Dire Dawa in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Dire Dawa sees average daytime highs around 24°C and overnight lows near 13°C, with 74 mm of rain over about 12 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 23°C in early December to 26°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 58% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Dire Dawa's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Dire Dawa's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 24°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 13°C
- Rainfall
- 74 mm
- 12 wet days
- Avg wind
- 6 km/h
- Travel score
- 8.3
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Dire Dawa in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 23°C in early December to 26°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Dire Dawa reaches about 24°C and drops to 13°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Dire Dawa 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 | 24° / 12° | 24 | 4.3 | 11.5 | 8.3 |
| Feb | 25° / 14° | 30 | 4.2 | 11.7 | 8.0 |
| Mar | 26° / 15° | 95 | 10 | 11.9 | 6.9 |
| Apr | 26° / 16° | 153 | 14.3 | 12.2 | 6.0 |
| May | 27° / 17° | 95 | 11.5 | 12.4 | 6.4 |
| Jun | 27° / 17° | 30 | 8.4 | 12.5 | 6.9 |
| Jul | 26° / 16° | 92 | 18.9 | 12.5 | 5.6 |
| Aug | 25° / 16° | 127 | 22.4 | 12.3 | 5.2 |
| Sep | 25° / 16° | 110 | 17 | 12.1 | 5.9 |
| Oct | 25° / 15° | 74 | 8 | 11.8 | 7.4 |
| Nov | 24° / 13° | 36 | 4.3 | 11.6 | 8.4 |
| Dec | 23° / 12° | 20 | 3.1 | 11.5 | 8.5 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 58% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Dire Dawa gets around 74 mm of rain over 12 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 6 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 5.9 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Dire Dawa
None of Dire Dawa's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Dire Dawa sees seasonal dust haze (June–July), heaviest in July.
Is winter a good time to visit Dire Dawa?
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 Dire Dawa for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Dire Dawa in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Dire Dawa sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 13°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes. About 12 days see rain.
UV index in Dire Dawa in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Dire Dawa peaks around March 21 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 10 at about 10 (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) | 12 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 10 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12 | Extreme |
| Feb | 14 | Extreme |
| Mar | 15 | Extreme |
| Apr | 15 | Extreme |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 12 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 13 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 10 | Extreme |
Air quality in Dire Dawa 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 Dire Dawa is worst in June — around 30 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 22 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 30 | 28 | 22 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 21 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22 | Moderate |
| Feb | 24 | Moderate |
| Mar | 24 | Moderate |
| Apr | 21 | Moderate |
| May | 25 | Moderate |
| Jun | 30 | Moderate |
| Jul | 28 | Moderate |
| Aug | 22 | Moderate |
| Sep | 26 | Moderate |
| Oct | 24 | Moderate |
| Nov | 21 | Moderate |
| Dec | 21 | Moderate |
Where is Dire Dawa?
Dire Dawa sits at 9.6°N, 41.9°E, 1,204 m above sea level, in Ethiopia. The nearest listed city is ‘Alemaya, 27 km away.
Topography around Dire Dawa
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Dire Dawa.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Dire Dawa has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 322 m around an average of 1,233 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,339 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,714 m.
The land around Dire Dawa is covered by shrubs (49%) and artificial surfaces (36%) within 3 km, shrubs (72%) within 16 km, and shrubs (44%) and grassland (22%) 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 Dire Dawa (9.5931°, 41.8661°, elevation 1,204 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.