In Cairo, the large metropolis of northern Egypt and the capital of the country, the climate is
The city is located near the large delta of the Nile River, where the presence of streams and cultivated fields increases relative humidity. The city has grown over the decades to the point of even approaching the pyramids of El Giza.
, blows especially in spring, bringing scorching heat, accompanied by dust and sand. When of this wind blows, the temperature can exceed 40 °C (104 °F) from May to September, and reach 37/38 °C (99/100 °F) in April and October.
is definitely scarce, since it amounts to about 55 millimeters (2 inch) per year. In the wettest years, it has slightly exceeded 100 mm (4 in). The rare rains occur in the form of showers, between autumn and spring, with a higher probability in winter. However, being concentrated in time and falling on a dry soil, which is unable to absorb water, when the rains are intense, they can cause flooding.
in summer, when blue skies prevail. In winter, there are many sunny days as well, but a cloud system can sometimes affect this area, bringing some cloudy days.
, from December to February, is very mild, with pleasant and sunny, spring-like days: highs are usually about 20 °C (68 °F). However, every now and then, because of cold air masses from Eastern Europe, some days can be a bit cold, with highs about 5 °C (41 °F) and lows about 10/13 °C (50/55 °F). The rains are very rare, and may not even occur for a whole month.
Snow is extremely rare. It is said that in February 1950 it snowed in the Nile Delta area. On December 13, 2013 Cairo was whitened by a kind of precipitation similar to snow, called soft hail or graupel, with a minimum temperature of 5 °C (41 °F) and a maximum of 8 °C (46.5 °F).
, from March to mid-May, is sunny and pleasantly warm, but there may be some hot days when the
blows. In March, it can still be a little cold at night, especially in the first half of the month.
, from mid-May to mid-September, is hot and sunny. While waves of scorching heat are still quite frequent in May and June, the atmosphere progressively stabilizes, and air moisture becomes higher, with an annoying combination of heat and humidity, whose climax is reached in August. Within the big city, the heat is felt more, also because of pollution.
, from mid-September to November, it's hot but without excesses, although some hot days can still occur in early October, when the
blows, and then it becomes progressively milder, getting pleasantly warm in November.
to visit Cairo and the pyramids of Giza and Saqqara is from October to March, since in the other months it can be hot. In winter, especially in January and February, some days can be a bit cold and cloudy, while in March, and sometimes in October, the wind from the Sahara can blow, accompanied by dust and sand; consequently, the best month is November, when this risk is lower.
In summer, for example in August, the heat is not as intense as in the south of Egypt, but it can be uncomfortable to visit the pyramids under the blazing sun. Therefore, you can choose the first hours of the day, however, it's not easy to find a place in the best hours, since in this period there's plenty of tourists.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14.4 °C, with a minimum of
9.7 °C and a maximum of
19 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
29.1 °C in January 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only
3.8 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is of
12.3 kph.
February is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.7 °C, with a minimum of
10.7 °C and a maximum of
20.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C. However, it reached
35 °C in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to only
7.2 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is of
13.2 kph.
March is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.4 °C, with a minimum of
13 °C and a maximum of
23.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
39.6 °C in March 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
11.9 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is of
14.6 kph.
April is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.8 °C, with a minimum of
15.6 °C and a maximum of
28 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
38 °C. However, it reached
42.2 °C in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to only
1.9 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is of
15.2 kph.
May is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
25.7 °C, with a minimum of
19.1 °C and a maximum of
32.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
41 °C. However, it reached
45.7 °C in May 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only
2 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 44%.
The average wind speed is of
15.2 kph.
June is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of
28.4 °C, with a minimum of
22 °C and a maximum of
34.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
19 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
41.5 °C. However, it reached
45.2 °C in June 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 84% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is of
14.4 kph.
July is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of
29.4 °C, with a minimum of
23.6 °C and a maximum of
35.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
40 °C. However, it reached
44.3 °C in July 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 85% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is of
12.8 kph.
August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of
29.6 °C, with a minimum of
24.1 °C and a maximum of
35 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
38.5 °C. However, it reached
42.4 °C in August 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only
1.8 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 86% of the time.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is of
12.2 kph.
September is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of
28 °C, with a minimum of
22.6 °C and a maximum of
33.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
38.5 °C. However, it reached
42.3 °C in September 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 84% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is of
13 kph.
October is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24.9 °C, with a minimum of
19.8 °C and a maximum of
30.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
40 °C in October 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only
4.8 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is of
12.3 kph.
November is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.2 °C, with a minimum of
15.4 °C and a maximum of
25 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
35.4 °C in November 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
10 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is of
10.9 kph.
December is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16 °C, with a minimum of
11.4 °C and a maximum of
20.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
32.5 °C in December 1998.
Precipitation amounts to
11.2 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is of
11.6 kph.