Lalībela

Ethiopia Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Ethiopia in December.

Planning a journey to Ethiopia this December and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Ethiopia in December

Ethiopia offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In December, one might encounter temperatures that range from pleasant to warm, and precipitation levels ranging from almost none to moderate.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from pleasant in Goba at 18°C (64°F) to warm in Adama at 28°C (82°F). At night it cools down to 12°C (54°F) in Adama and 7°C (45°F) in Goba.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Ethiopia, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no rainfall in Debre Zeyit with an average of 3.8 mm (0.1 in) to moderate rainfall in Sanetti Plateau with 67 mm (2.6 in). Looking at the climate data spanning the last 30 years, this month usually has the lowest rainfall in Addis Ababa, marking it as the year's driest month.

Average sunshine

Plenty of sunshine can be expected in numerous places in December. Addis Ababa typically receives 280 hours of sunlight, making it ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Ethiopia by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Ethiopia — and find the best time to visit. (based on Addis Ababa)

Best Places to Visit in Ethiopia in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Ethiopia.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Ethiopia

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Ethiopia?

Temperature range in Ethiopia (December)

Precipitation variation in Ethiopia (December)

Addis Ababa

In December Addis Ababa generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly sun hours
267 hours
280 hours
270 hours
Monthly rainfall
12 mm (0.5 in)
7.6 mm (0.3 in)
18 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
3 days
4 days
Weather conditions

Bahir Dar

In December Bahir Dar generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C (79°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
14°C (57°F)
15°C (59°F)
Monthly rainfall
16 mm (0.6 in)
4.7 mm (0.2 in)
4.2 mm (0.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
2 days
2 days
Weather conditions

Lalībela

In December Lalībela generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
10°C (50°F)
Monthly rainfall
14 mm (0.6 in)
7.9 mm (0.3 in)
12 mm (0.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
2 days
3 days
Weather conditions

Gonder

In December Gonder generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C (79°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C (52°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
12°C (54°F)
11°C (52°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly rainfall
17 mm (0.7 in)
5.5 mm (0.2 in)
5.7 mm (0.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
2 days
2 days
Weather conditions

Debre Zeyit

In December Debre Zeyit generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C (79°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 10°C (50°F) and almost no monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
Min temperature
11°C (52°F)
10°C (50°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly sun hours
267 hours
280 hours
270 hours
Monthly rainfall
8.1 mm (0.3 in)
3.8 mm (0.1 in)
8.5 mm (0.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
3 days
3 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Ethiopia.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Ethiopia in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Addis Ababa 24°C (75°F) 8°C (46°F) 7.6 mm (0.3 in)
Bahir Dar 26°C (79°F) 14°C (57°F) 4.7 mm (0.2 in)
Lalībela 24°C (75°F) 9°C (48°F) 7.9 mm (0.3 in)
Gonder 26°C (79°F) 11°C (52°F) 5.5 mm (0.2 in)
Debre Zeyit 26°C (79°F) 10°C (50°F) 3.8 mm (0.1 in)
Adama 28°C (82°F) 12°C (54°F) 5.3 mm (0.2 in)

Ethiopia weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Ethiopia in December?

In December, Ethiopia generally has perfect weather conditions. Addis Ababa sees daytime temperatures near 24°C (75°F), with nights cooling to roughly 8°C (46°F).

What is the average temperature in Ethiopia in December?

Average temperatures in Ethiopia during December range from a nighttime low near 8°C (46°F) to a daytime high around 24°C (75°F) in Addis Ababa.

Does Ethiopia get a lot of rain in December?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Ethiopia during December, with Addis Ababa averaging close to 7.6 mm (0.3 in).

Is December a Good Time to Visit Ethiopia?

We consider December to be one of the best times to travel to Ethiopia. Typically, the climate in Addis Ababa is perfect. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in January, February, March, October, November and December offering mostly perfect weather in Addis Ababa. On the other hand, the months of June, July, August and September tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Ethiopia.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Ethiopia? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Ethiopia.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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