Weather and climate
Weather in Egypt by month and by destination
In short: the weather in Egypt is sunny and dry all year, but it differs a lot from place to place. On the Red Sea (Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Sharm el-Sheikh) daytime highs are 22 to 25°C (72 to 77°F) in winter and 34 to 37°C (93 to 99°F) in July and August. Cairo cools to around 20°C (68°F) in winter, with the odd shower, and Luxor and Aswan climb above 40°C (104°F) in summer. Below you can see the temperatures per month for Hurghada, El Gouna, Marsa Alam, Sharm el-Sheikh, Cairo and Luxor, plus the temperature of the sea.
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Red Sea: sun all year, with the sea at Hurghada from 21°C in February to 29°C in August.
Cairo and the Nile Valley: comfortable from October to April, hot and dry in summer.
Rain is rare; only Alexandria and Cairo see a few showers in winter.
Weather in Hurghada and El Gouna
Hurghada is Egypt’s best-known beach resort, and El Gouna, 20 kilometres to the north, has the same weather. From December to February it is 22 to 23°C by day, with nights of 11 to 13°C and often a stiff north wind that makes the beach feel cooler. From April it is 28°C, and in July and August 34°C, with warm nights of 26°C. The sea is at its coldest in February and March (21°C) and at its warmest in August (29°C). Snorkelling is possible all year; from November to March a thin wetsuit is pleasant.
Weather in Marsa Alam
Marsa Alam lies 270 kilometres south of Hurghada and is noticeably warmer and more sheltered in winter: 24 to 25°C in December and January, and 27°C in March. In summer it is 35 to 36°C. From November to May the sea is one to two degrees warmer than at Hurghada, from 22°C in February to 29°C in August; in the summer months the two are the same. That makes Marsa Alam the best choice for a beach finish to a winter tour.
Weather in Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh, at the southern tip of the Sinai, lies sheltered between mountains. Winters are mild (22 to 23°C in December and January) and summers are the hottest of the beach resorts (37°C in July and August). It is less windy than Hurghada. The sea runs from 21°C in February to 28°C from July to September. For the differences with Hurghada, see our comparison of Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh.
Weather in Cairo
Cairo has a mild winter: 19 to 21°C by day from December to February, nights of around 10°C and a few days of rain a month. March and April are ideal for the pyramids at 24 to 28°C, and May to September is hot and dry at 32 to 35°C. October and November are pleasant again at 24 to 29°C. The khamsin, a warm desert wind, occasionally brings a dusty day between March and May.
Weather in Luxor and Aswan
Luxor and Aswan lie in the southern desert and have the biggest swings in the country. In winter it is 23 to 26°C by day and clear, but nights drop to 6 to 8°C. By April it is already 35°C, and from June to August it is around 41°C, with nights that do not fall below 23°C. Rain almost never falls. For temple visits, October to April are the best months; in summer, plan everything for the early morning. If a Nile cruise is part of your trip, October to April is the comfortable season too: in summer sailing is possible, but the heat on deck and at the temples makes it less comfortable.
Weather in Alexandria
Alexandria, on the Mediterranean, is the exception in Egypt: 18 to 20°C in winter with regular rain and wind, and 30 to 31°C in July and August with a cooling sea breeze. If you visit Alexandria on a tour, March to May and October and November are the most pleasant months.
From weather to month
Weather is one of three things that decide the month, next to crowds and budget. Our guide to the best time to visit Egypt weighs all three for every month. One detail from the table helps when you plan a route: the Red Sea coast is generally cooler and windier than Luxor and Aswan in the same weeks. Our Egypt Highlights trip, for example, ends with two nights at the Red Sea.
Month by month
Egypt weather by month: temperatures per destination
Average daytime highs per month. The last column is the sea temperature at Hurghada; at Marsa Alam the water is up to two degrees warmer from November to May. Click a month below for the complete picture with night temperatures, packing advice and travel tips.
