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Egypt: Exploring the Climate of the World’s Driest Country
For residents of the UK, weather and particularly rainfall are frequent topics of conversation, with sunshine prompting widespread discussion. However, in regions further south, the likelihood of significant rainfall diminishes considerably. Indeed, for some nations, experiencing any rain at all is a rarity. Notably, Egypt, situated in North Africa, is often cited as the world’s driest country, receiving minimal annual precipitation.
Arid Conditions Across Egypt
While Britons may find it difficult to imagine, numerous nations, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, experience negligible rainfall annually. Some countries endure years, even decades, without any recorded precipitation, resulting in severe hardship. Egypt, recognized as potentially the driest country globally, receives such meager annual rainfall that it wouldn’t even fill a standard-sized drinking mug.
Located in North Africa, Egypt is characterized by a hot desert climate. The vast majority of the nation is exceptionally arid, excluding the northern Mediterranean coast, which experiences some rainfall during the winter months. The areas around the cities of Alexandria and Rafah are typically the cloudiest and wettest locations in Egypt.
Annual Rainfall and Sunshine Duration
Along Egypt’s narrow Mediterranean coastline, annual average precipitation ranges from 20 to 200 millimetres. However, southward from Cairo, the average dramatically decreases to almost zero millimetres across the central and southern regions of the country. According to World Bank statistics, Egypt as a whole registers a mere 18 millimetres of rainfall per year.
Egypt enjoys abundant sunshine throughout the year. Sunshine duration varies from approximately 3,300 hours in the northern coastal areas to over 4,000 hours across much of the rest of the nation.
Temperature Variations and Snowfall
Certain mountainous regions in Sinai, the only part of Egypt situated in Asia, such as Saint Catherine, experience cooler nighttime temperatures due to their high altitudes. Nevertheless, snowfall is infrequent even in the Sinai mountains.
Snowfall is exceedingly rare in major Egyptian cities like Giza, Cairo, and Alexandria. Notably, Cairo experienced overnight snowfall in December 2013, marking the first such occurrence since 1899.
Summer Heat and Winter Mildness
During the summer months, temperatures in Egypt become intensely hot. The highest temperature ever recorded at Cairo International Airport reached 47.8C in May. Temperatures frequently climb to 35C between May and August. Consequently, many Britons opt to travel to Egypt during the Easter holiday period to explore Cairo and visit the iconic pyramids before the heat becomes oppressive.
Even during winter, temperatures in Egypt remain relatively mild, typically only dropping to around 10C.
Global Rainfall Comparisons and Historical Droughts
In stark contrast, Colombia in South America, considered the world’s wettest country, receives an astonishing 3,240 millimetres of rain annually, as per World Bank data.
Egypt has also experienced extended periods without rainfall, known as “megadroughts.” The most widely recognized prolonged drought in Egyptian history is believed to have spanned from approximately 2,200 to 1,900 BC. This drought led to a significant reduction in the Nile River’s flow, potentially reaching a minimum over two centuries.
Furthermore, evidence suggests a three-year drought around 1191 AD contributed to the deaths of approximately one-third of the population.
Driest Countries Globally
Libya is ranked as the second-driest country worldwide, with 56 millimetres of annual rainfall. Algeria and Mauritania also feature among the top 10 driest nations, receiving 89 and 92 millimetres respectively.
The remaining top positions are primarily held by Asian countries, predominantly in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is the third-driest country, with 59 millimetres, followed by Qatar (74), the UAE (78), and Bahrain (83) in terms of annual rainfall.