Damascus, Syria Climate & Monthly Averages
Damascus has a hot desert climate. July is the hottest month, averaging 100° by day; January is the coldest at 55°.
Damascus's climate runs on sunshine and sparse rain
Rain is the exception in Damascus. The city collects about 7.0 inches (178 mm) across 33 wet days in a typical year, which leaves the sky clear for most of it - 11.0 hours of sunshine a day on average. Highs run from 55°F (13°C) in January to 100°F (38°C) in July.
What the dry climate changes
At its warmest, in July, Damascus runs to 100°F (38°C) in the afternoon and back to 69°F (21°C) by dawn. January is the coolest month, with highs of 55°F (13°C) and lows near 37°F (3°C). Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 113°F (45°C) and the lowest daily minimum 4°F (-16°C). 7 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running April through October.
Snowfall is rare but not unheard of. Three of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is March through April. Average highs hold at or above 30°C for 5 months of the year, May through September being the unbroken run.
More climate facts for Damascus
- Hottest month: July - highs near 100°F (38°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 55°F (13°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 113°F (45°C) high · 4°F (-16°C) low
- Wettest month: January (6 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (13.3 h sun/day)
- Climate type: hot desert
- Annual swing: 22°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 14°C
- Snow: about 2 days a year
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 5
- Average humidity: 48%
Heat, cold and scarce precipitation in the dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.
When the dry weather is easiest to use
Avoiding the hardest heat or cold
February to April and October to November is the sweet spot for Damascus - temperatures sit either side of the peak heat rather than in it. Expect 71°F (22°C) in the afternoon and around 4 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in February.
Prepare for sun and cooler nights
Pack for Damascus with lightweight, breathable clothing and serious sun protection and a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season. July nights average 69°F (21°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Monthly heat and rainfall table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 55° | 37° | 6 | 1.6 in | 8.5 h/day | 10.2 h | 21% | 70% |
| February | 59° | 40° | 5 | 1.1 in | 9.3 h/day | 10.9 h | 18% | 62% |
| March | 66° | 44° | 5 | 1.1 in | 10.4 h/day | 11.9 h | 17% | 55% |
| April | 78° | 52° | 4 | 0.6 in | 12.0 h/day | 13.0 h | 12% | 42% |
| May | 87° | 60° | 1 | 0.1 in | 12.8 h/day | 13.9 h | 3% | 35% |
| June | 94° | 65° | 0 | 0.0 in | 13.3 h/day | 14.4 h | 1% | 33% |
| July | 100° | 69° | 0 | 0.0 in | 13.3 h/day | 14.2 h | 0% | 33% |
| August | 100° | 69° | 0 | 0.0 in | 12.9 h/day | 13.4 h | 0% | 37% |
| September | 94° | 66° | 0 | 0.0 in | 11.7 h/day | 12.3 h | 0% | 39% |
| October | 83° | 59° | 2 | 0.3 in | 10.5 h/day | 11.3 h | 5% | 44% |
| November | 68° | 49° | 4 | 1.1 in | 9.2 h/day | 10.4 h | 14% | 57% |
| December | 59° | 41° | 5 | 1.1 in | 8.2 h/day | 9.9 h | 17% | 68% |
How daytime heat and cool nights change by month
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Damascus's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 8.5 h
- Daylight
- 10.2 h
February
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 10.9 h
March
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
April
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 12.0 h
- Daylight
- 13.0 h
May
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 12.8 h
- Daylight
- 13.9 h
June
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 13.3 h
- Daylight
- 14.4 h
July
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 13.3 h
- Daylight
- 14.2 h
August
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 12.9 h
- Daylight
- 13.4 h
September
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 11.7 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
October
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 10.5 h
- Daylight
- 11.3 h
November
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 9.2 h
- Daylight
- 10.4 h
December
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 8.2 h
- Daylight
- 9.9 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Damascus's coolest part of the year: January, December, February.
Heat and cold across the Damascus year
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Damascus brings comfortable warmth: 77°F (25°C) by day, 52°F (11°C) after dark, and rain comes on about 10 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 11.7 hours of sun a day.
Summer (June through August)
Summer brings serious heat here - highs near 98°F (37°C), nights near 68°F (20°C), and precipitation is essentially absent. Daylight is generous - around 13.2 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Fall in Damascus is hot, with daytime highs averaging 82°F (28°C) and nights around 58°F (14°C); precipitation is sparse, near 1.4 inches (34 mm) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.5 hours of sun a day.
Winter (December through February)
Winter runs cool rather than cold here - highs near 58°F (14°C), nights near 39°F (4°C), and rain comes on about 17 days over the three months.
How unusual is Damascus?
- Afternoons run 14°C above the following night - a bigger day-to-night gap than 97% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Annual precipitation is 7.0 inches (178 mm) - drier than all but 4% of the 3496 cities we track.
- The city sees 11.0 hours of sunshine on an average day - sunnier than 95% of the 3496 cities we track.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.