The climate in Libya

Climate zone: Subtropics of the northern hemisphere

For 9 months, the average temperatures are over 25 degrees. Pleasant water temperatures of up to 28 degrees even invite you to bathe in the warm season. The warmest and rainiest part of the country is Fezzan. The coldest is Tripolitania.

Temperature records of the last 74 years

The hottest temperature measured from 1949 to January 2023 was reported by the Jalo weather station. In June 2010, the record temperature of 48.5 °C was reported here. The hottest summer from July to September, based on all 25 weather stations in Libya below 730 meters altitude, was recorded in 2002 with an average temperature of 31.1 °C. This average temperature will normally be measured every four to six hours, thus also including the nights. Normally, this value is 28.5 degrees Celsius.

The coldest day in these 74 years was reported by the Gariat El Sharghia weather station. Here the temperature dropped to -4.5 °C in January 2019. Gariat El Sharghia lies at an altitude of 497 meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 1992 with an average temperature of 12.3 °C. In Libya, it is usual to have about 2.4 degrees more at 14.6 °C for this three-month period.

The most precipitation fell in January 1991. With 12.3 mm per day, the Derna weather station recorded the highest monthly average of the last 74 years. Incidentally, the region with the most rainfall for the whole year is around Tripoli Airport. The driest region is near Kufra.

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.