Egypt's Red Sea resorts are warm all year round: even in January, daytime temperatures reach about +22…24°C, and the water never drops below +21°C. The most comfortable weather is in March–May and October–November, while July and August are the hottest months, when the air warms up to +36…38°C. In winter, cool evenings and wind matter most, so it is important to choose the right resort.
Below are long-term monthly averages for Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam: daytime and night-time air temperatures, sea temperature, wind and tips on where to stay in each season. Check the forecast for your exact dates before departure, and find current prices in the search for tours to Egypt.
Egypt Weather by Month: Table
The first figure is the daytime air temperature, the second is the sea temperature.
| Month | Hurghada | Sharm El Sheikh | Marsa Alam |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | +22° / +22° | +22° / +23° | +24° / +23° |
| February | +24° / +21° | +24° / +22° | +25° / +22° |
| March | +26° / +21° | +26° / +23° | +27° / +22° |
| April | +30° / +22° | +30° / +23° | +30° / +23° |
| May | +34° / +24° | +35° / +25° | +33° / +25° |
| June | +36° / +26° | +38° / +26° | +35° / +27° |
| July | +37° / +27° | +38° / +28° | +36° / +28° |
| August | +38° / +28° | +38° / +29° | +36° / +29° |
| September | +35° / +27° | +36° / +28° | +34° / +28° |
| October | +32° / +26° | +33° / +28° | +33° / +27° |
| November | +28° / +25° | +28° / +26° | +29° / +26° |
| December | +24° / +23° | +24° / +24° | +26° / +24° |
Green marks the most comfortable months for a beach holiday. Long-term averages: Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh according to NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Marsa Alam according to Climate-Data. In a given year, values may differ by 2–3°C.
When it is cheaper to travel and how to plan a holiday trip — read our article on the best time to go to Egypt.
Egypt Weather in Winter
December, January and February are the coolest months of the year: +22…26°C during the day, +12…16°C at night and a sea temperature of +21…24°C. There is almost no rain and it is mostly sunny, but it gets dark early — around 5 pm — and a cool wind often blows from the sea. At the same time, this is one of the most popular seasons, so holiday tours are worth booking in advance.
Egypt Weather in December
In December, daytime temperatures in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh are around +24°C, and up to +26°C in Marsa Alam. Nights are cool: +13°C in Hurghada and +15…16°C in Sharm and Marsa Alam. The sea still holds its warmth at +23…24°C, so swimming is comfortable. Early in the month the resorts are quieter and cheaper, while from the second half of December prices rise due to New Year demand.
Egypt Weather in January
January is the coolest month: +22°C during the day in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh and +24°C in Marsa Alam, +12…14°C at night. The water is +22…23°C. The biggest discomfort is the wind on Hurghada's open beaches, so for a beach holiday it is better to choose the sheltered bays of Sharm El Sheikh or hotels with heated pools. For excursions to Luxor and Cairo, this is one of the best months.
Egypt Weather in February
In February, it is +24…25°C during the day and +12…15°C at night, while the sea is at its coolest of the year — +21…22°C. The sun is already strong, so it is easy to get a tan, but it feels cool in the wind after swimming. By the end of the month it gets noticeably warmer. After the holidays, tour prices drop, so February suits an inexpensive holiday.
Egypt Weather in Spring
From March to May, Egypt gradually warms up: from +26°C to +35°C during the day, with the sea rising from +21 to +25°C. This is one of the most comfortable seasons, but spring is also the time of the khamsin — hot desert winds that carry sand and last 1–3 days.
Egypt Weather in March
In March, it is +26…27°C during the day and +15…17°C at night. The sea has not warmed up yet — +21°C in Hurghada and +22…23°C in Sharm and Marsa Alam — so swimming feels cool on windy days. March is a good month to combine the beach with excursions.
Egypt Weather in April
In April, all resorts see around +30°C during the day and +19…21°C at night, with the sea at +22…23°C. It is warm but without the summer heat, which makes April one of the best months for a holiday with children and active excursions.
