Egypt Temperature by Month 2026: Table for 12 Months and 5 Regions

Egypt temperature by month swings a long way depending on region and season: from 10°C on a January night in Cairo to 42°C on an August afternoon in Luxor or Aswan. This guide sets out the full egypt weather monthly picture across five regions, Cairo, the Nile Valley (Luxor and Aswan), the Red Sea (Hurghada), Sinai (Sharm el-Sheikh) and the Mediterranean coast (Alexandria), with verified min/max air temperatures, sea temperature, and what each month actually means for a UK traveller planning around school holidays or a January escape from the cold. Figures below are 30-year climate normals (1991-2020), not a forecast for any single trip.

Egypt temperature by month 2026: the full table by region

The table below covers Cairo, the Nile Valley (Luxor and Aswan), the Red Sea at Hurghada, Sinai at Sharm el-Sheikh, and the Mediterranean coast at Alexandria. Figures show average overnight low to average afternoon high, in degrees Celsius, based on 1991-2020 climate normals.

Source: climate normals for 1991 to 2026, climatestotravel.com, checked 26 September 2026. Ranges are rounded to the nearest whole degree.

Egypt weather monthly: how to read these averages

Every figure above is an average, not a promise. The low end of each range is the typical overnight or early-morning temperature; the high end is the typical mid-afternoon peak. On any given day, actual conditions can sit above or below the average, particularly in spring when the khamsin, a hot dry wind from the Sahara, can push afternoon temperatures well past the seasonal norm for a day or two. Egypt weather monthly figures also barely mention rain, and for good reason: outside Alexandria's mild wet season from December to February, most of the country sees close to no rainfall at all in an average year, so cloud cover and rain are rarely a factor in when to go. What matters far more for planning is the temperature swing between day and night, which is largest inland (Luxor, Aswan, the Western Desert) and smallest on the coast (Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Alexandria), where the sea keeps nights milder and days a touch cooler than the desert interior at the same latitude.

January to April: Egypt's cool and mild season

January: the coolest month, and what it means for a UK traveller

The coldest month of the Egyptian year, though nowhere near a British winter. Cairo runs 10 to 19°C, Luxor 7 to 23°C, Hurghada 11 to 22°C, with the Red Sea itself a swimmable 22°C for anyone happy in a shorty wetsuit. Skies stay clear with close to no rain. For a UK traveller, January means guaranteed winter sun with none of the summer heat, and it lands either side of the school Christmas break, so half-term-free weeks in early and mid-January are usually the easiest to book. See our Egypt in January 2026 guide for a fuller month-by-month plan.

February: still mild, and the UK's busiest window

Barely a degree warmer than January. Cairo reaches 11 to 21°C, Hurghada 12 to 24°C. This is the month UK schools take their February half-term, so it is also the single busiest fortnight of the year for British travellers to Egypt: book hotels and Nile cruises three to four months ahead if your dates fall in that window. Full detail in our Egypt in February 2026 guide.

March: spring arrives

A clear step up in warmth. Cairo climbs to 13 to 24°C, Luxor to 13 to 30°C, while the Red Sea holds at 21°C, still good diving visibility. The khamsin becomes more likely in the back half of the month, bringing a day or two of dusty, reduced-visibility skies. See our Egypt in March 2026 guide.

April: the most balanced month of the year

Comfortable almost everywhere. Cairo 16 to 28°C, Hurghada 19 to 30°C, though Luxor is already warming fast at 17 to 35°C in the afternoon. The sea reaches 22 to 23°C, comfortable for most swimmers. April often carries the UK's Easter break, which brings a second smaller peak in demand after February. See our Egypt in April 2026 guide.

May to August: Egypt's hot season

May: the Nile Valley turns hot, the coast stays comfortable

Luxor and Aswan push into the high thirties by afternoon (22 to 39°C and 25 to 40°C respectively), while Hurghada, at 23 to 34°C with the sea at 24°C, remains the more comfortable choice for a beach-focused trip in this window. See our Egypt in May 2026 guide.

June: dry, intense heat inland

Aswan and Luxor regularly clear 41°C in the afternoon. Cairo sits at 22 to 35°C. The Red Sea warms to 26°C. Hotel air conditioning and a coastal base make this manageable; a full day walking Karnak or the Valley of the Kings in the midday sun is not recommended. See our Egypt in June 2026 guide.

