Egypt occupies approximately 1,010,000 square kilometers in the northeastern corner of Africa, with a northern Mediterranean coastline of roughly 995 kilometers and an eastern Red Sea coastline of approximately 1,941 kilometers. The country extends from 22° N latitude at the Sudanese border to 31.5° N latitude at the Mediterranean coast, creating distinct climatic zones despite the dominance of hot desert climate across most territory. The Tropic of Cancer crosses through southern Egypt near Lake Nasser, placing the southernmost regions within the tropical belt. The Western Desert, occupying roughly 680,000 square kilometers or two-thirds of Egypt's total area, experiences the most extreme desert conditions, while the Nile Delta and Mediterranean coast receive the country's only meaningful annual precipitation. Elevation ranges from the Qattara Depression at 133 meters below sea level in the Western Desert to Mount Catherine at 2,629 meters in the southern Sinai Peninsula, creating additional microclimates in mountain areas.
Cairo, located at 30.0° N latitude and approximately 75 meters elevation, experiences hot desert climate with January mean temperatures between 9°C minimum and 19°C maximum, based on data from Cairo International Airport weather station. February temperatures in Cairo range from 10°C to 20°C mean values, with occasional brief rain showers averaging 3.8 millimeters total precipitation for the month across multiple decades of records. March brings warming to 13°C minimum and 23°C maximum mean temperatures, with precipitation dropping to approximately 3.6 millimeters. April marks the beginning of hot season with 15°C to 28°C mean range and less than 1 millimeter average precipitation. May temperatures in Cairo reach 18°C to 33°C mean range, with precipitation effectively zero in most years. June through August constitute the hottest months, with June averaging 20°C to 35°C, July 22°C to 35°C, and August showing identical ranges to July. September begins gradual cooling with 20°C to 33°C mean range. October shows 17°C to 29°C mean temperatures as conditions moderate. November ranges from 14°C to 24°C mean values, with occasional rain returning at approximately 3.1 millimeters average. December completes the annual cycle with 10°C to 20°C mean range and roughly 5.9 millimeters precipitation, making it the wettest month in Cairo by long-term averages.
Alexandria sits at 31.2° N latitude on the Mediterranean coast, where maritime influence creates Egypt's mildest temperature regime and highest precipitation totals. January temperatures in Alexandria average 9°C minimum to 18°C maximum, with approximately 52.8 millimeters precipitation spread across roughly 11 days with measurable rain. February shows 9°C to 19°C mean range with about 29.2 millimeters precipitation over approximately 9 rain days. March ranges from 11°C to 20°C with roughly 14.4 millimeters precipitation across 6 days. April warms to 14°C to 24°C mean range with approximately 3.6 millimeters precipitation. May reaches 17°C to 27°C with less than 1 millimeter average precipitation. June through August show progressive warming: June 20°C to 29°C, July 23°C to 30°C, August 23°C to 31°C, all with effectively zero precipitation. September ranges 21°C to 30°C with trace precipitation returning. October shows 18°C to 28°C mean temperatures with approximately 9.4 millimeters precipitation across 4 days. November cools to 14°C to 24°C with roughly 31.9 millimeters precipitation over 7 days. December ranges 11°C to 20°C with approximately 52.7 millimeters precipitation across 11 days, matching January as wettest month. Alexandria receives approximately 200 millimeters total annual precipitation, representing roughly 95% of Egypt's populated areas' moisture.
The Nile Delta region, encompassing cities including Tanta and Mansoura, experiences climate similar to Alexandria with slightly reduced precipitation moving inland from the coast. January temperatures across the Delta range from 8°C to 19°C mean values, with precipitation decreasing from 50 millimeters near the coast to 30 millimeters at inland locations. February through April show progressive warming matching Alexandria patterns but with 20-30% less precipitation at equivalent distances from the Mediterranean. Summer months June through September bring hot humid conditions, with July and August maxima reaching 34°C in inland Delta locations compared to 30°C at the coast, while minimum temperatures remain 2-3°C cooler inland due to reduced maritime influence. The Delta receives approximately 150-180 millimeters annual precipitation in interior areas, declining to under 100 millimeters at the southern Delta boundary near Cairo.
Luxor, positioned at 25.7° N latitude in the Nile Valley of Upper Egypt at approximately 76 meters elevation, experiences extreme desert climate with minimal precipitation. January temperatures in Luxor average 5°C minimum to 23°C maximum, showing wider diurnal range than Cairo due to reduced humidity. February ranges 7°C to 25°C. March warms to 11°C to 29°C. April reaches 16°C to 35°C. May shows 20°C to 39°C mean range, marking the beginning of extreme heat season. June reaches 22°C to 41°C. July and August represent peak heat with 24°C minimum and 41°C maximum mean values, though individual days regularly exceed 45°C. September shows 22°C to 39°C. October cools to 18°C to 35°C. November ranges 12°C to 29°C. December completes the cycle at 7°C to 24°C. Annual precipitation in Luxor averages less than 1 millimeter total, with some years recording zero measurable rainfall. Relative humidity in Luxor averages 25-30% during summer months, contributing to the extreme aridity.
