Weather by month for Addis Ababa, the best months to go and how Ethiopia's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs 21°C to 23°C · 1–5 rain days
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Still good weather, just not quite the top months.
Highs 19°C to 23°C · 6–31 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best month: January | 22°C / 8°C | 2 days (8 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 9.2/10 |
| Best month: February | 23°C / 10°C | 5 days (21 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 8.5/10 |
| March | 23°C / 11°C | 9 days (53 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 7.5/10 |
| April | 23°C / 11°C | 16 days (115 mm) | 10.6 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| May | 22°C / 11°C | 15 days (121 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 6.8/10 |
| June | 21°C / 10°C | 22 days (203 mm) | 10.4 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| July | 19°C / 10°C | 31 days (345 mm) | 8.7 h/day | 6.8/10 |
| August | 19°C / 10°C | 31 days (307 mm) | 9.1 h/day | 6.8/10 |
| September | 19°C / 9°C | 24 days (207 mm) | 10.4 h/day | 6.8/10 |
| October | 20°C / 9°C | 6 days (36 mm) | 11.3 h/day | 7.9/10 |
| Best month: November | 21°C / 8°C | 3 days (9 mm) | 11.2 h/day | 8.6/10 |
| Best month: December | 21°C / 8°C | 1 day (2 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 9.1/10 |
Figures for Addis Ababa; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
22°C / 8°C · 2 rain days · 10.9 h sun
Addis Ababa sees highs around 21.5°C with just 1.5 rain days and 8mm of rain, one of the driest stretches of the year. Sun hours stay near 10.9, making this a top month, scored 9.2. Orthodox Christmas falls on January 7 and Epiphany on January 19, adding festival crowds and street celebrations.
23°C / 10°C · 5 rain days · 10.9 h sun
Expect highs of 22.6°C and still fairly dry conditions, though rain days rise to 4.9 with 21mm total. Sun hours hold at 10.9, and the month scores 8.5, keeping it among the best times to travel. Skies stay mostly clear, good for highland hikes and city sightseeing.
23°C / 11°C · 9 rain days · 10.8 h sun
Highs reach 23.1°C, among the warmest of the year, but rain days jump to 9.2 and rainfall to 53mm as the belg rains begin. The score drops slightly to 7.5, still rated best. Adwa Victory Day on March 2 is a national holiday worth planning around.
23°C / 11°C · 16 rain days · 10.6 h sun
Temperatures ease to 22.5°C while rain becomes more frequent, with 16.1 rain days and 115mm of rain. Sun hours fall to 10.6, and the score settles at 7, a good but wetter month. Good Friday on April 10 and Easter Sunday on April 12 bring religious observances and closures.
22°C / 11°C · 15 rain days · 10.9 h sun
Highs sit at 22.1°C, but rain is heavy, with 14.8 rain days and 121mm total, part of the transition toward the main wet season. The score is 6.8, still good but clearly wetter travel conditions. Several holidays fall this month: International Workers' Day on May 1, Patriots' Victory Day on May 5, and Downfall of the Derg on May 28.
21°C / 10°C · 22 rain days · 10.4 h sun
The wet season deepens, with highs down to 20.7°C and 21.7 rain days delivering 203mm of rain. Sun hours drop to 10.4, and the score is 7, a good month but one with frequent downpours. Travellers should expect overcast skies and muddy rural roads.
19°C / 10°C · 31 rain days · 8.7 h sun
This is the wettest month, with 30.6 rain days and 345mm of rain, and sun hours fall sharply to 8.7. Highs cool to 19.1°C. The score stays at 6.8, good rather than best, reflecting the heavy kiremt rains that can disrupt travel in rural highlands.
19°C / 10°C · 31 rain days · 9.1 h sun
Rain remains intense, with 30.9 rain days and 307mm, and highs stay low at 19°C. Sun hours are just 9.1, among the dimmest of the year. The score holds at 6.8, good overall, but this is firmly rainy-season weather with frequent cloud cover.
19°C / 9°C · 24 rain days · 10.4 h sun
Rainfall eases a little to 207mm over 24 rain days, and highs recover slightly to 19.2°C with sun hours back up to 10.4. The score is 6.8, good, as the rains begin to taper off. Enkutatash, the Ethiopian New Year, falls on September 11, followed by Meskel on September 27, both major festivals with public celebrations.
