Libya, located in North Africa, is the fourth-largest country on the continent and bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west. The country spans a vast area of over 1.7 million square kilometers, with a significant portion of its territory covered by the Sahara Desert.
Geographically, Libya can be divided into three main regions:
- The Coastal Plains: This region stretches along the Mediterranean coast and includes cities like Tripoli, Benghazi, and Misrata. The coastal areas benefit from the Mediterranean climate, which features mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.
- The Highlands: The mountainous areas, such as the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountain) in the northeast, experience cooler temperatures and receive more rainfall than the rest of the country.
- The Sahara Desert: Covering most of the southern region, this area is characterized by extreme heat, aridity, and minimal rainfall. Desert towns like Sebha and Ghadames experience some of the hottest temperatures in the country.
Libya’s climate can be categorized into two main seasons:
- Hot and Dry Season (April to October)
- Cooler and Wet Season (November to March)
Let’s examine the weather in Libya, month by month.
January
Weather Overview
January is part of the cooler and wet season in Libya, particularly along the coast and in the mountainous regions. The desert areas remain dry but experience cooler temperatures compared to the scorching summer months.
Coastal Plains (Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata)
- Temperature: 10°C to 17°C (50°F to 63°F)
- Rainfall: 40-60 mm
- Weather: Mild and rainy. The Mediterranean influence brings regular rainfall to cities like Tripoli and Benghazi, with cooler evenings and mild daytime temperatures.
Highlands (Jebel Akhdar, Gharyan)
- Temperature: 6°C to 12°C (43°F to 54°F)
- Rainfall: 60-90 mm
- Weather: Cool and wet. The highland areas experience frequent rainfall and colder temperatures, particularly at night. Snow is rare but possible in the higher elevations.
Sahara Desert (Sebha, Ghadames)
- Temperature: 5°C to 18°C (41°F to 64°F)
- Rainfall: 0-5 mm
- Weather: Cool and dry. Desert areas remain mostly dry with minimal rainfall, but temperatures are much cooler compared to the hot summer months, especially at night.
February
Weather Overview
February continues the cooler season across Libya, with rainfall primarily concentrated along the coast and in the mountainous regions. The desert areas remain dry but experience some of the coolest temperatures of the year.
Coastal Plains
- Temperature: 11°C to 18°C (52°F to 64°F)
- Rainfall: 30-50 mm
- Weather: Mild and rainy. Coastal cities like Tripoli and Benghazi continue to experience moderate rainfall and mild temperatures, though sunny days become more frequent toward the end of the month.
Highlands
- Temperature: 7°C to 14°C (45°F to 57°F)
- Rainfall: 50-80 mm
- Weather: Cool and wet, with frequent rain in the Jebel Akhdar region. The mountainous areas remain relatively cold, with some chance of frost during the night.
Sahara Desert
- Temperature: 6°C to 20°C (43°F to 68°F)
- Rainfall: 0-5 mm
- Weather: Cool and dry. The desert remains largely arid, with clear skies and cool nights. Daytime temperatures are comfortable, though the mornings and evenings can be chilly.
March
Weather Overview
March marks the beginning of the transition to spring, with warmer temperatures and less frequent rain along the coast. The desert regions remain dry, but the temperatures begin to rise as the country prepares for the hotter months.
Coastal Plains
- Temperature: 12°C to 20°C (54°F to 68°F)
- Rainfall: 20-40 mm
- Weather: Mild with occasional rain. Coastal cities like Tripoli and Misrata begin to see fewer rainy days, though temperatures remain mild and pleasant. Sunny days become more frequent.
Highlands
- Temperature: 9°C to 16°C (48°F to 61°F)
- Rainfall: 40-70 mm
- Weather: Cool with some rain. The highland regions, particularly around Jebel Akhdar, experience mild weather with occasional showers. The cold of winter starts to give way to warmer spring conditions.
Sahara Desert
- Temperature: 10°C to 25°C (50°F to 77°F)
- Rainfall: 0-5 mm
- Weather: Warm and dry. Desert areas like Sebha and Ghadames remain dry, but daytime temperatures start to rise. Evenings are still relatively cool, making it one of the most pleasant times to explore the desert.
April
Weather Overview
April marks the beginning of the hot and dry season across much of Libya, with temperatures rising steadily and rain becoming less frequent. The coastal regions are still mild, but the desert experiences a noticeable increase in heat.
