Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Climate & Monthly Averages
Addis Ababa has a subtropical highland climate. March is the hottest month, averaging 74° by day; August is the coldest at 66°.
To understand Addis Ababa, start with the wet season
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.
Where the rain falls in the calendar
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.
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).
More climate facts for Addis Ababa
- 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%
Follow the rain through Addis Ababa's year
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Addis Ababa's coldest night and 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
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Addis Ababa's coolest part of the year: August, July, September.
Working around Addis Ababa's rain pattern
Choose dates by rain, not just temperature
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.
What to pack
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.
How Addis Ababa compares for rain and warmth
- 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.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.
Monthly temperature and rain 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% |
The wet and quieter 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.
Rain and seasonal questions about Addis Ababa
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?
Addis Ababa temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.