What's the weather like in Tel Aviv?
Location
Tel Aviv, Israel, is the modern, vibrant and trendy mirror image of historic Jerusalem. It is one of Israel's most populous cities with 439,000 residents living in greater Tel Aviv. It is located on Israel's Mediterranean coast and is a centre for business, politics and tourism, with more than 2.5 million annual visitors. Nicknamed the 'Mediterranean Manhattan' it is bursting with bars, restaurants and nightlife and continues to grow at a rapid rate. Renowned for some of Israel's finest beaches it also houses Unesco-listed sites, art galleries and museums and plenty of history of its own in the ancient quarter and port of Jaffa.
Tel Aviv was founded in 1909 by Jews on the outskirts of the then Palestinian port of Jaffa and it continued to grow until the two were merged in 1950, two years after the state of Israel came into being.
Climate
Tel Aviv enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate, which means summers are hot and dry and winters mild and wet. Spring and Autumn are short seasons and both can be very warm. The city gets lots of sunshine all-year round with a yearly average of 3300 hours. Most rain falls between October and April, with January the wettest month followed by February and December. Tel Aviv's average annual temperature is 20.9 °C and the average sea temperature is 18-20°C in winter, and 24-29°C in summer, so it is ideal for year-round swims in the sea. The city averages 582mm/22.9ins of rain each year.
Tel Aviv's highest ever record recorded temperature was 46.5 °C in May 1916, and the lowest was -2°C in February 1950 which brought the only recorded snowfall of the city's existence.
Tel Aviv's status as a major business, political and tourist centre in the region is reflected by the number of luxury hotels in the city, with many located on HaYarkon Street, feet away from the beaches and a short walk to all the city's entertainment, culture, food and drink. Tel Aviv is renowned as one of the most 'gay-friendly' cities in the world and its annual Pride festival each June is one of the biggest and most colourful anywhere. The cities transport system relies mainly on buses and taxis, although there are four rail stations connecting to other parts of Israel. The country's main airport Ben Gurion International is just outside Tel Aviv.
Summer Weather in Tel Aviv
Temperature
Summer in Tel Aviv is characterised by hot and humid conditions. August is the hottest month of the year with an average temperature of 27.8°C and an average high of 30.2°C, although this has reached more than 44°C on occasions. There is high relative humidity in Tel Aviv during the summer which peaks as high as 90 per cent in August, making conditions very uncomfortable indeed. Booking accommodation with air conditioning during these months is strongly advised. Temperatures rarely drop below 20°C in Tel Aviv in summer.
Autumn Weather in Tel Aviv
Temperature
Autumn in Tel Aviv is short and falls between late September and October. It is generally a pleasant time to visit, with the average temperature ranging between 26.5°C in September and 22.7°C in October. Humidity is generally lower making conditions more bearable than at the height of summer. But autumn heatwaves are a regular occurrence, with temperatures capable of topping 40°C, making it more like high summer than autumn.
Winter Weather in Tel Aviv
Temperature
Winters in Tel Aviv are mild and wet, with most of the annual rainfall coming in December, January and February. This can be intense and there can also be thunderstorms. January is the coolest month of the year, with an average high temperature of 17.5°C and an average low of 9.6°C. Temperatures are capable of going much higher and much lower, but freezing temperatures are extremely rare and snow in Tel Aviv has only been reported on one occasion. Tel Aviv averages 582mm/22.9 inches of rain a year and most of that falls in the winter months
Spring Weather in Tel Aviv
Temperature
Spring in Tel Aviv is effectively between mid-March and April, although it can feel like summer on occasions with record highs of 38.3 and 43.9 recorded in the respective months. Generally, this is a beautiful time of year to visit, with warm temperatures and humidity levels that have not yet hit their summer peaks. The average temperature goes from 16.4°C to 19.2°C between the two months, although in reality is often warmer than that. There is still a risk of rain until the end of April.
Extreme Weather and Hazards
Heat Exhaustion
With high summer temperatures and high humidity levels to accompany them, one of the big risks in Tel Aviv is from the effects of heat. Sunburn, sunstroke and heat exhaustion should be guarded against, particularly in July and August, when temperatures can top 40°C. Take sun creams with a high protection factor, stay out of the sun in the middle of the day and drink plenty of water.
Thunderstorms and Floods
Other weather hazards include the risk of heavy rainstorms, accompanied by thunder and lightning, which have brought down power lines on occasions and caused flooding on others. Sand storms originating from the Sahara Desert can also occur, reducing visibility and covering the city in a layer of dust. It is advisable to stay indoors when these happen and they rarely last longer than a day.
Crime and Terrorism
From a crime point of view, Tel Aviv is very safe with low crime figures. The main risk, as with many popular destinations, is from petty crime such as pickpocketing. Terrorism is a risk in Israel generally, due to the political situation and although Tel Aviv is safer than most places, take care and follow the Foreign Office advice when venturing to other parts of the country, such as Bethlehem and Jerusalem. These places are visited by millions of tourists each year, but it is best to do so with organised tours led by local guides.