Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Climate & Monthly Averages

Ethiopia 🇪🇹 · subtropical highland climate
Annual avg
59°
Hottest month
March
Coldest month
August
Rainy days / yr
163
Sunshine
10.5 h/day
Right now: 57° and light rain shower - see live conditions

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

Monthly averages for Addis Ababa based on 2015–2024 weather data.
MonthHighLow Rain daysPrecipitation SunshineHumidity
January 71° 47° 2 0.3 in 10.9 h/day 52%
February 73° 50° 5 0.8 in 10.9 h/day 52%
March 74° 51° 10 2.1 in 10.8 h/day 55%
April 73° 52° 16 4.5 in 10.6 h/day 65%
May 72° 51° 15 4.8 in 10.9 h/day 68%
June 69° 50° 22 8.0 in 10.4 h/day 77%
July 67° 51° 31 13.6 in 8.7 h/day 86%
August 66° 51° 31 12.1 in 9.1 h/day 86%
September 67° 49° 24 8.1 in 10.4 h/day 83%
October 69° 48° 6 1.4 in 11.3 h/day 64%
November 70° 47° 3 0.4 in 11.2 h/day 58%
December 70° 46° 0 0.1 in 10.9 h/day 54%

Addis Ababa month by month

Addis Ababa weather in January

January brings highs around 71°F (22°C), lows near 47°F (8°C), about 2 wet days.

Addis Ababa weather in February

February brings highs around 73°F (23°C), lows near 50°F (10°C), about 5 wet days.

Addis Ababa weather in March

March brings highs around 74°F (23°C), lows near 51°F (11°C), about 10 wet days - typically the hottest month of the year in Addis Ababa.

Addis Ababa weather in April

April brings highs around 73°F (23°C), lows near 52°F (11°C), about 16 wet days.

Addis Ababa weather in May

May brings highs around 72°F (22°C), lows near 51°F (11°C), about 15 wet days.

Addis Ababa weather in June

June brings highs around 69°F (21°C), lows near 50°F (10°C), about 22 wet days.

Addis Ababa weather in July

July brings highs around 67°F (19°C), lows near 51°F (11°C), about 31 wet days - typically the wettest month of the year in Addis Ababa.

Addis Ababa weather in August

August brings highs around 66°F (19°C), lows near 51°F (10°C), about 31 wet days - typically the coldest month of the year in Addis Ababa.

Addis Ababa weather in September

September brings highs around 67°F (19°C), lows near 49°F (10°C), about 24 wet days.

Addis Ababa weather in October

October brings highs around 69°F (20°C), lows near 48°F (9°C), about 6 wet days - typically the sunniest month of the year in Addis Ababa.

Addis Ababa weather in November

November brings highs around 70°F (21°C), lows near 47°F (8°C), about 3 wet days.

Addis Ababa weather in December

December brings highs around 70°F (21°C), lows near 46°F (8°C), about 0 wet days - typically the driest month of the year in Addis Ababa.

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?
About 163 days bring measurable precipitation, totalling 56.2 inches (1427 mm). That works out at roughly 8.8 mm on an average wet day.
Are nights cold in Addis Ababa?
By about 11°C on an average day - a wider day-to-night gap than most of the 3496 cities we track. In March that means 74°F (23°C) down to 51°F (11°C).
How hot does Addis Ababa get in summer?
March averages 74°F (23°C). Summers here stay temperate rather than hot.
What should I pack for Addis Ababa?
It depends on the month: March runs to 74°F (23°C) while August holds at 66°F (19°C). The full month-by-month breakdown is in the packing notes above.
How warm is Addis Ababa on average?
59°F (15°C) across all twelve months - about 70°F (21°C) by day and 49°F (10°C) after dark.

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)

Highest recorded
82°
in April
Lowest recorded
38°
in January
Annual precipitation
56.2"
Snowy days / yr
0

Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.