Weather in Addis Ababa

May is the warmest month (average 18.7°C, high 25.4°C) and November is the coolest (average 14.9°C, low 7.1°C). That 3.8°C swing in monthly averages is the first thing to plan around in Addis Ababa.

Rain is wet season runs from June to September, inside an annual total of 1082 mm. The wettest month is August at 246 mm; the driest is January at 12 mm. Addis Ababa is in Ethiopia at 9.0°N. The 2001–2020 NASA POWER daily record describes a mild oceanic climate. On this site the months that score closest to a 22°C day, lighter rain, and moderate humidity are December, January, and February.

How warm Addis Ababa gets

Addis Ababa has a 3.8°C gap between its coolest monthly average (14.9°C in November) and its warmest (18.7°C in May). That is a northern-hemisphere pattern.

Across the year the mean afternoon high is 23.4°C. If you want the smallest day–night shock, look at months where the high and low sit close together; May nights still hold 12.1°C.

Rainfall pattern

The wet season in Addis Ababa starts in June and ends in September (June, July, August, and September). August is the core of it at 246 mm. January is the other extreme, with 12 mm.

Humidity peaks near 83%. That usually lines up with the wetter months rather than the hottest ones.

Distinctive months in Addis Ababa

January is the driest month, averaging only 12 mm across 3 rainy days. Highs sit near 24.4°C. Peak heat arrives in May: 25.4°C by day, 12.1°C at night, and 63% humidity. July brings 239 mm and 30 rainy days; temperatures run from 11.7°C to 20.8°C. August is the wettest month — 246 mm and 30 rainy days, with 83% humidity.

By September the wet season is ending. Addis Ababa still sees about 145 mm, but the next month is usually leaner. October brings 34 mm and 7 rainy days; temperatures run from 8.0°C to 22.0°C. The year bottoms out in November. Plan for 7.1°C at night and 22.7°C in the afternoon.

When the score favours a visit

The three months with the highest comfort score are December, January, and February: December (15.1°C average, 13 mm, 59% humidity); January (16.2°C average, 12 mm, 55% humidity); February (17.7°C average, 27 mm, 51% humidity). Those months sit across the year end, so they are listed in season order rather than January-to-December. The score rewards averages near 22°C, lower rainfall, and humidity near 60%. It is a climate score, not a festival or price calendar.

If you want the wet season itself — fewer crowds, greener landscape, heavier rain — aim at June–September instead of the score.

Addis Ababa and other cities in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa is the only Ethiopia city in this dataset, so the figures on this page are the national sample we publish. They still come from the same NASA POWER daily series (2001–2020) used everywhere else on the site.