# Does It Get Cold in Egypt? Winter Temperatures in °F by City

- Page: https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/blog/does-it-get-cold-in-egypt-winter-temperatures
- Published: 2026-10-21
- Last updated: 2026-10-21
- Topics: cairo, luxor, aswan, sharm-el-sheikh, red-sea, siwa-oasis

Winter in Egypt is mild by day, cool to cold at night. January highs and lows in °F for Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea, plus humidity and packing tips.

> **Quick answer:** Yes, mainly at night. World Meteorological Organization 1991–2020 normals put Cairo's January average at a 66°F (18.9°C) high and 50°F (10.1°C) low. In January Luxor averages 73°F (22.8°C) by day but 45°F (7.1°C) at night, colder than Cairo. Red Sea resorts average about 72°F by day and 53–57°F at night. Sinai's mountains can fall below freezing and desert nights can come close to it; snow is rare.

**Key facts**

- **Coldest month:** January, at all six stations in the tables
- **Warmest winter days of the six:** Aswan, 74°F average January high (23.2°C)
- **Warmest winter nights of the six:** Sharm El Sheikh, 57°F average January low (13.8°C)
- **Coldest nights of the six:** Luxor, 45°F average January low (7.1°C)
- **Sinai highlands:** Saint Catherine town, 35°F (1.7°C) average January low (1961–1990 normals, as tabulated on Wikipedia)
- **Wettest of the six:** Alexandria, about 8 rainy days in January
- **Red Sea water:** about 74°F in January, 72°F in February (Weather Atlas)
- **Data and date:** WMO 1991–2020 normals via NOAA NCEI, checked 21 October 2026

## How cold is Egypt in winter, city by city?

These tables use the World Meteorological Organization's 1991–2020 climate normals for six Egyptian stations, archived by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information ([station files](https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Egypt/CSV/)). The Cairo, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh files are marked "A.P.", and Wikipedia's climate tables name each city's international airport as the station. A normal is a 30-year average. We converted the published °C values (two decimals in the files) to °F and rounded to the nearest degree; the °C shown are rounded to one decimal. Figures checked 21 October 2026.

### Average daytime highs, °F (°C)

| City | December | January | February |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Alexandria | 68 (20.1) | 65 (18.4) | 66 (19.0) |
| Cairo | 69 (20.5) | 66 (18.9) | 69 (20.5) |
| Hurghada | 75 (23.8) | 72 (22.2) | 74 (23.5) |
| Sharm El Sheikh | 75 (23.9) | 72 (22.2) | 74 (23.6) |
| Luxor | 76 (24.2) | 73 (22.8) | 78 (25.3) |
| Aswan | 76 (24.5) | 74 (23.2) | 79 (25.9) |

### Average night lows, °F (°C)

| City | December | January | February |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Alexandria | 52 (11.1) | 49 (9.5) | 49 (9.7) |
| Cairo | 53 (11.7) | 50 (10.1) | 52 (11.0) |
| Hurghada | 56 (13.4) | 53 (11.6) | 54 (12.4) |
| Sharm El Sheikh | 60 (15.6) | 57 (13.8) | 58 (14.6) |
| Luxor | 47 (8.6) | 45 (7.1) | 48 (8.9) |
| Aswan | 52 (11.4) | 50 (10.0) | 53 (11.7) |

January is the coldest month at all six stations. Average January highs run from 65°F in Alexandria to 74°F in Aswan, and average lows from 45°F in Luxor to 57°F in Sharm El Sheikh. November and March are warmer; Luxor's average high is 84°F in November and 85°F in March.

Other sites show different numbers. Cairo's average January low is 50°F (10.1°C) in the WMO normals, but [Weather Atlas](https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/egypt/cairo-climate) lists 48°F (9°C) and does not state an averaging period. Averages also hide cold snaps, so check a forecast before you travel. For season-by-season planning, see our [best time to visit Egypt](https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/blog/best-time-to-visit-egypt) guide, and for differences between regions, our [climate by region](https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/blog/egypt-weather-climate-guide-by-region) guide.

## Is Luxor warmer than Cairo in winter?

By day, yes; at night, no. In January Luxor averages a 73°F high against Cairo's 66°F, about 7°F warmer. After dark the order flips: Luxor's average low is 45°F and Cairo's is 50°F.

The daily swing explains it. In January the gap between the average high and low is 28°F in Luxor, 24°F in Aswan, 19°F in Hurghada, 16°F in Cairo and Alexandria, and 15°F in Sharm El Sheikh. The two Upper Egypt stations swing the most, so pack a layer even for warm afternoons.