July: the hottest month of the year

Luxor and Aswan both reach up to 42°C in the afternoon, Cairo climbs to 35°C, and the Red Sea reaches 27°C, warm enough for effortless swimming. This is also when Red Sea hotel rates fall to their lowest point of the year, since it sits outside the main UK summer holiday window. Detail in our honest guide to Egypt in July.

August: peak heat, peak UK summer demand

Essentially a repeat of July's numbers, but this is when the UK's six-week summer holiday drives demand at Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, so rates rise through the second half of the month even though the Nile Valley is at its least comfortable for sightseeing. Sea temperature peaks at 28°C, ideal for diving and snorkelling. See our Egypt in August 2026 guide.

September to December: the return to comfortable temperatures

September: the turning point

Cairo eases back to 23 to 34°C, Luxor to 23 to 39°C, Hurghada to 26 to 35°C. Fewer crowds than the summer peak and noticeably better value, while the sea is still at its warmest, 27 to 28°C. See our Egypt in September 2026 guide.

October: arguably the best all-round month

Cairo 20 to 30°C, Luxor 20 to 36°C, Hurghada 22 to 32°C. Clear skies, thinner crowds than the winter peak, and comfortable temperatures for a Nile cruise, Cairo sightseeing and a Red Sea extension in the same trip. See our Egypt in October 2026 guide.

November: high season returns

Still pleasant everywhere: Cairo 15 to 25°C, Luxor 13 to 29°C, Hurghada 18 to 28°C. UK winter-sun demand starts building from mid-November, so rates begin climbing again ahead of the December peak. See our Egypt in November 2026 guide.

December: cool nights, the Christmas peak

Cairo 11 to 21°C, Luxor 9 to 24°C, Hurghada 13 to 24°C. The Red Sea holds at 23 to 24°C, still swimmable, a sharp contrast with a UK winter. This is the year's single busiest fortnight around Christmas and New Year, so book four to five months ahead if those dates matter to you. See our Egypt Christmas 2026 guide.

Sea temperature in Egypt by month

Two different seas border Egypt, and they behave very differently. The Red Sea, at Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, barely cools in winter and stays swimmable all year. The Mediterranean, at Alexandria, follows a much more familiar European pattern, cold in winter and warm only from June to October.

The practical takeaway for a UK traveller: the Red Sea is swimmable every month of the year, even at its coolest in February and March, while the Mediterranean at Alexandria only really invites a swim from around June to October. For a winter beach trip, Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh, not Alexandria, is the right call. See our Alexandria travel guide for the rest of what the Mediterranean coast has to offer outside swimming season.

Which month to choose by traveller profile

Rainfall, humidity and the khamsin

Egypt is one of the driest countries on the planet outside its Mediterranean fringe. Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh all see close to no rain across an average year, and low humidity (typically under 30 percent inland) is what makes even a 40°C afternoon in Luxor more bearable than a much cooler, humid day elsewhere. Alexandria is the exception: its Mediterranean climate brings the country's only real wet season, concentrated between December and February. The other weather factor worth planning around is the khamsin, a hot, dry, sand-laden wind that blows up from the Sahara mainly between March and May, and occasionally in autumn. It can raise afternoon temperatures well above the seasonal average for a day or two and reduce visibility, so a flexible day or two of buffer in a spring itinerary is sensible, particularly around outdoor sites like the Giza plateau or Karnak.

UK school holidays and Ramadan: timing your trip from Britain

Three windows drive most UK demand for Egypt: the February half-term, the Easter break, and the six-week summer holiday from late July to early September. Half-term and Easter both land inside Egypt's mild season, so they combine comfortable temperatures with the year's tightest availability and highest prices; book three to four months ahead if your dates are fixed by a school calendar. The summer holiday, by contrast, lands in the middle of the hottest stretch of the year, which is exactly why UK families who travel then tend to base themselves on the Red Sea coast rather than attempt a Nile cruise.

Ramadan is worth flagging separately, since opening hours, restaurant service during the day, and the pace of daily life all shift for the month. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 7 to 8 February 2027, subject to the official moon sighting, so it overlaps with the February half-term that year. Our guide to travelling in Egypt during Ramadan covers what changes on the ground and how to plan around it.

