The Weather and Climate in Yemen

Climate in Yemen varies greatly depending on the geographical region.  Being located in the Arabian Peninsula, in most parts, the heat is stifling except for the highlands where the climate is considered to be one of the best in the region.  It is usually hot along the west coast and in the harsh desert in the east coast.

There are two main seasons in Yemen, summer and winter, basically.  In the summer, it can go as high as 54°C (129°F) combined with extreme humidity.  In Sanaa, the average temperature year-round is 18°C (64°F).  There are some occasional monsoon rains during summer which comes from the Indian Ocean.    It is not recommendable to visit Yemen during its hot dry spell.  The northwest winds bring in little rain during the summer and can even cause severe sandstorms.

During the winter season, the country experiences coolness, with a little frost.  The range of temperature can go from 22°C (72°F) during the hottest month of the winter, into 14°C (57°F) at its coldest in January.   Rain is brought in by the southwest winds.

Yemen’s rainfall across the country is at an average of 39 mm or 1.5 inches per year.  Their driest months are April and June where zero rainfall is possible.  In their wettest months, either January or September, the country receives an average of 7mm or 0.3 inches of precipitation per year. 

Throughout the country, all year-round, the average temperature is 29.2°C (85°F).  It is relatively humid at 59.4% on average.