For scale, NOAA's [1991–2020 U.S. normals](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals) list January averages of 68°F by day and 49°F at night at the downtown Los Angeles (USC campus) station, 68°F and 46°F at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, 40°F and 28°F in New York's Central Park, and 32°F and 19°F at Chicago O'Hare Airport. Cairo in January is close to Los Angeles; Luxor's days are about 5°F warmer than Phoenix's, with similar nights.

![Floodlit stone columns inside Luxor Temple at night](https://pn1r2qcgp1mamesq.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/trip-images/commons-cmv5rnnxi002106l2ywhki3n6-7OKATB17UuKizD6aFRB449JjbS2kOG.jpg)
*Luxor Temple at night. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

Early starts catch the cold. The hotel pickup for our [Luxor hot-air balloon sunrise flight](https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/trips/luxor-hot-air-balloon-sunrise) is listed at about 4:45 a.m. (October 2026) and the trip page suggests a light jacket; from December through February, add a sweater or fleece. See also our [Luxor guide](https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/guide/luxor) and [Cairo guide](https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/guide/cairo).

## Where is Egypt coldest, and does it snow?

The coldest place we found data for is Saint Catherine, in the Sinai mountains at about 5,200 feet (1,586 m). NOAA's older 1961–1990 normals, as tabulated on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Catherine,_Egypt), give a January average of 57°F (13.8°C) by day and 35°F (1.7°C) at night; February's average low is 36°F (2.4°C). The same table lists record lows for 2007–2022 of 25°F (−4.0°C) in January and 21°F (−6.0°C) in February.

[Wikipedia's climate table for Siwa Oasis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siwa_Oasis), in the Western Desert, lists a January average high of 68°F (19.8°C), a low of 43°F (6.1°C) and a record low of 28°F (−2.2°C). The table is titled 1991–2020 normals, but its footnotes also cite NOAA's older 1961–1990 file, so the period is unclear. [Weather Atlas](https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/egypt/siwa-oasis-climate) shows a slightly lower average low (42°F, 5.6°C). The trip page for our [Siwa Great Sand Sea overnight camp](https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/trips/siwa-great-sand-sea-overnight-camping) lists a warm layer for cold desert nights; our [Siwa Oasis guide](https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/guide/siwa-oasis) covers the oasis.

![Palm groves, houses and desert hills at Siwa Oasis](https://pn1r2qcgp1mamesq.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/trip-images/commons-cmv51nsp3000nejtcf68tj6sy-LU0IvfgasnAl4M4syX6THUOE1qyoIu.jpg)
*Siwa Oasis in Egypt's Western Desert. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

Snow is the exception. On 11 January 2020, [Egyptian Streets](https://egyptianstreets.com/2020/01/11/in-photos-egypts-saint-catherine-covered-in-snow/) reported frost and snow at Saint Catherine while the rest of Egypt had heavy rain. On 13 December 2013, light snow fell on some Cairo suburbs; an official at the meteorological center, quoted in an AFP report, said it was the first such snowfall in very many years ([Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/cairo-sees-first-snowfall-in-years-1.1266743)). [PBS NewsHour](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/rare-snowfall-shuts-down-jerusalem-blankets-cairo), citing local Egyptian reports, said Cairo had gone more than a century without snow. Plan for cold nights, not snow.

## How cold is the Mount Sinai sunrise hike?

It is a night walk. The trip page for our [Mount Sinai sunrise hike](https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/trips/sharm-mount-sinai-sunrise-hike-private) lists a climb start of about 02:00, so you walk through the cold small hours and wait for sunrise at the 7,497-foot (2,285 m) summit. That is roughly 2,300 feet (700 m) above Saint Catherine town, where January nights average 35°F (1961–1990 normals).

A first-person account in the Readers Share section of [The Star](https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel/2026/09/22/beyond-the-pyramids-climbing-mount-sinai-in-egypt) (22 September 2026) describes about 50°F (10°C) during a December climb that was due to start at 1 a.m., then 41°F (5°C) and strong wind at the last checkpoint, reached by 5 a.m. In February 2017, a local official announced that tourists could not climb Mount Sinai in freezing weather, saying temperatures between 23°F and 41°F (−5°C and 5°C) could endanger lives ([Amwal Al Ghad](https://en.amwalalghad.com/?p=58716), 18 February 2017). If a cold, wet spell is forecast, ask your operator whether the climb will run.

> **Tip:** Dress for the wait at the top more than the walk up: you warm up climbing and chill fast when you stop.
>
> - A thermal or wool base layer, a fleece and a windproof jacket.
> - A warm hat and gloves, plus a dry top to change into at the summit.
> - Hiking shoes and a headlamp or flashlight; the trip page lists both.
> - A little cash: the page says kiosks along the route sell water and snacks.

