Weather and best time to visit

Egypt's climate in brief

Most of Egypt has a hot desert climate: dry, sunny and with very little rain. The exception is the Mediterranean coast around Alexandria, which has milder temperatures and some rain in winter. Elsewhere there are really only two seasons:

• Summer (roughly May to October): hot and dry, getting hotter the further south you go.
• Winter (roughly November to April): mild, sunny days and cool nights, with occasional rain on the north coast.

For planning, think of three climate zones: the Mediterranean north coast, the inland desert and Nile Valley (Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, the oases), and the Red Sea and South Sinai coasts. The coasts are like the desert but milder, with smaller gaps between day and night temperatures.

What to pack

In summer, pack light, loose, covering clothes, a hat and strong sunscreen. In winter you will still be in a T-shirt on most days, but bring a warm layer for evenings, early starts, desert trips and boats.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org.

Summer and winter by region

Summer

On the Mediterranean coast, summer is long, warm and humid, and sea breezes take the edge off the heat. Cairo is hotter and often feels stifling because of the humidity, and from late spring to mid-autumn it stays above 30 °C. Luxor and Aswan are much hotter and drier, and during heatwaves it can go well above 40 °C. Plan sightseeing there for early morning and late afternoon. The Red Sea coast is hot and humid. In Sinai, days are very hot, but nights in the mountains stay cooler.

Winter

The north coast is mild and spring-like, and this is when it gets most of its rain. Cairo is similar, though grey, cool spells can come in from the north. Upper Egypt has warm, sunny days but cold desert nights, and on the coldest nights it can get close to freezing. The Red Sea resorts stay the warmest in winter, but from January to March the sea can feel cool for swimming. In the high mountains of South Sinai, around St Catherine, nights can bring frost and, now and then, snow.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, worldtravelguide.net.

Humidity, rain and wind

Humidity

In summer, Cairo and the Nile Delta can feel muggy. Alexandria is humid too, but sea breezes keep it comfortable. Inland and further south the air is dry, with clear skies and a big drop in temperature between day and night. The Red Sea coast is more humid, with a smaller day–night difference.

Rain

The only real rain falls on the Mediterranean coast in winter, when storms move in from the sea. Cairo gets only a few rainy days a year, and further south rain is rare. Aswan can go years without any. Sinai gets a little more rain than the other deserts. The rare heavy downpours can cause sudden flash floods in desert valleys and on roads, so follow local warnings.

Wind

Winds are usually light. The main exception is the khamsin, a hot, dusty wind from the desert that comes in spring, mostly between March and May. It usually lasts a few days, brings sandstorms and haze, and can delay flights and boat trips. If you have asthma or sensitive eyes, carry a scarf or mask and sunglasses.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org, worldtravelguide.net.