The Weather and Climate in Tunisia

Tunisia is situated along the North African Mediterranean coast. This location makes it susceptible to subtropical climatic condition which defines the Mediterranean climate. No wonder, the country experiences typical long dry hot season and rainy mild cold season.

Surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the mountainous northern part is highly subtropical scarcely extending to the midland losing to desert climate upon approaching Sahara Desert on the South where the shift of climates is clearly dictated by the geographical attributes. The interplay between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara desert creates a mix of distinctive climate tendencies that stretches from the North to the South.

Tunis, the capital city exhibits the Subtropical Mediterranean climate. Sunshine greets the land everyday for at least five hours which reach up to seven hours in April to September. Temperature remains fairly stable which reaches its peak gradually in the period of July to August at 33° C (maximum). Humidity is absolutely stable at 90% with no substantial fluctuation. Precipitation is consistently low with an average estimate of 20mm all throughout the year with hardly any rainfall in the period of June to September.

The climatic behaviour is best explained by the presence of subtropical high pressure cells. In particular the Azores High associated to the Sahara desert (part of Tunisia’s southern territory) sustains lengthy hot season. Rainfall becomes scantly available due to the prevalent high temperature that arrests precipitation favouring humidity. Hence, rain is only made possible in winter due to the visit of periodic storms.