Aswan, located at 24.1° N latitude and approximately 194 meters elevation near the Sudanese border, experiences Egypt's hottest sustained temperatures. January temperatures average 8°C to 23°C. February shows 10°C to 26°C. March ranges 14°C to 30°C. April reaches 19°C to 36°C. May warms to 23°C to 40°C. June shows 25°C to 42°C. July and August constitute the hottest period with 26°C minimum and 42°C maximum mean values, with afternoon temperatures frequently reaching 46-48°C. The Aswan High Dam, completed in 1970 and creating Lake Nasser, has moderately affected local humidity but not significantly altered temperature patterns. September averages 24°C to 40°C. October shows 21°C to 37°C. November cools to 15°C to 31°C. December ranges 10°C to 25°C. Aswan receives effectively zero precipitation in most years, with long-term annual average below 0.5 millimeters. The city recorded no measurable precipitation for the entire decade of the 1990s according to Egyptian Meteorological Authority records.
The Red Sea coast, including Hurghada at 27.3° N latitude and Sharm el-Sheikh at 27.9° N latitude on the southern Sinai Peninsula, experiences hot desert climate moderated by maritime influence. Hurghada January temperatures average 11°C to 21°C, several degrees cooler than interior desert locations at similar latitude. February shows 12°C to 22°C. March ranges 15°C to 24°C. April reaches 18°C to 28°C. May warms to 22°C to 32°C. June shows 24°C to 34°C. July and August peak at 26°C to 36°C mean range, notably cooler than Nile Valley locations due to constant marine breezes. September averages 25°C to 34°C. October shows 22°C to 31°C. November cools to 17°C to 27°C. December ranges 13°C to 23°C. Precipitation along the Red Sea coast averages 5-10 millimeters annually, occurring primarily December through February in brief intense showers. Water temperatures in the Red Sea range from 21°C in February to 28°C in August, supporting year-round diving activity.
Sharm el-Sheikh follows similar patterns to Hurghada with 1-2°C variation, showing January range of 12°C to 22°C, July peak of 26°C to 37°C, and annual precipitation averaging 6 millimeters. The Gulf of Aqaba, reaching depths of 1,850 meters, creates localized wind patterns that can produce sudden temperature changes. Dahab, positioned 85 kilometers northeast of Sharm el-Sheikh, experiences nearly identical temperature patterns but with stronger winds, particularly the northerly winds that blow most consistently April through October.
The Sinai Peninsula interior and mountain regions show distinct variation from coastal patterns. Saint Catherine's Monastery, located at approximately 1,600 meters elevation in the southern Sinai mountains, experiences January temperatures ranging from -2°C to 10°C, making it one of few Egyptian locations where frost occurs regularly. February shows -1°C to 12°C. March ranges 2°C to 15°C. April reaches 6°C to 20°C. May warms to 10°C to 25°C. June shows 13°C to 29°C. July and August peak at 16°C to 31°C, roughly 10°C cooler than coastal locations due to elevation. September averages 14°C to 28°C. October shows 10°C to 24°C. November cools to 4°C to 18°C. December ranges 0°C to 12°C. The Saint Catherine Protectorate receives approximately 50-70 millimeters annual precipitation, primarily as winter rain with occasional snow above 2,000 meters elevation between December and February. Mount Catherine at 2,629 meters and Mount Sinai at 2,285 meters both receive measurable snow 1-3 times per winter in most years.
The Western Desert, including Siwa Oasis located at 29.2° N latitude and approximately 18 meters below sea level near the Libyan border, experiences extreme continental desert climate. January temperatures at Siwa average 5°C to 18°C, with minimum temperatures regularly dropping below freezing on clear nights. February shows 6°C to 20°C. March ranges 10°C to 24°C. April reaches 14°C to 29°C. May warms to 18°C to 34°C. June shows 21°C to 37°C. July and August peak at 23°C to 38°C mean values, with diurnal variation often exceeding 20°C between day and night. September averages 21°C to 35°C. October shows 17°C to 31°C. November cools to 11°C to 25°C. December ranges 7°C to 20°C. Siwa receives approximately 8 millimeters annual precipitation, occurring primarily in scattered winter showers December through February. The oasis contains approximately 200,000 date palms and roughly 70,000 olive trees, sustained by natural springs producing approximately 190,000 cubic meters of water daily.
The White Desert near Farafra Oasis, located approximately 370 kilometers southwest of Cairo, experiences January temperatures of 4°C to 19°C, July temperatures of 22°C to 37°C, and receives less than 1 millimeter annual precipitation. The distinctive white chalk rock formations result from marine deposits when the region formed part of a sea floor approximately 80 million years ago, exposed through subsequent erosion during millennia of extreme aridity and temperature cycling.
