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Weather & Climate in Massawa, Eritrea
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Massawa has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 72°F (22°C). Winters average 67°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 317 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 10.6 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 30 feet.
Temperature
67°F Jan (20°C)
75°F Jul (24°C)
| Annual Average | 72.3°F |
| 34% above US avg | |
| January Average | 67°F (20°C) |
| July Average | 75°F (24°C) |
| Sunny Days | 317 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 30 ft (9 m) |
| Area | 184.2 sq mi (477.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 125/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 15.6081°N, 39.4746°W |
| Timezone | Africa/Asmara |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
55 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.6.
| Aug 1, 2023 | Eritrea | M5.6 | 43 km | 7 km |
| Apr 28, 2024 | 30 km ENE of Massawa, Eritrea | M5.0 | 31 km | 10 km |
| Sep 13, 2023 | 42 km S of Massawa, Eritrea | M5.0 | 43 km | 10 km |
| Sep 18, 2013 | 17 km NW of Massawa, Eritrea | M5.0 | 18 km | 10 km |
| Sep 11, 2019 | 128 km NE of Massawa, Eritrea | M5.0 | 129 km | 10 km |
| Apr 10, 2006 | 58 km ENE of ?d?grat, Ethiopia | M4.9 | 130 km | 10 km |
| Aug 2, 2023 | 33 km ENE of Dek’emhāre, Eritrea | M4.8 | 52 km | 10 km |
| May 11, 1993 | 88 km ENE of ?d?grat, Ethiopia | M4.8 | 147 km | 25 km |
| May 2, 1993 | 76 km ENE of ?d?grat, Ethiopia | M4.8 | 133 km | 10 km |
| Mar 25, 2011 | 45 km SE of Massawa, Eritrea | M4.8 | 45 km | 10 km |
| Aug 2, 2023 | 34 km ENE of Dek’emhāre, Eritrea | M4.7 | 46 km | 10 km |
| May 2, 1993 | 72 km ENE of ?d?grat, Ethiopia | M4.7 | 147 km | 10 km |
| Jun 4, 2023 | 53 km ENE of Ādīgrat, Ethiopia | M4.7 | 127 km | 10 km |
| Apr 27, 2024 | 26 km NE of Massawa, Eritrea | M4.7 | 27 km | 10 km |
| Jun 5, 2022 | 52 km ENE of Adi Keyh, Eritrea | M4.6 | 82 km | 10 km |
| Aug 3, 2023 | 36 km N of Adi Keyh, Eritrea | M4.6 | 50 km | 10 km |
| Aug 3, 2023 | 36 km N of Adi Keyh, Eritrea | M4.6 | 49 km | 10 km |
| May 15, 2023 | 28 km N of Adi Keyh, Eritrea | M4.6 | 56 km | 10 km |
| May 2, 1993 | 38 km ENE of ?d?grat, Ethiopia | M4.6 | 132 km | 33 km |
| Jun 19, 2018 | 30 km NE of Massawa, Eritrea | M4.6 | 30 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1884 | OFFSHORE MASSAWA | Earthquake | - | - | 17 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Alid (94 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Alid | Stratovolcano | 904 m (2,966 ft) | Unknown | 94 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 67°F (20°C) | 1.7 in | Coldest |
| February | 69°F (21°C) | 1.4 in | |
| March | 71°F (22°C) | 0.7 in | |
| April | 74°F (23°C) | 0.5 in | |
| May | 76°F (25°C) | 0.4 in | |
| June | 78°F (25°C) | 0.1 in | Warmest, Driest |
| July | 75°F (24°C) | 0.6 in | |
| August | 75°F (24°C) | 0.8 in | |
| September | 75°F (24°C) | 0.3 in | |
| October | 72°F (22°C) | 1.1 in | |
| November | 69°F (21°C) | 1.3 in | |
| December | 67°F (20°C) | 1.9 in | Wettest |
Massawa has a seasonal temperature swing of 10°F / from 67°F in January to 78°F in June. Total annual precipitation is 10.6 inches, with December being the wettest month (1.9") and June the driest (0.1").