Egypt Weather in May
May is almost summer: +33…35°C during the day, +23…24°C at night, and the sea warms up to +24…25°C. The water becomes comfortable for long snorkelling and diving sessions, while the heat is not yet as exhausting as in July.
Egypt Weather in Summer
Summer on the Red Sea is hot and dry: +35…38°C during the day and up to +29°C at night, with the sea at +26…29°C. Dry heat is easier to bear than humid heat, but it is best to stay in the shade from 11 am to 4 pm and move excursions to the morning.
Egypt Weather in June
In June, it is +36°C in Hurghada, up to +38°C in Sharm El Sheikh and +35°C in Marsa Alam; nights are +24…27°C and the sea is +26…27°C. On the Mediterranean, the season is already under way in El Alamein, where daytime temperatures are around +29…30°C.
Egypt Weather in July
July is one of the hottest months: +36…38°C during the day and +26…28°C at night, with the sea at +27…28°C. The sea breeze makes the beach bearable, and the mildest summer is in Marsa Alam.
Egypt Weather in August
August brings the warmest sea of the year — +28…29°C — with +36…38°C during the day and up to +28…29°C at night. This is the season for heat and beach lovers; those who do not cope well with the heat should choose El Alamein or move the trip to autumn.
Egypt Weather in Autumn
In autumn, the heat gradually eases while the sea stays warm after the summer — in October it is warmer than in May. October and November are among the most popular months for a holiday in Egypt.
Egypt Weather in September
September is still hot — +34…36°C during the day and +24…27°C at night — but the sea is at its warmest after August: +27…28°C. In the second half of the month, the heat gradually eases.
Egypt Weather in October
In October, it is +32…33°C during the day and +22…24°C at night, with the sea at +26…28°C. A warm sea without the summer heat makes it a true velvet season, so demand for tours is high.
Egypt Weather in November
In November, it is +28…29°C during the day and +18…20°C at night, with the sea at +25…26°C. It is comfortable for both the beach and excursions, and evenings get cool by the end of the month. A good time for a holiday with children.
Where Is It Warmest in Egypt in Winter
Comparison of the resorts in December–February:
| Resort | Day | Night | Sea | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharm El Sheikh | +22…24°C | +14…16°C | +22…24°C | bays sheltered by the Sinai mountains |
| Marsa Alam | +24…26°C | +13…15°C | +22…24°C | sheltered coves available |
| Hurghada, El Gouna, Makadi Bay | +22…24°C | +12…13°C | +21…23°C | often windy on open beaches |
In winter, it is warmest in Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam. Sharm has warmer nights and sea, and its bays are sheltered from the north wind by the Sinai mountains; Marsa Alam has the warmest days. Hurghada is as warm as Sharm during the day but cooler at night, and the wind blows more often on its open beaches.
Wind in Egypt: When and Where It Blows
A north wind blows over the Red Sea almost all year round. In summer it brings relief from the heat, while in winter, at +22°C, it makes a holiday feel cooler — especially in January and February on Hurghada's open beaches. In spring, from March to May, there are khamsin winds: hot, sandy winds from the desert that last 1–3 days.
Where the wind is felt less:
- Sharm El Sheikh — Naama Bay, Sharm El Maya and Ras Um Sid; read more in our article on the windless bays of Sharm El Sheikh.
- Hurghada — hotels in the bays of Makadi Bay and Sahl Hasheesh, where the wind is usually weaker than on the open city beaches.
- Marsa Alam — sheltered coves such as Abu Dabbab.
Where it is windy: El Gouna, Soma Bay and Dahab are popular kitesurfing and windsurfing spots, so in winter they feel fresh even during the day.
In winter, look for hotels with heated pools and windbreak screens on the beach — this is shown in the hotel description.
Weather for Excursions: Luxor, Cairo and Sinai
The most comfortable time for excursions is from October to April. In winter, Luxor sees around +23°C during the day but can drop to +6…8°C at night, while Cairo has +19…20°C during the day. In summer, Luxor exceeds +40°C, so trips start at dawn. If you climb Mount Sinai in winter, take warm clothes: at the summit at dawn it can be around zero.