## Is Egypt humid in winter?

Average relative humidity is highest on the Mediterranean coast and lowest in Aswan and the Sinai highlands. [Weather Atlas](https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/egypt/alexandria-climate) lists these averages without naming a source, and [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria) lists the same values, attributing them to NOAA's 1961–1990 normals. The WMO 1991–2020 files above have no humidity data, and NOAA's 1961–1990 files could not be opened when we checked, so treat this table as secondary.

| Place | December | January | February |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Alexandria | 68% | 69% | 67% |
| Cairo | 61% | 59% | 54% |
| Hurghada | 51% | 48% | 46% |
| Luxor | 57% | 55% | 47% |
| Aswan | 42% | 40% | 32% |
| Saint Catherine | 36% | 39% | 35% |

Alexandria is the damp end and by far the wettest of the six WMO stations: the WMO normals show about 8 days in January with at least 0.04 inch (1 mm) of rain, 2.4 inches (61 mm) in total. Cairo averages 0.2 inch (5 mm) over about one day; Luxor and Aswan about a tenth of an inch or less. Aswan and the Sinai highlands are the dry end, with Aswan at 32–42% and Saint Catherine at 35–39%.

## Is the Red Sea warm enough to swim in winter?

It is cool rather than cold. [Weather Atlas](https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/egypt/hurghada-climate) lists Red Sea water off Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh at about 74°F (23.1–23.3°C) in January and 72°F (22.3–22.4°C) in February, and puts the August peak at 83–84°F (28.6–28.8°C), roughly 10–11°F warmer. The site does not state its averaging period. The table shows the same Weather Atlas values.

| Place | December | January | February |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hurghada | 76 (24.3) | 74 (23.1) | 72 (22.3) |
| Sharm El Sheikh | 76 (24.4) | 74 (23.3) | 72 (22.4) |
| Alexandria (Mediterranean) | 69 (20.3) | 65 (18.3) | 63 (17.3) |

Air matters as much as water. Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh average about 72°F by day in January, so the chill comes when you leave the water, especially on a boat in the wind; bring a towel and a warm layer.

Snorkelers should ask the operator whether wetsuits or shorty suits are available and whether they cost extra; as of October 2026, our Ras Mohammed snorkeling and speedboat snorkeling pages do not say. Our [snorkel safety guide](https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/blog/is-it-safe-to-snorkel-in-the-red-sea-egypt) lists questions to ask any operator before you pay.

## What should you wear and pack for an Egyptian winter?

Layers beat one heavy coat: in January the gap between day and night runs from 15°F to 28°F, depending on the city.

| Situation | January average | What to wear |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cairo or Alexandria | 65–66°F by day, 49–50°F at night | Sweater, warm jacket, rain shell |
| Luxor or Aswan | 73–74°F by day, 45–50°F at night | Light shirt by day; fleece and jacket early and late |
| Red Sea resorts | 72°F by day, 53–57°F at night | Swimwear, cover-up, warm layer for boats |
| Siwa Oasis desert camp | 43°F average low in Siwa town (no camp data) | Warm layer, windproof jacket, hat |
| Mount Sinai night climb | 35°F average low in Saint Catherine town (1961–1990); expect colder higher up | Thermal layer, fleece, windproof jacket, hat, gloves |

Do not pack away the sun protection. The [U.S. EPA](https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/uv-index-scale-0) says a UV index of 3 or higher calls for sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, so check the UV forecast for your city and travel date. For a full list, see our [what to pack for Egypt](https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/blog/what-to-pack-for-egypt) guide.

## Do Egyptian hotels and Nile boats have heating?

It depends on the property, and we found no official figure for how many Egyptian hotels or boats have heating, so we give none. A small Luxor hotel says in its published winter guide (updated 29 May 2026) that most accommodation, its own included, has no indoor heating, and that open-air decks on Nile cruise boats and dahabiyas get cold after dark, as do rooftops and hotel pools.

As of October 2026, the page for our [Luxor to Aswan 5-day Nile cruise](https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/trips/luxor-aswan-5-day-nile-cruise) lists no heating or air-conditioning details, and the [Nile felucca sunset sail](https://www.sunnyegypttravels.com/en/trips/nile-felucca-sunset-sail) page lists a light jacket for the evening breeze. Add a sweater from December through February. Before you book a hotel or boat, ask:

- Does the room have heating, or an air conditioner with a heating mode?
- Can you have extra blankets, and is hot water available at night and early in the morning?
- Are the dining room and sundeck covered or heated in the evening?