| Month | Cairo | Luxor & Aswan | Hurghada / El Gouna | Marsa Alam | Sharm el-Sheikh | Sea water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19°C | 23°C | 22°C | 24°C | 22°C | 22°C |
| February | 21°C | 26°C | 23°C | 25°C | 23°C | 21°C |
| March | 24°C | 30°C | 25°C | 27°C | 26°C | 21°C |
| April | 28°C | 35°C | 28°C | 30°C | 30°C | 23°C |
| May | 32°C | 39°C | 31°C | 33°C | 34°C | 25°C |
| June | 34°C | 41°C | 33°C | 35°C | 36°C | 27°C |
| July | 35°C | 41°C | 34°C | 36°C | 37°C | 28°C |
| August | 34°C | 41°C | 34°C | 36°C | 37°C | 29°C |
| September | 32°C | 38°C | 32°C | 34°C | 35°C | 28°C |
| October | 29°C | 34°C | 29°C | 31°C | 31°C | 27°C |
| November | 24°C | 28°C | 26°C | 28°C | 27°C | 25°C |
| December | 20°C | 24°C | 23°C | 25°C | 23°C | 23°C |
Averages over several years; any given year can differ slightly. Nights are chilly in winter: 6 to 8°C in Luxor and Aswan, around 10°C in Cairo and 11 to 15°C on the Red Sea. Temperatures are in Celsius; reference points in Fahrenheit: 20°C is 68°F, 25°C is 77°F, 30°C is 86°F, 35°C is 95°F and 40°C is 104°F.
Practical
Red Sea coast
Hurghada, El Gouna, Marsa Alam and Sharm el-Sheikh: mild in winter (22 to 25°C), hot in summer (34 to 37°C in July and August) and almost never any rain. In December, January and February Marsa Alam is two degrees warmer than Hurghada, while Sharm el-Sheikh matches it. It is windiest around Hurghada.
Cairo and the Nile Valley
Cairo is mild in winter (19 to 21°C) with cool nights, and 34 to 35°C from June to August. Luxor and Aswan are drier and more extreme: 23 to 26°C in winter and 41°C from June to August.
Mediterranean coast
Alexandria is the coolest and wettest place in the country: 18 to 20°C in winter with regular rain, and 30 to 31°C in July and August with a sea breeze. For Egyptians this is the summer seaside resort.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Egypt?
Egypt is sunny and dry all year, with mild winters and hot summers. In winter, daytime highs are 19 to 21°C (66 to 70°F) in Cairo, 23 to 26°C (73 to 79°F) in Luxor and Aswan and 22 to 25°C (72 to 77°F) on the Red Sea. In July and August they reach 34 to 35°C (93 to 95°F) in Cairo, 41°C (106°F) in Luxor and Aswan and 34 to 37°C (93 to 99°F) on the Red Sea. Rain is rare, and winter nights are cool.
What is the weather like in Hurghada in winter?
From December to February Hurghada is sunny and 22 to 23°C by day, with nights of 11 to 13°C and regular wind. The sea is 21 to 23°C. Sunbathing and snorkelling are fine, but swimming feels fresh.
What is the Red Sea water temperature in Egypt?
Between 21°C and 29°C over the year: the sea is warmest in August and coldest in February. In February it is 21°C at Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh and 22°C at Marsa Alam; in August it is 29°C at Hurghada and Marsa Alam and 28°C at Sharm el-Sheikh. July and September are within a degree of the August values.
Does it rain in Egypt?
Hardly. Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea coast are dry almost all year. Cairo has a few short showers per winter month, and Alexandria on the Mediterranean has regular rain from November to February.
What is the hottest place in Egypt?
Aswan and Luxor in summer, with daytime highs of 41°C and peaks above 45°C. Of the beach resorts, Sharm el-Sheikh is the hottest in summer (37°C in July and August), while Marsa Alam is the warmest in winter (24 to 25°C).
How cold does Egypt get at night in winter?
Cool: from December to February nights are 6 to 8°C in Luxor and Aswan, around 10°C in Cairo and 11 to 15°C on the Red Sea. By day it is much warmer, so a warm layer for the evening is enough.
What is the best month for the weather in Egypt?
For culture and beach in one trip, October, November, March and April are best: 24 to 29°C in Cairo, 28 to 35°C in Luxor and 25 to 29°C on the Red Sea, with sea water of 21 to 27°C at Hurghada. For a pure beach holiday, May to October is ideal, with the sea at Hurghada at 25 to 29°C. Our guide to the best time to visit Egypt adds crowds, prices and when to book.
Read on
Best time to visit Egypt
Month by month: when Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea are at their most comfortable.
Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh
Beach and an easy link with Luxor, or reefs and Mount Sinai: how to choose the Red Sea finish to your tour.
Nile cruise in Egypt
Classic ship or dahabiya between Luxor and Aswan: nights, route, prices and how to fit a cruise into your trip.
Egypt with kids
Which family tour fits, the best school holidays and how to handle sun, food and water on a private tour.
Complete Egypt (15 days)
The complete private tour with culture along the Nile and a quiet finish by the sea.
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