Alexandria is a major city in Egypt, located on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Lying at the western edge of the Nile River Delta, it extends about 40 km (25 mi) along the country's northern coast. It is Egypt's principal seaport, the second largest city after Cairo, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. The city is a popular tourist destination and a major industrial centre.
Alexandria has a unique climate due to its location on the Mediterranean coast. The prevailing north wind, blowing across the Mediterranean, gives the city a less severe climate than the desert hinterland.
Alexandria has a hot steppe climate (Köppen climate classification: BSh),[40] virtually hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification: BWh).
The climate of Alexandria, being one of the significant cities in Egypt, is positioned right on the country's Mediterranean coast. A closer look at the climatological data reflects warm summers, mild winters, and overall low rainfall throughout the year.
The summers are relatively temperate, although humidity can build up in July and in August, the hottest month, when the average temperature reaches 87 °F (31 °C). Winters are cool and invariably marked by a series of violent storms that can bring torrential rain and even hail.
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The mean daily temperature in January, which is the coldest month, is 64 °F (18 °C).
Detailed Climate Analysis
Temperature
Traversing from January to December, the high temperature varies from 18.4°C (65.1°F) to 30.4°C (86.7°F) while the low temperature fluctuates between 9.1°C (48.4°F) to 23.1°C (73.6°F).
Here are the average temperatures:
| Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.3 | 18.4 | 13.8 |
| February | 9.5 | 19.1 | 14.3 |
| March | 11.6 | 21.2 | 16.4 |
| April | 14.1 | 24.2 | 19.1 |
| May | 17.6 | 27.0 | 22.3 |
| June | 21.4 | 29.2 | 25.3 |
| July | 23.7 | 30.6 | 27.1 |
| August | 24.2 | 31.1 | 27.7 |
| September | 22.4 | 30.3 | 26.3 |
| October | 19.1 | 28.0 | 23.5 |
| November | 14.9 | 24.1 | 19.5 |
| December | 10.9 | 20.3 | 15.6 |
| Year | 16.6 | 25.3 | 20.9 |
Average monthly temperatures vary by 12.9 °C (23.2°F).
Rainfall
Rainfall picks up slightly during the beginning and end of the year with the peak rainfall of 53mm (2.09") in January. From May to September, Alexandria experiences remarkably low rainfall, practically becoming a dry city with less than 1mm (0.04") of monthly rainfall.
Read also: Addressing Climate Challenges in Africa
Here is the average precipitation:
| Month | Rain (mm) | Days |
|---|---|---|
| January | 70 | 9 |
| February | 35 | 6 |
| March | 20 | 3 |
| April | 2 | 1 |
| May | 1 | 1 |
| June | 0 | 0 |
| July | 0 | 0 |
| August | 1 | 0 |
| September | 1 | 0 |
| October | 15 | 2 |
| November | 35 | 4 |
| December | 55 | 7 |
| Year | 235 | 32 |
Precipitation amounts to 235 millimeters per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 0 millimeters in the driest months (June, July) to 70 millimeters in the wettest one (January).
Sunshine
On average there are 3594 hours of sunshine per year. The longest day of the year is 14:01 long on the 22 of June and the shortest day is 9:58 long on the 21 of December.
Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
| Month | Average | Total |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6 | 190 |
| February | 7.5 | 220 |
| March | 8 | 250 |
| April | 9 | 275 |
| May | 10 | 315 |
| June | 12 | 355 |
| July | 11.5 | 365 |
| August | 11 | 345 |
| September | 10 | 295 |
| October | 9 | 280 |
| November | 7.5 | 225 |
| December | 6.5 | 195 |
| Year | 9.1 | 3305 |
Sea Temperature
The sea temperature ranges from 17 °C in February, March to 27 °C in August.
