Weather in Karbala

Karbala is in Iraq at 32.6°N. The 2001–2020 NASA POWER daily record describes a desert climate with almost no rain. Rain is a year that totals only 120 mm of rain. The wettest month is January at 22 mm; the driest is June at 0 mm.

July is the warmest month (average 36.4°C, high 43.7°C) and January is the coolest (average 9.7°C, low 4.1°C). From the coolest night in January (4.1°C) to the hottest afternoon in July (43.7°C), the raw range is 39.6°C. On this site the months that score closest to a 22°C day, lighter rain, and moderate humidity are March, April, and November.

Best months to visit Karbala

The three months with the highest comfort score are March, April, and November: March (17.5°C average, 17 mm, 44% humidity); April (22.9°C average, 13 mm, 37% humidity); November (17.3°C average, 19 mm, 48% humidity). They fall in calendar order. 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 prefer the hottest stretch, that is July. The coolest stretch is January.

Temperature through the year

The heat peaks in July, when the typical afternoon is 43.7°C. The opposite pole is January, when mornings average 4.1°C.

Mean high across all twelve months is 30.5°C and mean low is 17.3°C. These are 20-year grid averages, so a city station can read a few degrees warmer or cooler.

Rain through the year

Karbala is dry. The whole year adds up to 120 mm. January is the “wet” month at 22 mm; June drops to 0 mm.

A rainy day here is a day with at least 1 mm in the NASA POWER series. January averages 5 such days; June averages 0.

Distinctive months in Karbala

The year bottoms out in January. Plan for 4.1°C at night and 15.3°C in the afternoon. February: 18.4°C high, 6.1°C low, 18 mm rain, 54% humidity. In March, Karbala averages 24.2°C by day and 10.8°C at night, with 17 mm of rain. April brings 13 mm and 3 rainy days; temperatures run from 16.0°C to 29.9°C. May stands apart from the months beside it: 36.4°C / 22.3°C and 4 mm. June is the driest month, averaging only 0 mm across 0 rainy days. Highs sit near 41.3°C.

July is the warmest month. Afternoon highs average 43.7°C and nights settle near 29.2°C, with 0 mm of rain. August brings 0 mm and 0 rainy days; temperatures run from 29.0°C to 43.7°C. September stands apart from the months beside it: 39.9°C / 25.3°C and 1 mm. October stands apart from the months beside it: 33.4°C / 20.1°C and 11 mm. November brings 19 mm and 3 rainy days; temperatures run from 11.6°C to 22.9°C. In December, Karbala averages 16.9°C by day and 6.1°C at night, with 15 mm of rain.

How Karbala compares inside Iraq

Baghdad is about 88 km away: Karbala is 0.9°C cooler than Baghdad in its hottest month and 81 mm drier over the year than Baghdad. Baghdad’s wettest month is January (36 mm) versus January here.

Erbil is about 398 km away: Karbala is 1.1°C warmer than Erbil in its hottest month and 163 mm drier over the year than Erbil. Erbil’s wettest month is March (50 mm) versus January here.

Mosul is about 422 km away: Karbala is 1.2°C warmer than Mosul in its hottest month and 194 mm drier over the year than Mosul. Mosul’s wettest month is March (54 mm) versus January here.