.6 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is October (8.6 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 10.3 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (25 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is June (1.9 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 13.5 %.
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 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 12.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 6 h). Over the whole year there are 9.3 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 8). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February and December (UV index: 4). Over the whole year the average UV index is 5.8.