20°C / 9°C · 6 rain days · 11.3 h sun
The dry season returns fast: rain days drop to 5.5 and rainfall to just 36mm, while highs climb to 20.3°C and sun hours reach 11.3. The score rises to 7.9, rated best. Landscapes are green from the recent rains, making this a strong month for scenery and hiking.
21°C / 8°C · 3 rain days · 11.2 h sun
Conditions turn reliably dry, with just 2.5 rain days and 9mm of rain, and highs of 20.9°C. Sun hours are high at 11.2, and the score reaches 8.6, among the best months. Clear skies suit travel across the highlands and lowlands alike.
21°C / 8°C · 1 rain days · 10.9 h sun
This is the driest month, with only 0.5 rain days and 2mm of rain, alongside highs of 21°C and strong sun hours at 10.9. The score peaks at 9.1, the top-rated month for a visit. Cool, dry, and bright conditions make it ideal for most itineraries.
Regional differences
Average daytime high each month, coloured by that city's own month score.
| City | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addis Ababa | 22°C | 23°C | 23°C | 23°C | 22°C | 21°C | 19°C | 19°C | 19°C | 20°C | 21°C | 21°C |
| Gondar | 24°C | 26°C | 27°C | 27°C | 25°C | 22°C | 20°C | 20°C | 21°C | 22°C | 23°C | 24°C |
| Bahir Dar | 26°C | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C | 27°C | 24°C | 22°C | 22°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 25°C |
| Harar | 25°C | 27°C | 27°C | 25°C | 25°C | 24°C | 23°C | 23°C | 24°C | 25°C | 24°C | 24°C |
| Arba Minch | 29°C | 30°C | 30°C | 27°C | 26°C | 25°C | 25°C | 25°C | 26°C | 26°C | 26°C | 28°C |
Best Good OK Tough weather
By trip type
City sightseeing
November to February is the best time for Addis Ababa city trips. Rain is scarce (2-21 mm a month) and sunshine runs 10.9 to 11.2 hours a day, with daytime highs of 20-23°C, so sightseeing stays comfortable and dry.
Hiking & nature
Hiking is best from November to February too. Rain days drop to between 0.5 and 4.9 per month, trails stay drier, and daytime temperatures of 20-23°C with lows around 8-10°C make for cool, clear mornings on the highlands.
Events calendar
Public holidays: Christmas Day (Orthodox) (7 Jan), Epiphany (Orthodox) (19 Jan)
Public holidays: Adwa Victory Day (2 Mar)
Public holidays: Good Friday (10 Apr), Easter Sunday (12 Apr)
Public holidays: International Workers' Day (1 May), Ethiopian Patriots' Victory Day (5 May), Downfall of the Derg (28 May)
Public holidays: Enkutatash (11 Sep), Meskel (Orthodox) (27 Sep)
Keep planning
FAQ
August works, but it's the wettest-feeling month alongside July. Addis Ababa gets about 31 rain days and 307mm of rain, with highs of only 19°C and just 9.1 hours of sun a day. It scores 6.8/10, rated 'good'. Expect green landscapes and lower visitor numbers, but pack for frequent downpours and cooler temperatures.”},{
Yes, December is one of the best months. Addis Ababa sees almost no rain, just 0.5 rain days and 2mm for the whole month, with sunny skies at 10.9 hours a day and a comfortable high of 21°C. It scores 9.1/10, the second-highest of the year, making it ideal for dry, clear travel.
January scores highest at 9.2/10. It has very low rainfall, just 1.5 rain days and 8mm, strong sun at 10.9 hours a day, and a pleasant high of 21.5°C. December, November and February follow closely behind, all rated 'best', so the dry season from November to February is the top window to travel.
July is the rainiest month, so expect frequent showers. Addis Ababa logs about 31 rain days and 345mm of rain, the highest monthly total, with sun dropping to 8.7 hours a day and highs of just 19.1°C. It still scores 6.8/10, rated 'good', since the rain brings lush, green scenery for travellers who don't mind getting wet.
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