Weather Locations in Tunisia

Tunisia Weather Overview

Tunisia is the smallest of Africa’s countries and sits right in the middle of North Africa’s Mediterranean coast. Due to its great geographical diversity, Tunisia’s regions vary vastly in terms of climate, though the whole country is know for hot weather. The south of the country is mostly desert and its climate is accordingly arid with dramatic changes in temperature from day to night. Coastal regions are more temperate, enjoying a Mediterranean climate of long, hot and dry summers and mild, rainy winters.

Africa’s Atlas Mountains stretch across Tunisia from north to east creating a feature called the Dorsal. Most of the north of Tunisia is hilly and with the protection of the Dorsal from the Saharan heat and the wetter climate encouraged by the Mediterranean Sea, this is the most fertile area of Tunisia and is quite heavily forested. Surprisingly, little of this land is farmed with agriculture mainly sticking to the coastal areas.

The north and east sides of Tunisia meet the Mediterranean Sea. The coast is considered the most desirable part of Tunisia to live or visit due to its relatively temperate climate. While the height of the summer sees average temperatures up in the 30s, coastal Tunisia receives refreshing breezes from the sea and usually cools off in the evenings. The summer on Tunisia’s coast is at little risk of rain and is bathed in sunshine for over twelve hours a day. The Cap Bon peninsula is well known for its mild climate and is a favourite destination; while still getting the characteristic minimal rainfall and long hours of sunshine, the hottest of African heat is staved off by the surrounding waters. Winter in these regions can get very cool, sometimes dipping below zero at night time. The Mediterranean regions receive wet weather in winter months from October till January. February till March also sees some rain but the summer months from May till August are almost completely dry.

The south of Tunisia is mostly semi-arid, rocky desert; forty percent of the country is actually part of the Sahara Desert. The Sahara is where the Sirocco wind originates, blowing hot, dry weather and sometimes carrying sand into the surrounding areas. It is usually dry all year round with the slightly increased chance of some rain falling in short bursts between October and April. Sandy to the west and rocky to the east, the desert hordes heat in the day and gives it all up in the night.  There is almost no vegetation in this area. In the west is the enormous salt lake of Chott el-Jerid which usually dries up completely in the summer.

There are few mountains higher than a thousand metres but in winter time snow can form on the higher areas. It doesn’t usually settle for long.

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