🐫 Cairo Weather

Desert sun and the khamsin winds

Cairo sits where the Nile meets the vast Sahara, and its hot desert climate is defined by sunshine, dryness, and dust. Rain is almost an afterthought here — the city sees only a trace each year — so the seasons are marked mainly by the intensity of the heat and the arrival of the dust-laden spring winds.

Hot summers, mild winters

Summers are long, hot, and bone-dry, with July highs around 95°F (35°C) under near-constant sun, though the desert air cools noticeably at night. Winters are mild and pleasant, with January highs around 66°F (19°C) and chilly nights — the most comfortable time to explore the city and the nearby pyramids.

The khamsin and desert dust

Spring brings the "khamsin," a hot, dry wind that sweeps in from the Sahara between March and May, sending temperatures soaring and filling the sky with sand and dust that can blot out the sun. These dust storms are the city's most distinctive — and disruptive — weather, reducing visibility and air quality for days.

Cairo is one of the driest major cities on Earth, averaging barely 1 inch (25 mm) of rain a year. The combination of relentless sun, dust, and the life-giving Nile defines a climate that has shaped Egyptian civilization for millennia.

Desert heat and the khamsin winds

Cairo has a hot desert climate — intensely hot, dry summers with highs past 100°F (38°C) and mild, brief winters — sitting on the edge of the Sahara where rain is a rare event, amounting to barely an inch a year.

Spring brings the 'khamsin,' scorching, sand-laden winds off the desert that can spike temperatures dramatically and fill the air with dust for days. The Nile offers a thread of humidity through the arid city, and winter nights can turn surprisingly cool. Skies stay clear and sunny almost year-round, with the most comfortable weather from November to March.