❓Frequently Asked Questions about the Weather in Egypt
What is the weather like in Egypt in December?
Warm and dry: +24…26°C during the day, +13…16°C at night, and the sea at +23…24°C. Swimming is comfortable, but you will need a jumper or a light jacket in the evening.
What is the weather like in Egypt in January?
January is the coolest month: +22…24°C during the day, +12…14°C at night, and the sea at +22…23°C. Hurghada's open beaches are often windy; the bays of Sharm El Sheikh are warmer and calmer.
What is the weather like in Egypt in February?
+24…25°C during the day and +12…15°C at night, while the sea is at its coolest of the year — +21…22°C. By the end of the month it gets noticeably warmer.
What is the weather like in Egypt at New Year?
In late December and early January, it is +22…24°C during the day, +12…16°C at night, and the sea is +22…24°C. Warm enough for walks and sunbathing; for swimming, the wind-sheltered bays of Sharm El Sheikh are the best choice.
What is the weather like in Egypt in March?
+26…27°C during the day, +15…17°C at night, and the sea at +21…23°C. Khamsin winds are possible — hot, sandy desert winds that last 1–3 days.
What is the weather like in Egypt in June?
Hot: +35…38°C during the day, +24…27°C at night, and the sea at +26…27°C. It is mildest in Marsa Alam, and on the Mediterranean in El Alamein it is around +29…30°C.
What is the weather like in Egypt in November?
Comfortable: +28…29°C during the day, +18…20°C at night, and the sea at +25…26°C. A good month for both the beach and excursions.
Where is it warmest in Egypt in winter?
In Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam. Sharm has warmer nights (+14…16°C) and sea (+22…24°C), and its bays are sheltered from the wind by mountains; Marsa Alam has the warmest days — up to +24…26°C.
When is it cold in Egypt?
It is coolest in January and February: +22…25°C during the day but +12…15°C at night, and it feels cool in the wind after swimming. The resorts never get truly cold; temperatures near zero occur only in the desert and the Sinai mountains at dawn.
Can you swim in Egypt in winter?
Yes. The sea is +21…24°C in winter, warmest in Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam. Swimming is more comfortable in bays sheltered from the wind, and many hotels have heated pools.
When is the windy season in Egypt?
The wind on the Red Sea blows almost all year round, but it is most noticeable in winter, especially in January and February, when the air is cool. From March to May there are khamsin winds — hot, sandy winds from the desert.
Where in Egypt is there no wind in winter?
No resort is completely windless, but the wind is weakest in the bays of Sharm El Sheikh — Naama Bay, Sharm El Maya and Ras Um Sid — as well as in the coves of Marsa Alam and the bays of Makadi Bay and Sahl Hasheesh near Hurghada.
When is the hottest time in Egypt?
July and August: +36…38°C during the day and up to +28…29°C at night. This is also when the sea is warmest — +28…29°C.
When is the best weather for a holiday in Egypt?
From March to May and from October to November: +26…35°C during the day and a sea of +21…28°C, without the summer heat or cool winter evenings.
Does it rain in Egypt?
Very rarely: the Red Sea resorts get about 10 mm of rain a year, mostly from October to January as short showers. The rest of the time it is sunny.
What clothes should I take to Egypt in winter?
Summer clothes for the day and, for the evening, a jumper, a long-sleeved top and a light jacket: after sunset it can be +12…16°C. For excursions to the desert or Mount Sinai, you will need warm clothes.
Why can't you swim in Egypt after sunset?
Resort beaches close at sunset: there are no lifeguards in the dark, reefs and currents are harder to see, and local rules prohibit swimming after dark. In winter it gets dark around 5 pm, so plan your swims for the first half of the day.
Do hotels in Egypt heat their pools in winter?
Many hotels heat at least one pool in winter. This is stated in the hotel description, so check before booking, especially if you are travelling with children.
