Today's weather for Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt7th Nov 2009 08:00

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Weather Overview for Sharm El Sheikh

You can sum up Sharm el Sheikh’s climate in two words: hot and dry. There are only two seasons; winter is hot with cool nights; summer is just hot. Some might say too hot. Inescapably, interminably, incoherently hot. This is the desert so rain is rare and the sun swaggers unchallenged in the clear blue sky year in year out.

Summer, from April till October, sees average high temperatures climbing through the 30s to a peak of 38°C in July. It can get up into the mid 40s which no one could describe as pleasant. At night it generally drops around 10°C to the mid to high 20s. The large drop in temperature at night can be attributed to the high level of insolation, the opposite of insulation, caused by incredibly low humidity levels. Low humidity helps to ease the heat at all times and so while it can be ridiculously hot, it may not be as uncomfortable as in the humid tropics. The sea breeze can also provide some relief, but really it is too hot to be outside for long in the peak of the day unless you’re in the sea, which gets up to a peak of 28°C in August and September. Sunbathing with quick dips, boat trips, scuba diving and snorkelling with an inch of sun block can all be enjoyed in comfort. Air-conditioning is a must in your accommodation. If outside you should always carry water and sun block as the risk of sunburn, sun stroke and dehydration is high.

The sun stays out for an immense thirteen hours per day in June and July, the sunniest months. For the whole season most days see more than ten hours of sunshine. Rainclouds are nowhere to be seen; from June till September an average of 0 mm of rain falls. Zero.

At the beginning of the season sandstorms are quite likely. When the sirocco, also called the khamsin, wind blows, temperatures soar and the sky becomes hazy. If the wind gathers enough speed it can whip up violent clouds of swirling sand that reduce visibility and bring everyday life to a standstill. This wind originates in the Sahara.

Winter, from November till March, sees average highs falling to 27°C in November and down to the annual low of 22°C in January before working back up to 25°C in March. Night time lows drop considerably, getting below 20°C for the entire season and to an annual low of 13°C in January. The most pleasant times to visit Sharm el Sheikh in terms of temperature fall at the beginning and end of winter when it gets into the blissful mid 20s during the day and cools off to around 15°C at night. From mid December till mid February nights can be pretty chilly. However, they are nowhere near as cold as further inland in the desert proper where it can fall down to freezing. Early and late winter are also the best times for scuba diving as underwater visibility is at its best.

Sunshine levels reduce slightly to around eight or nine hour per day. The chance of rain is increased in the winter; rainfall can be expected on about one day in each month. Storms are generally short but heavy. The dry land is unable to cope with any rain and flash flooding is unavoidable. The chance of sandstorms increases towards the end of the season.

Sharm El Sheikh sits on the southern tip of the Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba. It’s coastal location on the Red Sea means it is milder than interior regions of Egypt. The moderating effects of the sea and the northwest prevailing winds coming over from the Mediterranean help to keep the area from the real extremes seen in the desert. The absence of rain can be attributed to the huge rain shadow caused by North Africa’s Atlas Mountains and the area’s flat topography which provides no obstacle to winds.

While on land Sharm El Sheikh’s hot, arid climate has resulted in a never ending sandy beach (desert), underwater the landscape is full of exotic life and colour. The Red Sea coral thrives in these constantly hot and nutrient rich waters and is home to many rare species of tropical fish.

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