Egypt Weather Forecast

Egypt is one of the sunniest and driest countries on Earth, with much of the country receiving virtually no rainfall. The Sahara Desert dominates the landscape west of the Nile Valley, while the Eastern Desert stretches to the Red Sea coast. Cairo averages only 25mm of rain per year, and the southern city of Aswan receives less than 1mm, making it one of the driest inhabited places in the world. Temperatures in the desert interior can exceed 50°C during summer.

The Mediterranean coast around Alexandria receives the most rainfall (180mm annually) and has milder temperatures moderated by sea breezes. The khamsin wind, a hot, sandy wind from the desert, affects Egypt primarily from March through May, bringing suffocating heat, reduced visibility, and abrasive sand that can damage crops and infrastructure. The Red Sea coast has warm, dry conditions year-round with excellent underwater visibility that makes it a world-class diving destination.

Cairo has hot summers averaging 35°C with intense sunshine and mild winters around 14°C. Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast is cooler and occasionally rainy in winter. Luxor and Aswan in Upper Egypt are extremely hot in summer but enjoy pleasant winter temperatures that attract tourists to the ancient monuments. Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada on the Red Sea coast are warm year-round with consistent sunshine and virtually no rain.