Destination guide
Cairo weather by month
March, April and October are the best starting points for a Cairo trip, offering a more manageable balance of warmth and sunshine than midsummer. April averages 29°C by day and October 31°C, so neither is cool: plan outdoor time around the gentler parts of the day. July reaches an average 37°C, making heat the main constraint. Winter suits travellers who prefer mild afternoons, but cold evenings mean this is not an all-day warm-weather option.
- Hottest month
- 36.7°CJuly
- Coolest month
- 19.1°CJanuary
- Rain per year
- 18mmaverage total
- Flight from London
- 5 h 6 minMid-haul (4.5-7 h) · estimated
Cairo, month by month
Month-by-month detail pages exist for our most searched destinations; for Cairo the 12-month table below carries the full picture.
A little perspective
Cairo through the year
Every month at a glance; "best" marks our three top months on warmth, dryness and sunshine.
| Month | Day | Night | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19.1°C | 8.4°C | 6.8 | 4 | 1 | 3% |
| February | 20.7°C | 9.0°C | 7.5 | 4 | 1 | 12% |
| Marchbest | 24.3°C | 11.1°C | 8.7 | 4 | 1 | 38% |
| Aprilbest | 28.7°C | 14.0°C | 9.8 | 1 | 0 | 79% |
| May | 32.9°C | 17.4°C | 11.0 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| June | 35.8°C | 19.9°C | 13.2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| July | 36.7°C | 21.4°C | 13.0 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| August | 36.4°C | 21.9°C | 12.2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| September | 34.4°C | 20.7°C | 11.3 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Octoberbest | 30.6°C | 18.2°C | 9.5 | 1 | 0 | 98% |
| November | 25.3°C | 14.2°C | 7.4 | 2 | 1 | 52% |
| December | 20.6°C | 10.2°C | 6.8 | 2 | 1 | 5% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
When to go to Cairo
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. January is the wettest month (4 mm, about 1 rainy days) and May the driest (0 mm).
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Cairo International Airport (CAI, 15 km from Cairo) takes roughly 5 h 6 min - mid-haul (4.5-7 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Africa/Cairo.
Records and extremes, 1991-2020
The hottest day recorded in Cairo between 1991 and 2020 reached 45.3°C on 27 May 2015; the coldest fell to 2.0°C on 15 February 1993. In July one day in ten tops 39.1°C and about 100% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to 5.9°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was March 2020 with 56 mm, against a March average of 4 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Cairo
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:52 | 17:16 | 10.4 h | 6.8 h |
| February | 06:36 | 17:43 | 11.1 h | 7.5 h |
| March | 06:05 | 18:03 | 12.0 h | 8.7 h |
| April | 05:28 | 18:22 | 12.9 h | 9.8 h |
| May | 05:01 | 18:41 | 13.7 h | 11.0 h |
| June | 04:53 | 18:58 | 14.1 h | 13.2 h |
| July | 05:04 | 18:58 | 13.9 h | 13.0 h |
| August | 05:22 | 18:37 | 13.2 h | 12.2 h |
| September | 05:40 | 18:01 | 12.4 h | 11.3 h |
| October | 05:57 | 17:25 | 11.5 h | 9.5 h |
| November | 06:20 | 16:59 | 10.6 h | 7.4 h |
| December | 06:43 | 16:57 | 10.2 h | 6.8 h |
Spring and autumn: the best balance, with some hot edges
March is the gentlest spring choice, with daytime averages of 24°C and nights of 11°C: comfortable for being outdoors, with a layer needed after dark. April steps up to 29°C, bringing more warmth without the intensity of summer. By May, 33°C afternoons make shade and indoor breaks more important. Autumn cools gradually rather than immediately. September still averages 34°C by day, so treat it more like summer when planning your schedule. October eases to 31°C, with 18°C nights that make evenings more comfortable. November is better for travellers who dislike heat, averaging 25°C by day and 14°C at night. Choose March or November for milder daytime conditions; April or October if you prefer warmer afternoons.
Summer: strong heat dictates the day
June, July and August suit travellers who tolerate heat and are happy to keep outdoor plans flexible. June averages 36°C by day, July rises to 37°C, and August returns to 36°C. Nights stay warm too, reaching an average 22°C in August, so evenings offer relief rather than a cool reset. June and July each average 13 hours of sunshine, making sun protection and shaded breaks central to a comfortable visit. Aim for outdoor time early or later in the day and reserve midday for indoor plans. Light, loose clothing and accommodation with reliable cooling are practical priorities, not optional comforts.
Winter: mild afternoons, chilly nights
December and February both average 21°C by day, while January is the coolest month at 19°C. That makes winter useful for travellers who find hotter weather tiring, though it is less suitable if consistent warmth is the main aim. The catch comes after sunset: January nights average 8°C, February 9°C and December 10°C. Pack layers and a jacket rather than relying on daytime clothing into the evening. Sunshine remains a useful feature, with 7 hours daily in December and January, rising to 8 in February. Rain is not the main planning concern; the contrast between mild afternoons and cold nights matters much more.
A little more detail
Cairo weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit Cairo?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in Cairo are April, October and March. July is the hottest month (average high 36.7°C) and January the coolest (19.1°C).
How many months a year is Cairo over 25°C?
8 months in Cairo average a daytime high of 25°C or more, and 11 average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in Cairo?
January is the wettest month in Cairo (4 mm on average) and May the driest (0 mm). Annual rainfall averages 18 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Cairo?
The hottest day recorded in Cairo between 1991 and 2020 reached 45.3°C on 27 May 2015; the coldest fell to 2.0°C on 15 February 1993. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
Which months should I avoid if I struggle with heat?
June, July and August are the hardest months for heat-sensitive travellers, with average daytime temperatures of 36°C to 37°C. May and September are hot too. March and November offer a gentler balance for spending time outdoors.
Will I need a jacket in Cairo?
Pack a jacket for winter evenings, especially January, when nights average 8°C. A lighter layer is useful in spring and autumn too: March nights average 11°C, while April and November average 14°C. Summer nights are much warmer.
Is rain likely to disrupt my plans?
Rain is unlikely to be the main obstacle. January, February, March and November each average 1 rain day, while the other months average 0. That does not guarantee dry weather, but heat and evening temperatures deserve more attention when packing and planning.
See also: Egypt weather by month · where else is hot in July
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Cairo. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C