One of the oldest cities in the world, Jerusalem is filled with historical and religious significance. The Mediterranean city has a subtropical semi-arid climate with warm and dry summers, and mild, slightly wet winters. The average annual precipitation is about 600 mm (24 inches). A light snowfall typically occurs once or twice a year during the winter, with a heavier snowfall occuring every three to four years, on average.
January is the coldest month of the year, and the average daily temperature is 8°C (46°F) during this month. It is also the wettest month of the year, with a total of 90 mm of rain (3.5 inches) spread across 12 days throughout the month. The summer months, on the other hand, are typically completely dry. From June through September, there are typically zero days of rain, though each month may accrue just enough drops to total at 10 mm of rainfall each month (less than half an inch). July is the hottest month of the year, with an average daily temperature of 23°C (73°F), though heat waves are possible.
The lack of rain in the summer months allow plenty of sunshine. During the days in June and July, travelers can expect to see 13 hours of sunshine each day, allowing plenty of time to explore the city and its sites. The days are shorter in winter, with January and February being the darkest months, each month having approximately 7 hours of sunshine per day.
The nearby Mediterranean Sea and Dead Sea allow travelers the opportunities to cool off in the water, though the Dead Sea can get very hot in the summer, heating up to a daily mean water temperature of 35°C (95°F) at its hottest point in July. The Mediterranean Sea remains a bit cooler, reaching its hottest point at 28°C (82°F) in August, as measured in Tel Aviv.
Other weather factors include the hot and dry desert wind in autumn and spring, and an average daily humidity of about 60 percent throughout most of the year. Due to the possibility of wide swings in temperatures in the spring and autumn, guests should plan to bring a light jacket and extra layers. While traveling in the summer, it may get quite hot when visiting the many outdoor sites, and travelers will need to wear light clothing and stay hydrated at this time of the year in Jerusalem.
Winter Weather in Jerusalem (December-February)
The winters are mild in this subtropical area, with the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding deserts keeping Jerusalem fairly warm. While tourism is low during this time of the year, it can often be a great time to visit the Holy Land as crowds are low and holidays like Hanukkah and Christmas make the city a festive place to be.
The coldest month of the winter is January, with an average daily temperature of 8° (46°F), though the warms this month can reach up to an average of 12°C (54°F) in the middle of the day. The evenings will cool down to 4° (39°F) throughout January.
Winter is also the wettest time of the year in this capital city. Jerusalem typically receives 90 mm (3.5 inches) of rain during January, with February tying at the same amount. Both months have an average of 12 rainy days throughout the month.
The rainy weather and cloudy skies allow less sunshine through on the short winter days. The sunshine in January and February is the most limited, with an average of 7 hours per day.
Spring Weather in Jerusalem (March-May)
Beautiful spring weather comes in March as the days warm up a bit to an average daily temperature of 12° (54°F). The days continue to warm as a hot summer approaches, with April having an average daily temperature of 16°C (61°F) and May warming up a bit more to 19°C (66°F). Spring can see temperature swings though, with occasional drops down to near freezing weather, and other days potential heating up to more than 32°C (90°F).
The chance of rain decreases throughout the spring, before the very dry summer begins. March typically receives 50 mm of rain (about 2 inches) spread across an average of 9 days. This drops throughout April until May, which receives just 10 mm of rain (less than half an inch) and typically has just 2 days with rain.
The skies will also begin to clear throughout spring, allowing more sunshine in. The days will lengthen, and March days will typically receive 10 hours of sunshine, April will have 11, and May days will get about 12 hours of sunshine.
Tourism tends to rise just a bit in the spring, before peaking in summer. Though the weather is less predictable at this time of year, it is typically comfortable with few wet days, making it a great time for off-season travelers to visit. The city will be less crowded and may be more affordable for travelers on a budget. Spring is also filled with religious holidays like Purim and Easter.
Summer Weather in Jerusalem (June-August)
Summer is the hottest time of the year though the nearby Mediterranean Sea helps keep the temperatures more moderate than some more southern locales. July brings the most heat with an average daily temperature of 23°C (73°F). The weather in July and August tends to be very similar, with both months seeing a daily high temperature of 29°C (84°F). The average low during both months is 17°C (63°F).
The dry desert area typically has zero days of rain throughout the entire summer. Individual months may accumulate up to 10 mm of rain (less than half an inch), but travelers won't need to worry about packing an umbrella during this time.
The lack of rain and clouds mean the sun shines particularly bright on Jerusalem during the summer. The days are long, with approximately 13 hours of sunshine each day during June and July. This is just slightly less than the nearby capital city of Damascus, which receives 14 hours of sunshine during the summer days.
Summer is the high season for tourism in Jerusalem. Visitors coming to see the holy sites will need to pack light clothing and make sure they stay hydrated in the warm weather. A dry wind and slight humidity are other conditions to consider as well. Travelers may also wish to visit the nearby seas during this time of year as the Mediterranean Sea warms up to a comfortable 28°C (82°F) in August.
The Dead Sea can get quite warm as it's a smaller body of water and more affected by surrounding weather. The daily mean water temperature in the Dead Sea is 35°C (95°F) at its hottest point in July.
Autumn Weather in Jerusalem (September-November)
Autumn arrives slowly after a long summer in Jerusalem. September remains warm with an average daily temperature of 22°C (72°F), October cools slightly to a daily average of 19°C (66°F), and November is the coolest autumn month with a daily average at 15°C (59°F) before the mild winter arrives. High daily temperatures at this time of the year can range from 19-28°C (66-82°F). The daily lows tend to be between 10-16°C (50-61°F).
The dry summer carries over into autumn for the most part. September is similar to the summer, with up to 10 mm (less than half an inch) of rain being the norm, and no days of rain for the most part. November is a bit wetter, with a total of 30 mm (just over an inch) of rain spread across 7 wet days throughout the month.
As the chance of rain and cloudy days increases, the days begin to shorten a bit. September days receive an average of 11 hours of sunshine each day. This drops to 10 in October and 9 in November, which still allows plenty of daylight to explore the historic sites of Jerusalem. As tourism begins to decrease a bit as well, many may find autumn to be the perfect time for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Extreme Weather in Jerusalem
While the Mediterranean climate keeps Jerusalem's weather fairly mild throughout the year, it is prone to occasional weather extremes. Summer days are particularly prone to weather jumps when dry desert winds sweep across the area. The highest recorded temperature in Jerusalem is 44°C (111°F), which occurred in August 1881.
Extreme cold is less common here, with the lowest temperature on record being -6.5° (20°F), which happened in January of 1907. While a light dusting of snow may occur each winter, heavy snowfall is rare. In December 2013, Jerusalem received more than 30 cm (12 inches) of snow, which shut down most business and transportation in the capital city.