Yemen

Climate & when to go

Climatically, Yemen can be divided into three main zones: the Tihama (the Red Sea coastal strip); the central highlands (including San’a); and the desert areas of the east and the far north.

The best time to visit the Tihama is between November and February (summertime can be suffocatingly hot). The twice-yearly monsoons bring some rain to the region between mid-March and mid-April, and particularly July to September. Temperatures range from around 21°C in December and January to as high as 40°C in June. Humidity is also high.

The central highlands (which range from 1500m to 3500m) enjoy a temperate climate for most of the year, though it can get hot at noon and chilly at night (particularly between October and February). The monsoons are light in San’a, but heavy (up to 500mm rainfall) in the southwest and can continue into May. San’a ranges in temperature from a minimum of 5°C (from November to January) to a maximum of 25°C (in July).

The desert regions of the east and the far north are hot (particularly between June and September) and very dry, with temperatures from 25°C in December to 37°C or more in June. The southern coastal strip is very hot and humid between May and September.

The island of Suqutra is a special case and is never really too hot or too cold. Wind is the main factor here. During the summer monsoon period from May to September, winds blow constantly from the southwest at severe gale force with frequent gusts up to hurricane force. Don’t underestimate how difficult this can make even simple tasks like standing up and walking! Bizarrely, the southern coast of the island and the mountainous interior have much calmer wind patterns than the east, west and north coasts.

Though the monsoons can flood wadis (river beds, often dry) and close roads, they do temporarily turn parts of Yemen into wonderfully green and fertile land.

During the peak season (20 December to 10 January), you’re advised to book hotels in popular tourist spots. Travel during the month of Ramadan is not recommended, and during the annual haj pilgrimage (as well as during Ramadan), Yemenia flights are often overbooked or cancelled.