Weather locations in Somalia

Somalia occupies the easternmost spur of the African continent, the Horn, and almost all of its climate is arid or semi-arid. The coast faces the Indian Ocean, but the rain-bearing winds blow from the landward south-west, so little moisture arrives. Mogadishu averages about 27 °C in January and around 28 °C in July, and receives less than 400 millimetres of rain a year, in two short seasons.

Main climate types

Two broad types cover the country. The northern highlands of Somaliland and Puntland have a semi-arid highland climate with a long rain season and cool nights. The south, from Mogadishu towards the Kenyan border, is a lowland arid to semi-arid climate with two rainy seasons. The whole country falls in the hot desert or hot steppe category, with no humid zones, no permanent rivers and no permanent snow.

Temperatures

Temperature is remarkably stable through the year. Monthly means of 26 °C to 29 °C are normal along the coast in every month, and the warmest period is usually June to August. The difference between night and day is large in the interior. In the northern highlands around Hargeisa and Burao, between 1,500 and 2,000 metres up, January means drop to about 18 °C or slightly lower.

Rainfall

Somalia has two rainy seasons, the longer from about April to June and a shorter one from October to December, separated by long dry spells and a mild interval in January and February. Annual totals are low: roughly 300 to 400 millimetres in the south, under 200 in the north, and often below 100 along the northern coast. When rain comes it can arrive in a burst, flooding roads.

When to go

The drier, milder months from December to February are most comfortable along the coast, when sea breezes keep the air less stifling. The north-western highlands are best in the same period, with cooler nights and clear skies. Road conditions after the April and October rains can be poor, and visitors should check current security guidance and avoid travelling at night on unlit roads.