Harar in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Harar sees average daytime highs around 25°C and overnight lows near 13°C, with 37 mm of rain over about 7 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 24°C in early December to 27°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 56% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Harar's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Harar's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 25°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 13°C
- Rainfall
- 37 mm
- 7 wet days
- Avg wind
- 7 km/h
- Travel score
- 8.5
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Harar in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 24°C in early December to 27°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Harar reaches about 25°C and drops to 13°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Harar 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 | 25° / 13° | 11 | 2.2 | 11.5 | 8.6 |
| Feb | 26° / 14° | 15 | 2.3 | 11.7 | 8.1 |
| Mar | 26° / 16° | 47 | 6.9 | 11.9 | 7.3 |
| Apr | 25° / 16° | 108 | 15.9 | 12.2 | 5.9 |
| May | 24° / 16° | 122 | 19.9 | 12.4 | 5.5 |
| Jun | 24° / 15° | 40 | 10.1 | 12.5 | 6.9 |
| Jul | 23° / 15° | 63 | 15.3 | 12.5 | 6.1 |
| Aug | 23° / 15° | 81 | 17.5 | 12.3 | 5.8 |
| Sep | 24° / 15° | 71 | 14.3 | 12.1 | 6.4 |
| Oct | 24° / 14° | 71 | 10.9 | 11.8 | 7.0 |
| Nov | 24° / 13° | 25 | 3.9 | 11.6 | 8.4 |
| Dec | 24° / 13° | 11 | 2.2 | 11.5 | 8.8 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 56% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Harar gets around 37 mm of rain over 7 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 7 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 Harar
None of Harar's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Harar's rainy season runs April–May, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Harar?
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 Harar for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Harar in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Harar sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 13°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes. About 7 days see rain.
UV index in Harar 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 Harar peaks around March 17 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near November 23 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 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 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 | 13 | Extreme |
| Jun | 12 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 14 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 13 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 11 | Extreme |
Air quality in Harar 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 Harar is worst in October — around 19 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) | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 17 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17 | Moderate |
| Feb | 18 | Moderate |
| Mar | 18 | Moderate |
| Apr | 17 | Moderate |
| May | 16 | Moderate |
| Jun | 18 | Moderate |
| Jul | 18 | Moderate |
| Aug | 14 | Moderate |
| Sep | 15 | Moderate |
| Oct | 19 | Moderate |
| Nov | 18 | Moderate |
| Dec | 17 | Moderate |
Where is Harar?
Harar sits at 9.3°N, 42.1°E, 1,917 m above sea level, in Ethiopia. The nearest listed city is ‘Alemaya, 15 km away.
Topography around Harar
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Harar.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Harar has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 414 m around an average of 1,948 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,114 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,622 m.
The land around Harar is covered by shrubs (43%), artificial surfaces (29%) and cropland (23%) within 3 km, shrubs (51%) and cropland (45%) within 16 km, and shrubs (61%) and cropland (20%) 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 Harar (9.3139°, 42.1181°, elevation 1,917 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.