Addis Ababa in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Addis Ababa sees average daytime highs around 23°C and overnight lows near 8°C, with 40 mm of rain over about 9 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 22°C in early December to 24°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Addis Ababa's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Addis Ababa's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 23°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 8°C
- Rainfall
- 40 mm
- 9 wet days
- Avg wind
- 8 km/h
- Travel score
- 8.2
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Addis Ababa in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 22°C in early December to 24°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Addis Ababa reaches about 23°C and drops to 8°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Addis Ababa weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23° / 8° | 15 | 3.3 | 11.5 | 8.1 |
| Feb | 24° / 10° | 19 | 4.2 | 11.7 | 8.1 |
| Mar | 24° / 11° | 65 | 10 | 11.9 | 7.2 |
| Apr | 24° / 12° | 142 | 13.6 | 12.2 | 6.4 |
| May | 23° / 12° | 177 | 13.6 | 12.4 | 6.3 |
| Jun | 22° / 11° | 267 | 23.5 | 12.5 | 4.6 |
| Jul | 20° / 11° | 377 | 30.9 | 12.5 | 3.3 |
| Aug | 20° / 11° | 407 | 31 | 12.3 | 3.3 |
| Sep | 20° / 11° | 275 | 24.9 | 12.1 | 4.2 |
| Oct | 21° / 9° | 48 | 6.9 | 11.8 | 7.2 |
| Nov | 22° / 8° | 10 | 1.8 | 11.6 | 8.3 |
| Dec | 22° / 7° | 6 | 1.2 | 11.5 | 8.5 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Addis Ababa gets around 40 mm of rain over 9 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 8 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 30 min in early December to 11 h 48 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 6.0 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Addis Ababa
None of Addis Ababa's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Addis Ababa's monsoon runs June–September, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Addis Ababa?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is one of the better times to visit Addis Ababa for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Addis Ababa in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Addis Ababa sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 8°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes and a warm layer. About 9 days see rain.
UV index in Addis Ababa in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 13 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Addis Ababa peaks around March 18 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 10 at about 11 (extreme).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Extreme |
| Feb | 15 | Extreme |
| Mar | 16 | Extreme |
| Apr | 15 | Extreme |
| May | 14 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 15 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 13 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 11 | Extreme |
Air quality in Addis Ababa in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Addis Ababa is worst in September — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.
Seasonal pattern from CAMS reanalysis, scaled to Addis Ababa's WHO annual average of 20.5 µg/m³.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 20 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19 | Moderate |
| Feb | 19 | Moderate |
| Mar | 19 | Moderate |
| Apr | 19 | Moderate |
| May | 21 | Moderate |
| Jun | 24 | Moderate |
| Jul | 19 | Moderate |
| Aug | 19 | Moderate |
| Sep | 25 | Moderate |
| Oct | 22 | Moderate |
| Nov | 19 | Moderate |
| Dec | 20 | Moderate |
Where is Addis Ababa?
Addis Ababa sits at 9.0°N, 38.7°E, 2,405 m above sea level, in Ethiopia. The nearest listed city is Burayu, 10 km away.
Topography around Addis Ababa
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Addis Ababa.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Addis Ababa has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 259 m around an average of 2,409 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,149 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,254 m.
The land around Addis Ababa is covered by artificial surfaces (84%) within 3 km, artificial surfaces (36%) and cropland (33%) within 16 km, and cropland (80%) within 80 km.
Ethiopia travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 3
- Reconsider Travel
- Power plugs
- Type C / E / F / L
- 220 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 37% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $933
- 2025
- Happiness
- 4.0 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 14%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 8.5
- per 100k, 2012
- Road deaths
- 28.2
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Low
- World Bank
- English
- Low
- EF EPI 499
- Religion
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 Addis Ababa (9.025°, 38.7469°, elevation 2,405 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.