Baghdad, Iraq Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Baghdad
Baghdad works on a dry budget: 7.5 inches (191 mm) of precipitation a year, spread over roughly 27 days. Temperature does the varying instead, from 62°F (17°C) on a typical January afternoon to 114°F (45°C) in July, with nights 13°C below the day.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 114°F (45°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 62°F (17°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 124°F (51°C) high · 28°F (-2°C) low
- Wettest month: March (5 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (13.3 h sun/day)
- Climate type: hot desert
- Annual swing: 28°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 13°C
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 7
- Average humidity: 39%
Temperatures through the year
January sits at the other end of the year: 62°F (17°C) by day, 43°F (6°C) at night. July is the warm end of the year, averaging 114°F (45°C) by day and 88°F (31°C) overnight. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 124°F (51°C) and bottoms at 28°F (-2°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. Average highs hold at or above 30°C for 7 months of the year, April through October being the unbroken run.
Rain, sun and snow
Between the average July and the average January lie 28°C, a wider spread than 92% of the 3496 cities in our dataset. Four of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is February through March. 6 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running May through October.
How Baghdad compares
- Relative humidity averages 39% - drier than all but 3% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Annual precipitation is 7.5 inches (191 mm) - drier than all but 4% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 27 days a year - fewer wet days than all but 4% 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 | 62° | 43° | 4 | 0.8 in | 8.6 h/day | 10.2 h | 13% | 67% |
| February | 67° | 46° | 5 | 1.4 in | 9.0 h/day | 10.9 h | 18% | 60% |
| March | 75° | 54° | 5 | 1.4 in | 10.0 h/day | 11.9 h | 15% | 50% |
| April | 87° | 63° | 3 | 0.8 in | 10.8 h/day | 13.0 h | 10% | 38% |
| May | 99° | 74° | 1 | 0.2 in | 12.1 h/day | 13.9 h | 3% | 24% |
| June | 109° | 83° | 0 | 0.0 in | 13.3 h/day | 14.3 h | 0% | 17% |
| July | 114° | 88° | 0 | 0.0 in | 12.9 h/day | 14.2 h | 0% | 16% |
| August | 113° | 88° | 0 | 0.0 in | 12.1 h/day | 13.4 h | 0% | 18% |
| September | 107° | 81° | 0 | 0.0 in | 11.7 h/day | 12.3 h | 0% | 21% |
| October | 94° | 70° | 1 | 0.5 in | 9.9 h/day | 11.3 h | 4% | 31% |
| November | 75° | 56° | 4 | 1.2 in | 8.9 h/day | 10.4 h | 14% | 58% |
| December | 65° | 47° | 4 | 1.1 in | 8.3 h/day | 10.0 h | 12% | 68% |
Baghdad month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Baghdad's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
- Daylight
- 10.2 h
February
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 9.0 h
- Daylight
- 10.9 h
March
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
April
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 13.0 h
May
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 12.1 h
- Daylight
- 13.9 h
June
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 13.3 h
- Daylight
- 14.3 h
July
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 12.9 h
- Daylight
- 14.2 h
August
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 12.1 h
- Daylight
- 13.4 h
September
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 11.7 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
October
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 9.9 h
- Daylight
- 11.3 h
November
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 8.9 h
- Daylight
- 10.4 h
December
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 8.3 h
- Daylight
- 10.0 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Baghdad
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Baghdad sits firmly in the heat, with daytime highs averaging 87°F (31°C) and nights around 63°F (17°C); rain comes on about 8 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 11.0 hours of sun a day.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Baghdad is punishingly hot, with daytime highs averaging 112°F (44°C) and nights around 86°F (30°C); precipitation is essentially absent. Daylight is generous - around 12.8 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Fall in Baghdad turns very hot, with daytime highs averaging 92°F (33°C) and nights around 69°F (21°C); precipitation is sparse, near 1.7 inches (44 mm) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.2 hours of sun a day.
Winter (December through February)
Through winter, Baghdad runs cool rather than cold: 65°F (18°C) by day, 46°F (8°C) after dark, and rain comes on about 13 days over the three months.
Climate questions, answered
How often does it rain in Baghdad?
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Does it rain a lot in Baghdad?
How many hot months does Baghdad have?
Are nights cold in Baghdad?
Is Baghdad cold in winter?
Best time to visit Baghdad
The best time to visit Baghdad is generally November to March, when temperatures sit either side of the peak heat rather than in it. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 69°F (20°C), with rain on about 4 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in November.
Pack for Baghdad with lightweight, breathable clothing and serious sun protection. Note the gap between afternoon and night: July pairs 114°F (45°C) with 88°F (31°C).
Baghdad 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.