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 of 21.5°C and just 1.5 rain days, with 10.9 hours of sun daily. It's one of the driest, sunniest months and scores 9.2, the top mark of the year. Orthodox Christmas falls on 7 January, giving travellers a chance to see religious celebrations alongside clear skies.
23°C / 10°C · 5 rain days · 10.9 h sun
Temperatures climb slightly to a 22.6°C high, and rain starts creeping in with 4.9 rain days. The month still scores 8.5, a 'best' rating, thanks to plenty of sun at 10.9 hours a day. Conditions stay comfortable for travel throughout the country.
23°C / 11°C · 9 rain days · 10.8 h sun
Highs reach 23.1°C, but rain days jump to 9.2 and rainfall rises to 53mm as the short rains build. The score drops to 7.5, still 'best', though skies are less reliably clear than earlier months. Adwa Victory Day on 2 March marks a national holiday.
23°C / 11°C · 16 rain days · 10.6 h sun
Rain becomes more noticeable, with 16.1 rain days and 115mm of rainfall, while the high sits at 22.5°C. The score falls to 7, a 'good' rating, since wetter conditions make this a transitional month. Good Friday and Easter Sunday both fall in April, around 10–12 April.
22°C / 11°C · 15 rain days · 10.9 h sun
May is wetter still, with 14.8 rain days and 121mm of rain, and the high dips to 22.1°C. The score of 6.8 reflects these tougher conditions, though sun hours stay decent at 10.9. Several public holidays land this month, including Workers' Day on 1 May and Patriots' Victory Day on 5 May.
21°C / 10°C · 22 rain days · 10.4 h sun
The main rainy season sets in: 21.7 rain days and 203mm of rain, with the high dropping to 20.7°C and sun hours falling to 10.4. This is tougher weather, driven by Ethiopia's summer monsoon rains. The score holds at 7, still rated 'good' for travellers prepared for wet conditions.
19°C / 10°C · 31 rain days · 8.7 h sun
July is the wettest month of the year, with 30.6 rain days and 345mm of rainfall, caused by the peak of the kiremt rainy season. Highs drop to 19.1°C and sun hours fall sharply to 8.7. The score is 6.8, 'good', reflecting heavy but predictable seasonal rain rather than unusual weather.
19°C / 10°C · 31 rain days · 9.1 h sun
Rain stays heavy, with 30.9 rain days and 307mm of rainfall, though slightly less than July. The high is 19°C, among the coolest of the year, with sun hours at 9.1. The score remains 6.8, 'good', as the rainy season continues across the highlands.
19°C / 9°C · 24 rain days · 10.4 h sun
Rain begins easing, down to 24 rain days and 207mm, while the high rises slightly to 19.2°C and sun hours return to 10.4. Enkutatash, the Ethiopian New Year, falls on 11 September, followed by Meskel on 27 September, both widely celebrated. The score is 6.8, 'good', as the landscape turns green after the rains.
20°C / 9°C · 6 rain days · 11.3 h sun
Conditions improve sharply: rain days drop to 5.5 and rainfall to 36mm, while the high climbs to 20.3°C and sun hours reach 11.3. The score jumps to 7.9, a 'best' rating, as the dry season returns and skies clear.
21°C / 8°C · 3 rain days · 11.2 h sun
November brings reliably dry weather, with just 2.5 rain days, 9mm of rain and a high of 20.9°C. Sun hours reach 11.2, among the highest of the year, helping the score rise to 8.6, 'best'. This is a strong month for travel across most of the country.
21°C / 8°C · 1 rain days · 10.9 h sun
December is the driest month, with only 0.5 rain days and 2mm of rain, alongside a 21°C high and 10.9 hours of sun. The score reaches 9.1, 'best', making it one of the most reliable months for clear, dry conditions before Orthodox Christmas celebrations begin in early January.
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 stretch for exploring Addis Ababa. Rain days drop to 0.5-2.5 per month, highs sit near 21-22.6°C, and sun hours reach 10.9-11.2, making it easy to walk the streets and visit outdoor sites without getting soaked.
Hiking & nature
December through February gives the driest, clearest trekking conditions, with rain days as low as 0.5-4.9 per month and sun hours around 10.9. Cool nights (lows of 7.6-9.5°C) and dry trails make these four months the most reliable for highland hiking.
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 stretch of the year. Addis Ababa gets about 31 rain days and 307mm of rain, with highs around 19°C and just 9.1 hours of sun. It scores 6.8, rated good rather than best, so expect frequent showers and overcast skies.
Yes, December is one of the best months, scoring 9.1. Addis Ababa sees almost no rain, just 2mm over half a day, with highs of 21°C and 10.9 hours of sunshine. Dry, mild, and bright conditions make it a top pick.
July is workable but it's the rainiest month. Addis Ababa averages 30.6 rain days and 345mm of rain, the highest total of the year, with sun dropping to 8.7 hours and highs of only 19.1°C. It scores 6.8, so pack for heavy daily rain.
The best-scoring months are January, December, November, and February, all rated 9 or close to it. January tops the list at 9.2, with highs near 21.5°C, almost no rain (8mm, 1.5 rain days), and 10.9 hours of sunshine daily, giving dry, clear conditions.
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