Frequently asked questions about Egypt's temperature by month

What is the hottest month in Egypt?

July and August, together, are the hottest months for the Nile Valley: Luxor and Aswan both reach up to 42°C in the afternoon, Cairo climbs to 35°C, and Hurghada to 37 to 38°C. Nights stay warm too, rarely dropping below the mid-20s in the south. It is the month to avoid for full-day archaeological visits and the month with the cheapest Red Sea hotel rates.

What is the coldest month in Egypt?

January. Cairo drops to around 10°C at night, Luxor to 7°C, while Hurghada stays milder at 11°C overnight thanks to the sea. Daytime highs still reach a sunny 19 to 23°C almost everywhere, so it never feels genuinely cold by day.

Can you swim in Egypt in winter?

Yes, in the Red Sea. Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh hold at 21 to 22°C through January and February, cool but perfectly swimmable for most people, especially with a shorty wetsuit for diving. The Mediterranean at Alexandria drops to 17°C in winter and is not really a swimming destination at that time of year.

Does Egypt have a rainy season?

Not in the way northern Europe does. Almost the whole country sees close to no rain across an average year. The one exception is Alexandria and the Mediterranean coast, which gets a genuine, if still modest, wet season concentrated between December and February.

What is the sea temperature in Egypt?

It depends which sea. The Red Sea (Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh) ranges from around 21°C in February and March up to 28°C in August, and is swimmable every month. The Mediterranean at Alexandria ranges from 17°C in winter to 27°C in August, and is only really a swimming destination from June to October.

Should I pack warm clothes for Egypt?

Yes, for evenings between November and March, especially inland at Cairo and Luxor, and for a Nile cruise deck after sunset, when it can drop to 7 to 11°C. A light jacket or fleece and a scarf are enough; you will not need proper winter clothing at any point.

What is the best month to visit Egypt from the UK?

October and April tend to top the list, since both combine comfortable daytime temperatures across every region with somewhat lower demand than the UK's own school holiday weeks. February offers the mildest, sunniest winter weather but coincides with UK half-term, so it is also the most expensive and the most booked-up window of the year.

Is Egypt too hot to visit in July or August?

For a Nile cruise or a day of temple visits, yes, temperatures above 40°C in Luxor and Aswan make full-day sightseeing genuinely uncomfortable. For a Red Sea beach holiday with air-conditioned hotels, no, since the sea sits at a pleasant 27 to 28°C and coastal towns run several degrees cooler than the desert interior.

Is the khamsin dangerous for travellers?

Not dangerous, but disruptive. The khamsin brings dusty, hazy skies, reduced visibility, and a spike in daytime temperature for a day or two, mainly between March and May. It occasionally affects flight visibility and outdoor visits, which is one reason to build a little flexibility into a spring itinerary.

Does the Egypt temperature by month change year to year?

Not by much. The figures in this guide are 30-year climate normals, so any single month can run a degree or two above or below what is shown here. Egypt's average temperatures have edged up gradually over recent decades, in line with wider regional warming, but the seasonal pattern itself, hot Nile Valley summers and mild coastal winters, has stayed consistent.

Prepare your Egypt trip around the temperature

Our English-speaking team plans every itinerary around the climate for your actual travel dates, not a generic month-by-month table. Our packages typically include:

• Month-specific advice: which itinerary suits the season you are travelling in
• Suitable hotels: air conditioning for summer, heated pools and warmer rooms for winter evenings
• Domestic flights to avoid long road transfers in the height of summer
• An English-speaking guide with a climate briefing before each visit
• 24-hour WhatsApp support for anything unexpected, from a khamsin to a sudden schedule change

For further planning, see our Egypt travel budget 2026 guide, our Egypt tourism map, our detailed Hurghada weather guide, or start a tailor-made Egypt trip built around your dates.

Guide written by Sem Elegant Voyage, a Cairo-based agency planning tailor-made trips to Egypt.
Published 26 April 2026. Last updated: 26 September 2026, with the Alexandria and Mediterranean sea-temperature data added.
Figures are climate normals, not a forecast. Always check a short-range forecast closer to your travel dates.