Bethlehem in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), Bethlehem sees average daytime highs around 33°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 1 mm of rain over about 0 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 31°C in early June to 34°C by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 99% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels humid.
Summer is Bethlehem's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Bethlehem's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 33°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 21°C
- Rainfall
- 1 mm
- 0 wet days
- Avg wind
- 8 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.7
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in Bethlehem in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 31°C in early June to 34°C by late August.
A typical summer day in Bethlehem reaches about 33°C and drops to 21°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is August, the coolest June.
How summer really feels in Bethlehem
Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 79 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in summer is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Bethlehem weather by month
How the three summer months (June, July and August) 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 | 15° / 7° | 77 | 10.1 | 10.2 | 4.8 |
| Feb | 16° / 8° | 67 | 9.5 | 10.8 | 5.3 |
| Mar | 19° / 10° | 46 | 7 | 11.8 | 7.0 |
| Apr | 24° / 13° | 18 | 3.2 | 12.8 | 8.4 |
| May | 29° / 16° | 9 | 1.9 | 13.6 | 7.3 |
| Jun | 32° / 19° | 1 | 0.4 | 14 | 5.5 |
| Jul | 34° / 21° | 0 | 0 | 13.9 | 4.3 |
| Aug | 34° / 22° | 0 | 0 | 13.2 | 4.2 |
| Sep | 32° / 20° | 3 | 0.6 | 12.2 | 5.3 |
| Oct | 28° / 17° | 20 | 3.9 | 11.2 | 7.1 |
| Nov | 22° / 13° | 37 | 6.2 | 10.4 | 7.6 |
| Dec | 17° / 9° | 54 | 8 | 10 | 6.0 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 99% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Bethlehem gets around 1 mm of rain over 0 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 8 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 13 h 54 min in early June to 12 h 42 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 7.7 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Bethlehem
None of Bethlehem's seasonal hazards peak in summer. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Bethlehem sees seasonal dust haze (May), heaviest in May.
Is summer a good time to visit Bethlehem?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a reasonable time to visit Bethlehem for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Bethlehem in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Bethlehem sees daytime highs around 33°C and nights near 21°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.
Sea temperature near Bethlehem in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 27°C across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 58 km away) is warmest in August at about 28°C and coldest in February near 18°C.
It's comfortable for a long swim from May 1 to Dec 27 — about 7.9 months when the water holds above 20°C.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 21 |
| Comfort | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Refreshing | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Warm | Warm | Refreshing | Refreshing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19 | Cool |
| Feb | 18 | Cool |
| Mar | 18 | Cool |
| Apr | 19 | Cool |
| May | 21 | Refreshing |
| Jun | 25 | Warm |
| Jul | 27 | Warm |
| Aug | 28 | Tropical |
| Sep | 28 | Warm |
| Oct | 26 | Warm |
| Nov | 24 | Refreshing |
| Dec | 21 | Refreshing |
UV index in Bethlehem in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Bethlehem peaks around June 18 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 11 at about 3 (moderate).
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) | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3 | Moderate |
| Feb | 4 | Moderate |
| Mar | 6 | High |
| Apr | 7 | Very high |
| May | 10 | Very high |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 11 | Extreme |
| Sep | 10 | Very high |
| Oct | 6 | High |
| Nov | 5 | Moderate |
| Dec | 3 | Moderate |
Air quality in Bethlehem in Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Bethlehem is worst in December — around 70 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 2.0× the cleanest month (July, 35 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 68 | 68 | 63 | 58 | 50 | 40 | 35 | 36 | 41 | 48 | 64 | 70 |
| Level | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Unhealthy | Unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68 | Unhealthy |
| Feb | 68 | Unhealthy |
| Mar | 63 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 58 | Unhealthy |
| May | 50 | Poor |
| Jun | 40 | Poor |
| Jul | 35 | Poor |
| Aug | 36 | Poor |
| Sep | 41 | Poor |
| Oct | 48 | Poor |
| Nov | 64 | Unhealthy |
| Dec | 70 | Unhealthy |
Where is Bethlehem?
Bethlehem sits at 31.7°N, 35.2°E, 775 m above sea level, in Palestinian Territory. The nearest listed city is Bayt Jālā, 2.0 km away.
Topography around Bethlehem
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Bethlehem.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Bethlehem has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 382 m around an average of 719 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 966 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,683 m.
The land around Bethlehem is covered by artificial surfaces (51%) and grassland (30%) within 3 km, grassland (38%) and artificial surfaces (20%) within 16 km, and bare terrain (26%) and grassland (23%) within 80 km.
Palestinian Territory travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type C / H
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- GDP per capita
- $3,171
- 2025
- Happiness
- 4.7 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 81%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 0.6
- per 100k, 2022
- Road deaths
- 5.3
- per 100k/yr, 2016
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- English
- Low
- EF EPI 463
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 Bethlehem (31.7049°, 35.2038°, elevation 775 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.