Read also: Impact of Climate on Africa
Here are the average sea temperatures.
| Month | Temperatures (°C) |
|---|---|
| January | 18 |
| February | 17 |
| March | 17 |
| April | 18 |
| May | 20.5 |
| June | 23.5 |
| July | 25.5 |
| August | 27 |
| September | 26.5 |
| October | 25 |
| November | 22.5 |
| December | 20 |
| Year | 21.7 |
Best and Worst Times to Visit Alexandria
The best time to visit Alexandria is between April and June. Within this phase, the average high temperature range from 24°C (75.2°F) to 28.6°C (83.5°F), and low temperatures are comfortably nestled between 13.4°C (56.1°F) and 20.3°C (68.5°F). A relatively low UV index ranging from 9 to 11 during this period ensures a balanced blend of sunshine without excessive radiation risks. Rainfall is also minimal within this period, making outdoor activities particularly appealing. The sea temperature during this period, moving between 18.3°C (64.9°F) and 24.1°C (75.4°F), makes for pleasant beach visits.
The least favorable period for visiting Alexandria would arguably be from November to January. During this time, low temperatures fluctuate between 10.6°C (51.1°F) and 14.3°C (57.7°F), and high temperatures hover within the 18.4°C (65.1°F) to 24.1°C (75.4°F) range. This period is also characterized by the city's highest rainfall months, peaking in January with 53mm (2.09"), making outdoor activities less attractive.
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (March to May)
Spring weather in Alexandria (March to May) is characterized by steady warmth, with high temperatures ranging from 20.9°C (69.6°F) to 26.5°C (79.7°F) and lows from 10.8°C (51.4°F) to 16.6°C (61.9°F). Rainfall reduces significantly during this period, with May recording a mere 1mm (0.04"). This period also sees an uptick in daylight hours, progressing from 12 hours in March to 13.7 hours in May.
Summer (June to August)
Summers in Alexandria, from June to August, are marked by high temperatures from 28.6°C (83.5°F) to 30.4°C (86.7°F), and lows from 20.3°C (68.5°F) to 23.1°C (73.6°F). This period also highlights the near-absence of rainfall in the area. Maximum daylight hours are experienced during June and July, reaching up to 14.2 hours and 13.9 hours, respectively. It is also during these months that the UV index reaches its apex, rising up to 12 units in July.
Autumn (September to November)
Autumn in Alexandria, spanning from September to November, sees a dip in temperatures, with highs from 29.6°C (85.3°F) to 24.1°C (75.4°F) and lows from 21.3°C (70.3°F) to 14.3°C (57.7°F). There's a slight increase in rainfall, particularly in November, where it climbs to 32mm (1.26"). Daylight hours gradually reduce over these months from 12.4 hours in September to 10.6 hours in November.
Winter (December to February)
Winter (December to February) in Alexandria presents mild conditions, with high temperatures from 18.4°C (65.1°F) to 20.1°C (68.2°F) and low temperatures from 9.1°C (48.4°F) to 10.6°C (51.1°F). This period also marks the peak rainfall in the city, with December and January registering 53mm (2.09") and 53mm (2.09") respectively. Daylight hours are the least in this time, dropping to its lowest in December at 10.1 hours.
Climate Change and Alexandria
Due to its location on a Nile river delta, Alexandria is one of the most vulnerable cities to sea level rise in the entire world. According to some estimates, hundreds of thousands of people in its low-lying areas may already have to be relocated before 2030.
The 2022 IPCC Sixth Assessment Report estimates that by 2050, Alexandria and 11 other major African cities (Abidjan, Algiers, Cape Town, Casablanca, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Lagos, Lomé, Luanda and Maputo) would collectively sustain cumulative damages of US$65 billion for the "moderate" climate change scenario RCP 4.5 and US$86.5 billion for the high-emission scenario RCP 8.5, while RCP 8.5 combined with the hypothetical impact from marine ice sheet instability at high levels of warming would involve up to US$137.5 billion in damages. In every single estimate, Alexandria alone bears around half of these costs.
Since sea level rise would continue for about 10,000 years under every scenario of climate change, future costs of sea level rise would only increase, especially without adaptation measures.
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