![Feluccas with white sails and a larger boat on the Nile at Aswan](https://pn1r2qcgp1mamesq.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/trip-images/commons-cmv6efru5000706l6xadgqzj5-JrQDJkwqzGw5h1DqjTcaOSCUQcyz6N.jpg)
*Boats and feluccas on the Nile at Aswan. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*

## Frequently asked questions

### Does it snow in Egypt?

Rarely. Saint Catherine, in the Sinai mountains, had frost and snow in January 2020. Light snow also fell on some Cairo suburbs on 13 December 2013; local reports cited by PBS NewsHour said Cairo had gone more than a century without snow. Plan for cold nights, not snow.

### How cold is Cairo in January?

The World Meteorological Organization's 1991–2020 normals for Cairo give an average January high of 66°F (18.9°C) and low of 50°F (10.1°C). Weather Atlas lists a low of 48°F (9°C) and does not state an averaging period. Pack a jacket for evenings.

### Is the Red Sea warm enough to swim in winter?

The water is cool rather than cold. Weather Atlas lists Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh at about 74°F (23.1–23.3°C) in January and 72°F (22.3–22.4°C) in February, roughly 10–11°F below the August peak; it does not state an averaging period. Ask snorkel operators whether wetsuits are available and whether they cost extra, and bring a warm layer for the boat.

### Do I need a coat for the desert or Mount Sinai?

Yes, for the nights. Wikipedia's climate tables list an average January low of 43°F (6.1°C) at Siwa Oasis, with a record of 28°F (−2.2°C), and 35°F (1.7°C) at Saint Catherine town (1961–1990 data). Bring a warm jacket, hat and gloves, plus a windproof layer for the Mount Sinai night climb.

### Is Egypt humid?

It depends where you are. Average relative humidity in January is about 69% in Alexandria and 59% in Cairo, but 55% in Luxor, 48% in Hurghada and 40% in Aswan (1961–1990 data per Wikipedia; Weather Atlas lists the same values). Alexandria is also the rainiest of the six WMO stations, with about 8 rainy days in January against about 1 in Cairo.

### Which Egyptian city is warmest in winter?

Among the six stations in the WMO normals, Aswan and Luxor are warmest by day: January highs average 74°F and 73°F, rising to 79°F and 78°F in February. The Red Sea is warmest by night: January lows average 57°F in Sharm El Sheikh and 53°F in Hurghada, against 45°F in Luxor. On the daily mean temperature in the same files, Sharm El Sheikh (64°F) and Hurghada (62°F) lead in January, with Aswan close behind at 61°F.

### Do hotels in Egypt have heating?

It varies, and we found no official figures. A small Luxor hotel's winter guide says most accommodation, including its own, has no indoor heating. Before booking, ask whether the room has heating or an air conditioner with a heating mode, and request extra blankets.

## Sources

- [NOAA NCEI — WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020, Egypt station files](https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Egypt/CSV/) — six stations; accessed 2026-10-21
- [NOAA NCEI — U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals) — four U.S. stations; accessed 2026-10-21
- [Wikipedia — Saint Catherine, Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Catherine,_Egypt) — climate table; secondary source
- [Wikipedia — Siwa Oasis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siwa_Oasis) — climate table; secondary source
- [Wikipedia — Alexandria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria) — climate table; secondary source; the Climate of Egypt (Cairo), Hurghada, Luxor and Aswan pages were also used
- [Weather Atlas — Alexandria climate](https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/egypt/alexandria-climate) — secondary site; humidity and sea temperature; other city pages were also used
- [PBS NewsHour — Rare snowfall shuts down Jerusalem, blankets Cairo](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/rare-snowfall-shuts-down-jerusalem-blankets-cairo) — 13 December 2013
- [Gulf News (AFP) — Cairo sees first snowfall in years](https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/cairo-sees-first-snowfall-in-years-1.1266743) — 13 December 2013
- [Egyptian Streets — In photos: Egypt's Saint Catherine covered in snow](https://egyptianstreets.com/2020/01/11/in-photos-egypts-saint-catherine-covered-in-snow/) — 11 January 2020
- [Amwal Al Ghad — Tourists not allowed to climb Egypt's Mt. Sinai due to freezing temperatures](https://en.amwalalghad.com/?p=58716) — 18 February 2017
- [The Star — Beyond the pyramids: Climbing Mount Sinai in Egypt](https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel/2026/09/22/beyond-the-pyramids-climbing-mount-sinai-in-egypt) — 22 September 2026, first-person account in the Readers Share section
- [U.S. EPA — UV Index Scale](https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/uv-index-scale-0)
- A winter-weather guide published by a small Luxor hotel, updated 29 May 2026 and reviewed 21 October 2026 (name omitted)