Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Addis Ababa
There is not much of a seasonal calendar in Addis Ababa. Its warmest and coolest months differ by 3°C, against a dataset median nearer 15°C, which leaves 74°F (23°C) in March and 66°F (19°C) in August as the two ends of the year.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: March - highs near 74°F (23°C)
- Coldest month: August - highs near 66°F (19°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 82°F (28°C) high · 38°F (3°C) low
- Wettest month: July (31 rainy days) · Sunniest: October (11.3 h sun/day)
- Climate type: subtropical highland
- Annual swing: 3°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 11°C
- Average humidity: 67%
Temperatures through the year
Six of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is October through March. March is the warm end of the year, averaging 74°F (23°C) by day and 51°F (11°C) overnight. August is the coolest month, with highs of 66°F (19°C) and lows near 51°F (10°C). Relative humidity averages 67% across the year, drier than about 75% of the cities we track.
Rain, sun and snow
Rainfall is strongly seasonal: 60% of the annual total falls in the July to September window, leaving December at 2 mm (0.1 in). Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 82°F (28°C) and the lowest daily minimum 38°F (3°C).
How Addis Ababa compares
- Its warmest and coolest months are 3°C apart - a steadier year than all but 7% of the 3496 cities we track.
- 60% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more seasonal than 92% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 71° | 47° | 2 | 0.3 in | 10.9 h/day | 11.6 h | 5% | 52% |
| February | 73° | 50° | 5 | 0.8 in | 10.9 h/day | 11.8 h | 18% | 52% |
| March | 74° | 51° | 10 | 2.1 in | 10.8 h/day | 12.1 h | 31% | 55% |
| April | 73° | 52° | 16 | 4.5 in | 10.6 h/day | 12.3 h | 53% | 65% |
| May | 72° | 51° | 15 | 4.8 in | 10.9 h/day | 12.5 h | 48% | 68% |
| June | 69° | 50° | 22 | 8.0 in | 10.4 h/day | 12.6 h | 72% | 77% |
| July | 67° | 51° | 31 | 13.6 in | 8.7 h/day | 12.6 h | 99% | 86% |
| August | 66° | 51° | 31 | 12.1 in | 9.1 h/day | 12.4 h | 100% | 86% |
| September | 67° | 49° | 24 | 8.1 in | 10.4 h/day | 12.2 h | 80% | 83% |
| October | 69° | 48° | 6 | 1.4 in | 11.3 h/day | 11.9 h | 18% | 64% |
| November | 70° | 47° | 3 | 0.4 in | 11.2 h/day | 11.7 h | 9% | 58% |
| December | 70° | 46° | 0 | 0.1 in | 10.9 h/day | 11.6 h | 2% | 54% |
Addis Ababa month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Addis Ababa's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 10.9 h
- Daylight
- 11.6 h
February
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 10.9 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
March
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
April
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 10.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
May
- Rain
- 15 days
- Sunshine
- 10.9 h
- Daylight
- 12.5 h
June
- Rain
- 22 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.6 h
July
- Rain
- 31 days
- Sunshine
- 8.7 h
- Daylight
- 12.6 h
August
- Rain
- 31 days
- Sunshine
- 9.1 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
September
- Rain
- 24 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.2 h
October
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 11.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
November
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 11.2 h
- Daylight
- 11.7 h
December
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 10.9 h
- Daylight
- 11.6 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Addis Ababa
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Addis Ababa settles into easy warmth, with daytime highs averaging 73°F (23°C) and nights around 52°F (11°C); rain falls on around 40 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.8 hours of sun a day.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Addis Ababa stays on the cool side of mild, with daytime highs averaging 67°F (20°C) and nights around 51°F (10°C); rain falls on around 83 of the 90 days.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Addis Ababa is pleasantly warm: 68°F (20°C) by day, 48°F (9°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 32 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.0 hours of sun a day.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Addis Ababa is mild and warm, with daytime highs averaging 71°F (22°C) and nights around 48°F (9°C); precipitation is sparse, near 1.2 inches (31 mm) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.9 hours of sun a day.
Climate questions, answered
How often does it rain in Addis Ababa?
Are nights cold in Addis Ababa?
How hot does Addis Ababa get in summer?
What should I pack for Addis Ababa?
How warm is Addis Ababa on average?
Best time to visit Addis Ababa
Aim for October to February if you get the choice: the rains have stopped and the heat has not yet peaked, and highs average 71°F (21°C) against roughly 3 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in October.
Pack for Addis Ababa with proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here. Even in March, lows of 51°F (11°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Addis Ababa temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.