CLIMATE: WHEN TO GO TO YEMEN YEMEN

The climate of Yemen varies depending of the height, the country can be divided into three climatic zones: the coastline along the Red Sea, the Tihama, hot and humid; the central highlands; and the Wadi Hadramawt in the eastern part of the country with the Far North. The southern coastal zone and Tihama are humid all year round and very hot, but with low rainfall, which occur twice a year between March and April and between July and September. The average maximum temperatures are 28°C in winter and 37°C in summer. Precipitation is very low, with an annual average of 130 mm.

The central highlands are hot in summer but in winter, between October and March, the nights can be very cold, with frequent frosts. The climate of Yemeni highlands is considered the best climate of the Arabian Peninsula. In the capital Sana'a highest average temperatures vary between 25°C in winter and 30°C in summer. The rains occur twice a year between March and May and between July and September. The average rainfall increases with height, the lower part of the highlands receives between 400 and 500 mm of rain a year, while in higher areas will exceed 750 mm of rain a year.

The far north regions and that of Wadi Hadramawt in the eastern part of the country, are very hot, especially between June and September, and very dry, with average maximum temperatures of 25°C in December and 37°C in June.

The best time for a trip in Yemen are the months between September and October and between April and May. 

 

Socotra:

Socotra climate is tropical desertic, influenced by the monsoon winds that blow from the south-west between April and October and between November and March blow from the north-east. The south-west monsoon brings from Africa warm, dry and extremely strong winds. The rains, which fall mainly in winter between November and March, are scarce in the coastal lowland areas with an annual average of 150-200 mm, but increase substantially with the elevation reaching more than 1000 mm per year in the Hagghier mountains. The average maximum temperatures vary between 27°C in January to 34°C in May, the average minimum temperatures vary between 17°C in January and 24°C in June, the temperature difference between night and day is quite strong. Obviously in the mountains the temperature is cooler.

The best time to visit Socotra are the months from November to March, cooler and less windy. 

 

CLIMATIC TABLES:

Sana'a (2,200 m.) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Rain (mm) 0 2 10 14 4 18 50 63 24 7 4 0 Min Temp (°C) 7 8 9 11 13 16 16 16 12 9 7 6 Max Temp (°C) 20 20 23 25 26 27 28 26 23 22 20 19

 

Socotra Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Rain (mm) 23 18 14 22 37 18 12 15 27 38 18 16 Min Temp (°C) 17 18 20 22 23 24 23 23 22 20 18 17 Max Temp (°C) 27 28 30 32 34 34 32 32 32 31 30 28