Coastal Plains
- Temperature: 15°C to 23°C (59°F to 73°F)
- Rainfall: 10-20 mm
- Weather: Warm and mostly dry. The coastal areas like Tripoli and Benghazi see a reduction in rainfall, with more sunshine and warmer temperatures. April is still a comfortable time to visit the coast.
Highlands
- Temperature: 12°C to 20°C (54°F to 68°F)
- Rainfall: 20-40 mm
- Weather: Mild with occasional rain. The highland areas around Jebel Akhdar experience a mix of sunny and rainy days, with pleasant daytime temperatures.
Sahara Desert
- Temperature: 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F)
- Rainfall: 0-5 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry. Desert regions begin to feel the heat, with daytime temperatures reaching 30°C (86°F) and above. The nights remain cooler, but the hot season is approaching rapidly.
May
Weather Overview
May brings the full onset of summer across Libya, with rising temperatures and little to no rainfall. The desert regions experience intense heat, while the coastal areas remain warm but relatively comfortable.
Coastal Plains
- Temperature: 18°C to 27°C (64°F to 81°F)
- Rainfall: 5-10 mm
- Weather: Warm and dry. The Mediterranean influence keeps the coastal areas pleasant, with mild temperatures and minimal rainfall. Tripoli and Benghazi experience long sunny days, perfect for beach activities.
Highlands
- Temperature: 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F)
- Rainfall: 10-20 mm
- Weather: Mild and dry. The highlands remain pleasant with warm days and cool nights. The occasional rain shower may still occur, but overall, the weather becomes drier.
Sahara Desert
- Temperature: 20°C to 35°C (68°F to 95°F)
- Rainfall: 0 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry. The desert regions, including Sebha and Ghadames, experience increasingly hot days with temperatures often reaching the mid-30s (°C). Nights remain relatively cool, but the daytime heat is becoming intense.
June
Weather Overview
June is the start of the hottest period in Libya, particularly in the desert regions. Coastal areas remain relatively cooler due to the Mediterranean Sea, but inland temperatures soar.
Coastal Plains
- Temperature: 22°C to 30°C (72°F to 86°F)
- Rainfall: 0-5 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry. Coastal areas like Tripoli and Benghazi experience warm, sunny days with virtually no rainfall. The beaches are popular as locals and tourists seek relief from the heat.
Highlands
- Temperature: 18°C to 28°C (64°F to 82°F)
- Rainfall: 0-5 mm
- Weather: Warm and dry. The highlands experience pleasant weather during the day, though nights remain cool. Rainfall is rare, and the landscape becomes increasingly arid.
Sahara Desert
- Temperature: 25°C to 40°C (77°F to 104°F)
- Rainfall: 0 mm
- Weather: Extremely hot and dry. Desert towns like Sebha and Ghadames experience scorching heat during the day, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C (104°F). Nights are still cool, but the daytime heat can be oppressive.
July
Weather Overview
July is one of the hottest months in Libya, particularly in the desert regions, where temperatures can reach extreme levels. Coastal areas are hot but benefit from the cooling effect of the sea.
Coastal Plains
- Temperature: 24°C to 33°C (75°F to 91°F)
- Rainfall: 0 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry. Coastal areas like Tripoli and Benghazi experience long, sunny days with high temperatures, though the Mediterranean breezes provide some relief. Rainfall is virtually non-existent.
Highlands
- Temperature: 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F)
- Rainfall: 0 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry. The highlands remain warm during the day, but the nights are cooler than in the coastal and desert regions. The dry season is in full swing, with no rain expected.
Sahara Desert
- Temperature: 28°C to 45°C (82°F to 113°F)
- Rainfall: 0 mm
- Weather: Extremely hot and dry. Desert areas, including Sebha and Ghadames, experience the peak of summer heat, with daytime temperatures frequently exceeding 45°C (113°F). Nights offer little relief as the heat lingers.
August
Weather Overview
August is the hottest month in Libya, with temperatures peaking across the country. The coastal areas remain slightly more temperate, but the desert regions experience extreme heat.
Coastal Plains
- Temperature: 25°C to 34°C (77°F to 93°F)
- Rainfall: 0 mm
- Weather: Very hot and dry. Tripoli and other coastal cities continue to experience hot, sunny weather, but the Mediterranean Sea provides some cooling during the evenings and mornings.
