Palestine Weather

Palestine climate

Palestine encompasses two geographically and climatically distinct territories: the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The West Bank's highland terrain, with elevations reaching over 1,000 meters near Hebron, experiences a Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Ramallah at approximately 870 meters elevation has pleasant summer temperatures around 28°C and cold winters that occasionally bring snowfall, while the Jordan Valley descending to the Dead Sea is dramatically hotter and drier.

The Gaza Strip along the Mediterranean coast has a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Rainfall averages around 300-400mm per year, concentrated between November and March, with the southern areas receiving less precipitation than the north. Summer temperatures in Gaza reach 33°C with high humidity from the sea, while the West Bank highlands are drier and more comfortable. The khamsin wind occasionally brings hot, dusty conditions to both territories during the transition seasons.

The West Bank's eastern slopes descending toward the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea create a rain shadow effect, transitioning rapidly from Mediterranean woodland to barren desert within just a few kilometers. Winter storms from the Mediterranean bring the bulk of annual rainfall, which is critical for water resources in this water-scarce region. Jericho in the Jordan Valley is one of the lowest and hottest cities on Earth, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C, while Hebron and Bethlehem in the highlands enjoy cooler conditions and greener landscapes.