Seasonal wind patterns significantly affect Egyptian climate across all regions. The khamsin, a hot dry southerly wind originating in the Sahara, occurs most frequently March through May, with peak occurrence in April. The Egyptian Meteorological Authority defines khamsin conditions as southerly winds raising temperatures at least 5°C above seasonal averages while reducing relative humidity below 30% and often carrying substantial dust. Cairo experiences khamsin conditions approximately 15-20 days annually, predominantly in April when they occur roughly every 5-6 days on average. During khamsin events, temperatures in Cairo can reach 40°C in April or May, some 8-12°C above typical values. Visibility during intense khamsin can drop below 100 meters due to suspended dust particles. The Nile Delta experiences khamsin less frequently than Cairo, averaging 10-12 days annually, while Aswan and Luxor experience similar or slightly higher frequencies than Cairo. Red Sea coastal locations experience modified khamsin effects, with maritime air masses partially mitigating temperature rises but often creating uncomfortable hot humid conditions as desert air mixes with marine air.
Northerly Mediterranean winds, locally termed the meltemi or etesian winds in coastal areas, blow most consistently June through September, providing moderate cooling to Alexandria and the Delta. These winds average 15-25 kilometers per hour but can reach 40-50 kilometers per hour during summer afternoons. The northerly flow pattern draws relatively cool Mediterranean air southward across the Delta, creating the 4-6°C temperature differential between Alexandria and Cairo during summer months despite minimal latitude difference.
Humidity patterns show strong geographical variation. Alexandria maintains 60-70% relative humidity year-round due to Mediterranean proximity. Cairo averages 55-65% relative humidity December through March, dropping to 35-45% June through September. Red Sea coastal cities show 45-55% relative humidity throughout the year. Luxor and Aswan maintain 25-35% relative humidity during summer months, rising to 40-50% in winter. The low humidity in Upper Egypt combines with high temperatures to create physiological stress; a temperature of 40°C at 25% relative humidity produces different heat stress than 35°C at 60% relative humidity, with the dry heat allowing more effective evaporative cooling but requiring greater fluid intake to maintain hydration.
Solar radiation intensity peaks in June across Egypt, with Cairo receiving approximately 11 hours of bright sunshine daily and total solar radiation of roughly 28-30 megajoules per square meter per day. December shows minimum values of approximately 7 hours bright sunshine and 12-14 megajoules per square meter per day. Aswan receives higher total annual solar radiation than Cairo due to lower latitude and reduced cloud cover, with June values reaching approximately 32 megajoules per square meter per day. The consistent high solar radiation makes Egypt one of the world's highest-potential locations for solar power generation, with annual totals exceeding 2,500 kilowatt-hours per square meter in southern regions.
Cloud cover remains minimal across most of Egypt throughout the year. Cairo averages less than 10% cloud cover June through September, rising to 30-35% December through February when Mediterranean weather systems occasionally penetrate southward. Alexandria shows 15-20% cloud cover in summer, increasing to 45-50% in winter months. Aswan and Luxor maintain under 5% cloud cover year-round, creating the persistent clear conditions that have made the region archaeologically valuable through exceptional preservation of ancient structures.
Precipitation patterns show extreme spatial concentration. The Mediterranean coastal strip from Alexandria to Port Said receives 90-95% of Egypt's total precipitation. Moving southward from the coast, precipitation declines exponentially, with locations 100 kilometers inland receiving roughly half the coastal totals. Cairo, positioned approximately 160 kilometers south of the Mediterranean at the Delta apex, receives approximately 25 millimeters annually. Locations south of Cairo in the Nile Valley receive under 5 millimeters annually, with Luxor averaging less than 1 millimeter and Aswan effectively zero. The Red Sea coast receives scattered precipitation, with 5-10 millimeters annually occurring in brief intense showers primarily December through February. When rain does occur in desert regions, intensity can be extreme; Aswan recorded 25 millimeters in a single November storm in 1994, exceeding the typical 50-year precipitation total in one event and causing significant flash flooding in areas where drainage infrastructure assumes permanent aridity.
Temperature records illustrate regional extremes. Cairo recorded an official maximum of 47.8°C in June 2010 at Cairo International Airport station, with minimum record of 1.2°C in January 1966. Alexandria's records show 45.0°C maximum in May 1998 and 0.0°C minimum in January 1966. Aswan recorded 51.0°C in June 1967, among the highest reliably measured temperatures in Egypt, with minimum record of 1.0°C in January 1973. The Sinai interior at Saint Catherine recorded -7.0°C in January 2000, Egypt's lowest reliably documented temperature. These records span measurement periods of 80-100 years at major stations, providing robust extreme values.