Highlands
- Temperature: 21°C to 31°C (70°F to 88°F)
- Rainfall: 0 mm
- Weather: Hot and dry, with little variation in the daily weather. The highlands remain warm during the day and cooler at night, but rainfall is nonexistent during this period.
Sahara Desert
- Temperature: 29°C to 45°C (84°F to 113°F)
- Rainfall: 0 mm
- Weather: Extremely hot and dry. The Sahara Desert experiences intense heat, with daytime temperatures soaring above 45°C (113°F). Nights are marginally cooler but still hot, making outdoor activities challenging.
September
Weather Overview
September signals the beginning of a gradual cooling trend, especially toward the end of the month. Temperatures remain high, particularly in the desert, but the weather starts to become more tolerable.
Coastal Plains
- Temperature: 23°C to 31°C (73°F to 88°F)
- Rainfall: 0-5 mm
- Weather: Warm and dry. Coastal areas like Tripoli and Misrata continue to experience warm temperatures, but the heat begins to subside slightly as the month progresses.
Highlands
- Temperature: 18°C to 29°C (64°F to 84°F)
- Rainfall: 0-5 mm
- Weather: Warm and dry. The highlands remain pleasant with warm days and cool nights, though the dry conditions persist.
Sahara Desert
- Temperature: 26°C to 40°C (79°F to 104°F)
- Rainfall: 0 mm
- Weather: Very hot and dry. While temperatures in the desert are still high, particularly during the day, they begin to drop slightly compared to the peak summer months.
October
Weather Overview
October marks the start of autumn in Libya, with temperatures continuing to drop and the possibility of occasional rain in the northern regions.
Coastal Plains
- Temperature: 20°C to 27°C (68°F to 81°F)
- Rainfall: 10-20 mm
- Weather: Warm with occasional rain. Coastal cities like Tripoli and Benghazi experience milder temperatures and the first rain showers of the season. The weather is more pleasant, making it a popular time for travel.
Highlands
- Temperature: 15°C to 24°C (59°F to 75°F)
- Rainfall: 10-30 mm
- Weather: Mild with some rain. The highland areas, particularly around Jebel Akhdar, begin to receive more rainfall, and the cooler temperatures make outdoor activities more enjoyable.
Sahara Desert
- Temperature: 22°C to 35°C (72°F to 95°F)
- Rainfall: 0-5 mm
- Weather: Warm and dry. The desert areas remain hot during the day, but the evening and nighttime temperatures are cooler, making it a more comfortable time to explore the desert.
November
Weather Overview
November marks the return of the cooler and wetter season in Libya, especially along the coast and in the highlands. The desert areas remain dry, but temperatures are significantly lower than in the summer.
Coastal Plains
- Temperature: 15°C to 22°C (59°F to 72°F)
- Rainfall: 20-40 mm
- Weather: Mild and rainy. Tripoli and Benghazi experience more frequent rainfall, with cooler temperatures making for pleasant autumn days.
Highlands
- Temperature: 10°C to 18°C (50°F to 64°F)
- Rainfall: 30-50 mm
- Weather: Cool with increasing rainfall. The highland regions, particularly Jebel Akhdar, experience cooler temperatures and frequent showers.
Sahara Desert
- Temperature: 15°C to 28°C (59°F to 82°F)
- Rainfall: 0-5 mm
- Weather: Cool and dry. The desert regions remain dry, but the temperatures drop significantly, making it an ideal time to visit for those looking to explore the Sahara without the intense summer heat.
December
Weather Overview
December is part of the cooler and wet season, with colder temperatures across the country. The desert areas remain dry but cool, while the coastal and highland regions experience more rain.
Coastal Plains
- Temperature: 12°C to 18°C (54°F to 64°F)
- Rainfall: 30-50 mm
- Weather: Cool and rainy. Coastal cities like Tripoli and Benghazi experience regular rain showers and cooler temperatures, making it one of the wettest months of the year.
Highlands
- Temperature: 7°C to 14°C (45°F to 57°F)
- Rainfall: 40-60 mm
- Weather: Cool and wet. The highland regions experience chilly nights and frequent rainfall, with the possibility of frost in higher elevations.
Sahara Desert
- Temperature: 10°C to 22°C (50°F to 72°F)
- Rainfall: 0-5 mm
- Weather: Cool and dry. The desert regions remain dry, but the cooler temperatures make December an ideal time for desert exploration and outdoor activities without the extreme heat.