Addis Ababa Climate & Weather Averages
Ethiopia · Subtropical Highlands climate · Data averaged from 2020-01-01 to 2024-12-31 (5 years)
Best Time to Visit Addis Ababa
Based on temperature comfort, low rainfall, and sunshine hours, the best months to visit Addis Ababa are:
December, November, January
Scores based on ideal temperature (18-28°C), low precipitation, and high sunshine. December scores 72/100.
Addis Ababa has a Subtropical Highlands climate with mild summers and mild winters. The warmest month is March with an average temperature of 16.2°C (61.2°F), while August is the coldest at 13.9°C (57.0°F). Annual precipitation averages 1366.0mm spread across approximately 209.0 rainy days per year, with July being the wettest month at 336.6mm and December the driest at 1.2mm. The city receives an average of 7.8-11.3 hours of sunshine per day, with the sunniest months being November and October. Humidity remains relatively consistent throughout the year, averaging around 67.0% annually, while average wind speeds reach 14.8 km/h. The overall annual mean temperature is 14.8°C (58.6°F), reflecting the subtropical highlands conditions shaped by Addis Ababa's latitude (9.03°) and surrounding geography. For travelers, the best time to visit is December, November, January, when temperatures are comfortable and rainfall is lower.
Addis Ababa's altitude of 2,355 meters creates a subtropical highland climate with comfortable temperatures year-round. I've studied the data and found that the city experiences two rainy seasons, with the main rains from June to September. The best time for visiting is October to May, when the weather is drier and the city's cultural attractions are most accessible.
Seasonal Climate Overview
Spring (Mar-May)
Average temperature 16.2°C (61.2°F), rainfall 97.7mm, sunshine 10.7 hrs/day, humidity 63.0%. Mild transitional weather characterizes this period. Expect around 19.4 rainy days per month.
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Average temperature 14.4°C (57.9°F), rainfall 263.4mm, sunshine 9.1 hrs/day, humidity 81.5%. Mild transitional weather characterizes this period. Expect around 29.5 rainy days per month.
Autumn (Sep-Nov)
Average temperature 14.0°C (57.2°F), rainfall 83.3mm, sunshine 11.0 hrs/day, humidity 69.0%. Mild transitional weather characterizes this period. Expect around 15.5 rainy days per month.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
Average temperature 14.7°C (58.5°F), rainfall 11.1mm, sunshine 10.9 hrs/day, humidity 54.5%. Mild transitional weather characterizes this period. Expect around 5.3 rainy days per month.
Monthly Temperature Averages (°C / °F)
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean Temp |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21.5°C (70.7°F) | 8.4°C (47.1°F) | 14.5°C (58.1°F) |
| February | 22.4°C (72.3°F) | 9.5°C (49.1°F) | 15.5°C (59.9°F) |
| March | 22.7°C (72.9°F) | 10.6°C (51.1°F) | 16.2°C (61.2°F) |
| April | 22.3°C (72.1°F) | 10.8°C (51.4°F) | 16.1°C (61.0°F) |
| May | 22.6°C (72.7°F) | 10.2°C (50.4°F) | 16.2°C (61.2°F) |
| June | 21.2°C (70.2°F) | 9.9°C (49.8°F) | 15.2°C (59.4°F) |
| July | 18.9°C (66.0°F) | 10.5°C (50.9°F) | 14.0°C (57.2°F) |
| August | 18.9°C (66.0°F) | 10.3°C (50.5°F) | 13.9°C (57.0°F) |
| September | 19.1°C (66.4°F) | 9.4°C (48.9°F) | 13.9°C (57.0°F) |
| October | 20.0°C (68.0°F) | 8.4°C (47.1°F) | 14.1°C (57.4°F) |
| November | 20.9°C (69.6°F) | 7.8°C (46.0°F) | 14.1°C (57.4°F) |
| December | 21.1°C (70.0°F) | 7.5°C (45.5°F) | 14.0°C (57.2°F) |
Monthly Precipitation (mm)
| Month | Avg Rainfall | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 7.4 mm | |
| February | 24.6 mm | |
| March | 71.9 mm | |
| April | 121.4 mm | |
| May | 99.9 mm | |
| June | 159.7 mm | |
| July | 336.6 mm | |
| August | 294.0 mm | |
| September | 192.9 mm | |
| October | 52.1 mm | |
| November | 4.8 mm | |
| December | 1.2 mm |
Monthly Rainy Days (avg days with rain > 0.1mm)
| Month | Avg Rainy Days | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6.8 | |
| February | 7.6 | |
| March | 16.2 | |
| April | 21.8 | |
| May | 20.2 | |
| June | 26.6 | |
| July | 31.0 | |
| August | 31.0 | |
| September | 28.8 | |
| October | 13.2 | |
| November | 4.6 | |
| December | 1.6 |
Monthly Humidity (%)
| Month | Avg Humidity | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 56.3% | |
| February | 53.3% | |
| March | 57.6% | |
| April | 66.4% | |
| May | 65.1% | |
| June | 73.4% | |
| July | 85.5% | |
| August | 85.5% | |
| September | 83.2% | |
| October | 66.2% | |
| November | 57.6% | |
| December | 53.8% |
Monthly Wind Speed (avg max km/h)
| Month | Avg Max Wind | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 15.2 km/h | |
| February | 16.3 km/h | |
| March | 15.8 km/h | |
| April | 14.6 km/h | |
| May | 15.6 km/h | |
| June | 14.0 km/h | |
| July | 12.4 km/h | |
| August | 12.3 km/h | |
| September | 13.4 km/h | |
| October | 15.6 km/h | |
| November | 16.8 km/h | |
| December | 15.2 km/h |
Monthly UV Index (avg max)
| Month | UV Index | Risk Level | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | — | — | |
| February | — | — | |
| March | — | — | |
| April | — | — | |
| May | — | — | |
| June | — | — | |
| July | — | — | |
| August | — | — | |
| September | — | — | |
| October | — | — | |
| November | — | — | |
| December | — | — |
Monthly Sunshine Hours (daily average)
| Month | Avg Daily Sunshine | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| January | 10.9 hrs | |
| February | 10.8 hrs | |
| March | 10.6 hrs | |
| April | 10.3 hrs | |
| May | 11.1 hrs | |
| June | 10.7 hrs | |
| July | 7.8 hrs | |
| August | 8.9 hrs | |
| September | 10.4 hrs | |
| October | 11.2 hrs | |
| November | 11.3 hrs | |
| December | 10.9 hrs |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hottest month in Addis Ababa?
March is the hottest month with an average temperature of 16.2°C (61.2°F).
What is the coldest month in Addis Ababa?
August is the coldest month with an average temperature of 13.9°C (57.0°F).
What is the rainiest month in Addis Ababa?
July is the wettest month with an average of 336.6mm of precipitation. The city experiences about 209.0 rainy days per year.
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
The best time to visit Addis Ababa is during December, November, January, when temperatures are comfortable and rainfall is lower.
Cities with Similar Climate (Subtropical Highlands)
Data Source: Open-Meteo historical archive (2020-01-01 to 2024-12-31). Daily measurements aggregated into monthly climate normals. Coordinates: 9.03°, 38.75°. Timezone: Africa/Addis_Ababa. Last updated: 2026-07-30.