The climate in Ethiopia

Climate zone: tropics

It is warm or hot yearlong. The warmest and rainiest part of the country is Dire Dawa. The coldest is Adis Abeba.

Temperature records of the last 109 years

The hottest temperature measured from 1914 to January 2023 was reported by the Dire Dawa weather station. In May 2003, the record temperature of 39.0 °C was reported here. The hottest summer from July to September, based on all 9 weather stations in Ethiopia below 2,350 meters altitude, was recorded in 2018 with an average temperature of 24.5 °C. This average temperature will normally be measured every four to six hours, thus also including the nights. Normally, this value is 20.7 degrees Celsius. The average maximum daily temperature at that time was 30.7 °C.

The coldest day in these 109 years was reported by the Jimma weather station. Here the temperature dropped to -1.6 °C in January 2019. Jimma lies at an altitude of 1,725 meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 1984 with an average temperature of 18.9 °C. In Ethiopia, it is usual to have about 2.1 degrees more at 21.0 °C for this three-month period.

The most precipitation fell in July 1969. With 24.3 mm per day, the Gore weather station recorded the highest monthly average of the last 109 years. Incidentally, the region with the most rainfall for the whole year is around Gore. The driest region is near Dire Dawa.

Data basis and methodology

The data from the individual measuring stations are based on the archives of the German Weather Service, individual values averaged and supplemented by own elements. In order to determine a representative national average, average values were first calculated for each part of the country, which were then summarized at the national level. Thus, if a disproportionate number of weather stations are located in a small area, their number does not affect the national average.