Massawa weather in October

In October, Massawa sees average daytime highs of 32°C and overnight lows near 27°C, with 18 mm of rain across 4.5 wet days and about 11.6 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 6th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 33°C in the first days to 31°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 81% of the time in October, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 54 min at the start of October to 11 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, October is Massawa's 2nd-clearest and 12th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Massawa's year-round climate.

Daytime high
32°
6th warmest
Overnight low
27°
7th coldest
Rainfall
18 mm
4.5 wet days
Daylight
11 h 36 min
6:18 AM – 5:56 PM
Cloud cover
21%
2nd clearest
Wind
7 km/h
12th windiest
Solar energy
5.86 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.0
out of 10

Massawa is city on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea.

Density
48/km²
people per km²

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in October

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 33°C in the first days to 31°C by the end.

A typical October day in Massawa reaches about 32°C in the afternoon and slips back to 27°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 31°C and 34°C. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 3°C cooler than September and about 3°C warmer than November.

25°28°30°33°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13428
23328
33328
43328
53328
63328
73328
83328
93328
103328
113228
123227
133227
143227
153227
163227
173227
183227
193227
203227
213227
223127
233127
243127
253126
263126
273126
283126
293126
303126
313126

How October really feels in Massawa

Once humidity and wind are folded in, October averages 31 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
31
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in October is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Massawa weather by month

How October compares with the rest of the year at a glance. October is the 6th-warmest and 6th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan25° / 22°10916.511.25.8
Feb25° / 22°6412.611.56.2
Mar27° / 23°337.811.97.0
Apr30° / 25°164.312.36.0
May33° / 27°51.312.74.7
Jun35° / 29°10.112.93.3
Jul36° / 30°5112.82.5
Aug36° / 30°50.912.52.5
Sep35° / 29°20.412.13.5
Oct32° / 27°184.511.65.0
Nov29° / 25°497.411.36.1
Dec27° / 23°851311.16.3

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 81% of the time in October.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 10% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 9%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
1928
2928
3928
4928
5919
6919
79010
89010
99010
109010
119010
129010
139010
149010
159010
169010
17919
18919
19919
20919
21919
22919
23919
24919
25919
26919
27919
28919
29919
30919
31919

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

Massawa gets around 18 mm of rain over 4.5 wet days in October. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 14% and peaks near 17% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
16
27
37
48
59
610
710
811
912
1013
1113
1214
1315
1415
1516
1616
1717
1817
1917
2017
2117
2217
2317
2417
2516
2616
2715
2815
2915
3015
3114

Humidity in October

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of October feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, October lands in the oppressive band about 66% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 95% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
11727587
21725607
31623637
41622647
51521667
61420687
71419697
81419697
91318726
101318726
111318726
121219735
131219735
141220734
150321724
160322714
170323713
180324703
190325693
200327673
210428653
220429652
230429652
240430642
250431632
260432622
270433612
280534592
290435592
300435592
310436582

Wind in October

Winds average 7 km/h in October, the calmest month.

Across October, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 8 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
18calm
28calm
38calm
48calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in October

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 54 min at the start of October to 11 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 30 minutes over October. Sunrise moves from 6:15 AM to 6:22 AM, and sunset from 6:07 PM to 5:49 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.96:156:07
211.86:156:06
311.86:166:05
411.86:166:05
511.86:166:04
611.86:166:03
711.86:166:02
811.86:166:02
911.76:166:01
1011.76:176:00
1111.76:176:00
1211.76:175:59
1311.76:175:58
1411.76:175:58
1511.76:185:57
1611.66:185:56
1711.66:185:56
1811.66:185:55
1911.66:195:55
2011.66:195:54
2111.66:195:54
2211.66:195:53
2311.56:205:52
2411.56:205:52
2511.56:205:51
2611.56:215:51
2711.56:215:51
2811.56:215:50
2911.56:225:50
3011.56:225:49
3111.46:225:49

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 5.86 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.05 kWh/m² to a high of 6.82 kWh/m² in May across the year — October's 5.86 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.2Intense
26.1Intense
36.1Intense
46.1Intense
56.1Intense
66.0Intense
76.0Intense
86.0Intense
96.0Bright
106.0Bright
115.9Bright
125.9Bright
135.9Bright
145.9Bright
155.9Bright
165.9Bright
175.8Bright
185.8Bright
195.8Bright
205.8Bright
215.8Bright
225.8Bright
235.8Bright
245.7Bright
255.7Bright
265.7Bright
275.7Bright
285.7Bright
295.7Bright
305.6Bright
315.6Bright
Planning a trip in October

Hazard calendar for Massawa

In seasonPeak

None of Massawa's seasonal hazards are active in October. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Massawa sees seasonal dust haze (May–September), heaviest in July.

Dust
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is October a good time to visit Massawa?

Our two travel scores rate October for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

5.0
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
7.9
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

October is a reasonable time to visit Massawa for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Massawa in October

From October's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In October, Massawa sees daytime highs around 32°C and nights near 27°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection. About 5 days see rain.

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Massawa in October

The nearest coast averages about 32°C in October — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 16 km away) is warmest in September at about 32°C and coldest in February near 27°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

26°28°30°32°34°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr29Tropical
May30Tropical
Jun31Tropical
Jul32Tropical
Aug32Tropical
Sep32Tropical
Oct32Tropical
Nov30Tropical
Dec28Tropical

UV index in Massawa in October

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in October peaks around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Massawa peaks around April 11 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 13 at about 7 (high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highVery highHighApr 11UV 12Dec 13UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan9Very high
Feb10Very high
Mar12Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May9Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep10Extreme
Oct9Very high
Nov8Very high
Dec7High

Air quality in Massawa in October

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where October falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Massawa is worst in May — around 94 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 4.2× the cleanest month (December, 23 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0306090120JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorUnhealthyUnhealthyModerateMay 1292 µg/m³Dec 2023 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan27Moderate
Feb31Moderate
Mar47Poor
Apr83Unhealthy
May94Unhealthy
Jun47Poor
Jul67Unhealthy
Aug94Unhealthy
Sep79Unhealthy
Oct64Unhealthy
Nov33Moderate
Dec23Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Massawa?

Massawa sits at 15.6°N, 39.5°E, 9 m above sea level, in Eritrea. The nearest listed city is Asmara, 65 km away.

AsmaraMendeferaKerenĀdīgratIntich’oIdaga HamusAdwaAksum

Topography around Massawa

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Massawa.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Massawa has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 10 m around an average of 1 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 320 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,874 m.

The land around Massawa is covered by water (76%) within 3 km, water (48%) and bare terrain (45%) within 16 km, and water (39%) and bare terrain (30%) within 80 km.

3 km
10 m
16 km
320 m
80 km
2,874 m
shrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
October weather nearby: Asmara 65 km · Mendefera 107 km · Keren 111 km · Ādīgrat 148 km · Intich’o 152 km · Idaga Hamus 158 km · Adwa 172 km · Aksum 184 km

Eritrea travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / L
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 33% of US
price level, 2021
GDP per capita
$689
2011
Homicide rate
15.6
per 100k, 2012
Road deaths
37.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Low
World Bank

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Massawa (15.6081°, 39.4746°, elevation 9 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).