Weather Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm El Sheikh sits on the southern tip of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba. It enjoys a hot and dry desert climate. During spring and summer, average temperatures range between a mild 21°C and a scorching 33°C, whilst autumn and winter sees slightly cooler average temperatures ranging between 18°C and 27°C.
However, the difference in temperature really is the only main distinction in terms of weather between summer and winter in Sharm el Sheik the average sea temperature, average daily sunshine hours and average rainfall stay very constant throughout the month.
Sharm el Sheikh's coastal location on the Red Sea means it's milder than interior regions of Egypt, such as Cairo and Luxor. The moderating effects of the cool sea breeze and the northwest prevailing winds which come over from the Mediterranean help protect the resort from the real temperature extremes seen in the desert. The absence of rain in Sharm el Sheik can be attributed to the huge rain shadow caused by North Africa's Atlas Mountains and the area's flat topography which provides no obstacle to winds.
While on land Sharm El Sheikh's hot, arid climate has resulted in a never ending sandy desert, underwater the landscape is full of exotic life and colour. The Red Sea coral thrives in these constantly hot and nutrient rich waters and provides a home to many rare species of marine life, such as the masked butterflyfish, the Picasso triggerfish, the red sea flasher wrasse and the red sea anemonefish.
Spring
In terms of temperature, the best time to visit Sharm el Sheikh is in the transitional periods of Spring or Autumn. During March, daytime highs of 25°C are warm enough without being scorching, whilst night time temperatures of 13°C are cool enough to provide some respite from the heat without being too cold. 11-12 hours of sunshine per day mean there's plenty of opportunity to be out and about before the scorching summer heats descend. These months are also best for travellers interested in scuba diving, when sea visibility is clearest and water temperatures hover around 22-23°C.
Summer
Over the course of the summer season in Sharm el Sheikh, average temperatures start off at 29°C in May and rapidly climb until they peak at 33°C in July and August. After these months, average temperatures begin to drop so they only reach 31°C in September. This makes May the coolest summer month with average highs of 34°C during the daytime and average lows of 24°C at night and August the hottest summer month with average highs of 37°C during the daytime and average lows of 28°C at night.
The big difference between daytime and night time temperatures can be attributed to the high level of insolation which is caused by incredibly low humidity levels allowing greater amounts of solar radiation to reach the earth's surface. The low humidity also helps to make the intense Sharm el Sheikh heat slightly more bearable. So while it can be ridiculously hot, it's not as uncomfortable as it is in the humid tropics.
The cool sea breeze also provides some relief from the heat, but really it is too hot to be outside for long between 11am and 4pm during summer the hottest time of the day. A good way to cool down at this time of year in Sharm el Sheikh is to take a dip in the sea. Average sea temperatures are at their coolest in May when they're just 25°C, whilst they're at their hottest in August, when they peak at 29°C.
Sunbathing at the beach combined with quick dips in the sea, boat trips, scuba diving and snorkelling with an inch of sun tan lotion protecting your skin can all be enjoyed in comfort during the morning, late afternoon and early evening. Air-conditioning is an absolute must-have in your accommodation and when you're outside, you should always carry plenty of water and sun cream with you, as the risk of sunburn, sun stroke and dehydration is extremely high in summer in Sharm el Sheikh.
In May, June, July and August the sunniest months of the year the sun shines for a staggering 13 hours each day. During September when the sun shines the least, there are still 12 hours of the stuff every day. Strangely, July is the cloudiest month of the year, when median cloud coverage ranges between 83% (mostly cloudy) at the start of the month and 28% (mostly clear) by the end of the month.
Despite the high cloud coverage, the clouds you see in Sharm el Sheikh in summer are certainly not rain clouds. During May the resort is subject to an average of a mere 1mm of rainfall which drops down to an average of 0mm of rainfall between June and September.
Autumn
Autumn, like Spring, is one of the best times to visit Sharm el Sheikh. Average temperatures drop from 27°C in October to 23°C in November. This transitional period between summer and winter means that daytime temperatures don't climb too high, topping at an average of 31°C in October and 27°C in November, whilst not feeling to low at night, between 23-18°C. Sea temperatures of 26-27°C and clear visibility makes this one of the best times for those wishing to scuba dive.
Winter
Winter in Sharm el Sheik is significantly cooler than summer, with average temperatures beginning at 19°C in December, dipping down to a low of 18°C in January and creeping back up to 19°C by February. This means January is the coldest month of winter for Sharm el Sheikh with average highs of 22°C during the daytime and average lows of 13°C at night and December the warmest winter month with average highs of 23°C during the daytime and average lows of 15°C during the night.
Between mid-December and mid-February, nights can get very chilly in Sharm el Sheikh. However, these cold temperatures are nothing compared to the bitingly cold after-dark temperatures experienced further inland, when temperatures regularly reach freezing point.
The sea temperature stays fairly constant throughout the year in Sharm el Sheikh, which means that the winter season is a great time to go for a dip without worrying about overheating, as you might risk in summer. The sea is at its coolest in February, when temperatures drop down to 22°C. At the other end of the scale, the sea is at its winter warmest in December, when temperatures reach 24°C.
Average sunshine hours drop slightly in the winter season the sunniest month is February with ten daily hours of sunshine, whilst January and December are joint as the least sunny months of the whole year, with only nine hours of sun each day. Contrary to what you might have thought, winter months in Sharm el Sheikh are generally less cloudy than the summer months, dropping down to a low of 43% (mostly clear) by February.
In spite of the relatively high cloud coverage, these clouds aren't rain clouds. Even in the winter season, rainfall is extremely low. The wettest month of the year is December, when a mere 4mm falls over the course of one day. January sees an average of 1mm of rainfall and February 2mm.
Weather Hazards
Between the end of the winter season and the beginning of the summer season, sandstorms are quite likely to occur in Sharm el Sheikh. When the sirocco also called the khamsin wind blows, temperatures soar and the sky becomes hazy, considerably reducing visibility. If the wind gathers enough speed it can whip up violent clouds of swirling sand that reduce visibility even further and bring everyday life to a standstill. In order for a khamsin to occur, winds need to blow over Sharm el Sheikh in an easterly direction from the north of Africa. When these winds cross over the Sahara Desert, they bring with them the high temperatures and air-borne sand which causes the loss of visibility.
