Egypt Travel Guide: Climate in Egypt.

The country of Egypt is a place that is known to have a desert climate, although it is humid around the Mediterranean Coast and the river delta. In simple terms, it gets to be very hot during the day but on the other hand it becomes quite cooler during nighttime. As you make your travel itinerary for Egypt, it is best to know the climate in the areas you are going to visit so that you will be well-prepared and can bring the things that you will need to make your travel comfortable as the temperatures can rise and lower. For instance, if you are quite sensitive to heat and the rays of the sun, know that summertime in Egypt gets to be very hot.

If you are going to travel to Egypt during the summer, you should pack very light clothes that breathe so you may be comfortable. Clothes made of cotton are very ideal for this type of climate. A sunhat will come very handy as you explore the different cities and you should also have a sunscreen with high SPF for your protection. You should also protect your feet with sturdy shoes or walking sandals. The prevailing temperature during May to October is quite high and reaches its peak around August, whereas it can be quite cool around October to May. Winter in Egypt can be mild and cool, with occasional rain and sunny and bright days. Winter evenings can be cold. Extreme temperatures in Egypt are tempered by north winds that prevail in the country.

Climate over the whole country of Egypt varies. The coastal regions have average temperatures during summer. Averaging 30 °C or 86 °F, the temperature is comfortable enough for most people. Annual extreme temperature around the coast can go as high as 37 °C or about 99 °F on the average. However, it can drop to about 14 °C or about 57 °F.

The deserts of the country, while a popular tourist spot, have the most heat during the day. On average, it can reach as high as 40 °C or 104 °F, and in extreme cases can shoot up to around 46 °C, which is over 114 °F in the daytime and lower to about 6 °C or 42 °F after the sun goes down. So, if you intend to make the deserts a part of your destination, make sure that you bring an umbrella, sunglasses and bottled water to avoid feeling the effects of the heat. On the other hand, steady winds from the northwest help bring a little ease in terms of lowering the temperature. However, winds that come from the south bring in dust and heat, which actually raises the temperature in the desert. If you are to stay around the desert during the early evening, be sure you have a thick jacket with you, as there will a very definite big drop in temperatures that can be very chilly. The same goes true during winter as the desert temperature can be as low as 0 °C or just 32 °F, escalated by the cool winds blowing over the desert during the day and even at night.

Rainfall is something that the country experiences mostly during the winter months from October to May. Even then, the amount of rainfall is not that much with an average of a maximum of 0.2 inches annually. However, the areas near the Mediterranean coast experience high humidity, where the average rainfall is close to 200 millimeters annually. Rainfall decreases towards the southern part of Egypt and Cairo, only receives about 29 millimeters of rain a year while the desert region only experiences rain once over several years of drought.

Do be careful when you are in the desert especially if you will be visiting the area between March and April. This is the period when a phenomenon called Kamshin occurs for a period of five days. This is characterized by the wind blowing in different directions and causing sandstorms to occur periodically.

Further reading and information reference/sources

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