AI-generatedAddis Ababa at a glance
- Best time
- Oct – Feb
- Warmest month
- Mar · 24°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,350 h
- Rain a year
- 1,833 mm
- Climate
- Mountain
- Time zone
- UTC+3
- Elevation
- 2,405 m
Climate in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa has a mountain climate: summers are fresh, winters cold and snowy. March is the warmest month with average highs of 24 °C, while July is the coolest at 20 °C. With around 2,350 hours of sunshine a year, Addis Ababa is sunny; November is the sunniest month with 7.4 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: October – February
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 13°
- Midday, 13:00: about 20°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 20°
- Evening, 20:00: about 14°
- Night, 23:00: about 12°
06:1218:09
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:00–06:40 · evening 17:41–18:22
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:51–06:00 · evening 18:22–18:30
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Addis Ababa in October?
In October, Addis Ababa is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 57 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Addis Ababa.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 56 min06:12 – 18:09
- UV index
- 14 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 14 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 45 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+3Africa/Addis_Ababa
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %65 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %76 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
Sunshine hours in Addis Ababa
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 6.9 of 11.9 hours of daylight in Addis Ababa, 58 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Addis Ababa
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 14 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in April (UV 16).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 10 min
- Light brown skin
- about 15 min
- Olive skin
- about 20 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Addis Ababa: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Addis Ababa has about 7 rainy days with 57 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Addis Ababa
How breezy and how cloudy Addis Ababa is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Addis Ababa typically peaks at 14 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 45 % of the sky over Addis Ababa: variable cloud, with about 6.9 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Addis Ababa
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
CoolOctober: nights around 9°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in December (8°), the warmest in April (11°).
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 93 | 22° | 9° | 7.0 h | 3 | 13 |
| FebruaryFeb | 94 | 24° | 10° | 7.2 h | 3 | 14 |
| MarchMar | 79 | 24° | 11° | 6.7 h | 10 | 71 |
| AprilApr | 72 | 23° | 11° | 6.6 h | 14 | 136 |
| MayMay | 69 | 23° | 11° | 6.4 h | 14 | 188 |
| JuneJun | 60 | 21° | 11° | 5.9 h | 23 | 265 |
| JulyJul | 56 | 20° | 11° | 4.9 h | 31 | 385 |
| AugustAug | 57 | 20° | 11° | 5.1 h | 31 | 407 |
| SeptemberSep | 60 | 20° | 10° | 6.0 h | 25 | 282 |
| OctoberOct | 86 | 21° | 9° | 6.9 h | 7 | 57 |
| NovemberNov | 95 | 21° | 8° | 7.4 h | 2 | 9 |
| DecemberDec | 94 | 22° | 8° | 7.2 h | 1 | 5 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
9.02° N, 38.75° E · 2,405 m · Africa/Addis_Ababa
Best time to visit Addis Ababa
The best time to visit Addis Ababa is from October to February. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from October to March. Rain is most frequent from April to September; the wettest month is August with 407 mm.
Addis Ababa through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Addis Ababa in spring
Mar – May
Good
- 23–24 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 38 rainy days in all
Addis Ababa in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 20–21 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 85 rainy days in all
Addis Ababa in autumn
Sep – Nov
Excellent
- 20–21 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Addis Ababa in winter
Dec – Feb
Excellent
- 22–24 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Addis Ababa for you.
Your best months: November – January
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Addis Ababa
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
November has the better holiday weather in Addis Ababa: score 95 against 86. Daytime highs are about the same. November has 5 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in November.
| Month | October | November |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 86 | 95better |
| Day high | 21° | 21° |
| Night low | 9° | 8° |
| Sunshine | 6.9 h | 7.4 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 7 | 2better |
| Rainfall | 57 mm | 9 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Oct – Mar
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Apr – Sep
12 or more rainy days
Addis Ababa month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
93January22° · 7 h
In January, Addis Ababa is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 13 mm in total. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa in January94February24° · 7 h
In February, Addis Ababa is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 14 mm in total. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa in February79March24° · 7 h
In March, Addis Ababa is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 71 mm in total. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa in March72April23° · 7 h
In April, Addis Ababa is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 136 mm in total. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa in April69May23° · 6 h
In May, Addis Ababa is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 188 mm. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa in May60June21° · 6 h
In June, Addis Ababa is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 23 days, adding up to 265 mm. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa in June56July20° · 5 h
In July, Addis Ababa is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 31 days, adding up to 385 mm. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa in July57August20° · 5 h
In August, Addis Ababa is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 31 days, adding up to 407 mm. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa in August60September20° · 6 h
In September, Addis Ababa is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 25 days, adding up to 282 mm. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa in September86October21° · 7 h
In October, Addis Ababa is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 57 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa in October95November21° · 7 h
In November, Addis Ababa is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, November is an excellent month for a holiday in Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa in November94December22° · 7 h
In December, Addis Ababa is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa in DecemberAddis Ababa compared
Put Addis Ababa side by side with another destination.
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Addis Ababa vs. Djibouti
In October Addis Ababa has the better holiday weather (score 86 vs. 59). During the day Djibouti is 11 °C warmer than Addis Ababa. Djibouti gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | Addis Ababa | Djibouti |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 86 | 59 |
| Daytime high | 21° | 32° |
| Sea | – | 31° |
| Sunshine | 7 h | 8 h |
| Rainy days | 7 | 7 |
| Best time | Oct – Feb | Nov – Mar |
Through the year
Ethiopia in October: the best places
In October, Addis Ababa ranks 2 of 2 destinations in this country.
- Axum25°94
- 2Addis AbabaThis page21°86
Planning a trip to Addis Ababa
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Addis Ababa in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Addis Ababa has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 94) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 57).
- 74
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 23 °C by day
- 6.6 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 67
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 23 °C by day
- 6.3 h of sun a day
- 16 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 57
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 20 °C by day
- 5.0 h of sun a day
- 31 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 86
October half-term
Oct
Excellent
- 21 °C by day
- 6.9 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 94
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
ExcellentBest holidays
- 22 °C by day
- 7.1 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 7 h 35 min
- Distance
- 5,910 km
- Time zone
- UTC+3
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Addis Ababa
When is the best time to visit Addis Ababa?
The best time to visit Addis Ababa is from October to February. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Addis Ababa?
March is the warmest month, with average highs of 24 °C and nights around 11 °C. July is the coolest month at 20 °C.
When does it rain most in Addis Ababa?
Rain is most frequent from April to September; the wettest month is August with 407 mm. The driest month is December with 5 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Addis Ababa get?
Addis Ababa gets around 2,350 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is November with 7.4 hours a day; in July there are 4.9 hours a day.
What time zone is Addis Ababa in?
Addis Ababa uses the time zone Africa/Addis_Ababa, at UTC+3 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Addis Ababa?
A nonstop flight from London to Addis Ababa takes about 7 h 35 min, for a straight-line distance of about 5,910 km.
Which school holidays are best for Addis Ababa?
Addis Ababa has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 94) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 57). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 74, May half-term 67, Summer holidays 57, October half-term 86, Christmas holidays 94.
Near Addis Ababa
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Addis Ababa
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Addis Ababa's – good alternatives.