Climate of Lebanon

Climate of Lebanon

Where is the country of Lebanon located? The Republic of Lebanon is a country on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, bordering Syria and Israel. The country has regularly experienced civil wars, battles, attacks and also wars with neighboring Israel. Due to the many conflicts Lebanon has seen, the country does not have the tourist attraction it could have. Besides the best Arabic cuisine, beautiful beaches and a large number of archaeological sites, Lebanon is also blessed with a pleasantly warm Mediterranean climate (type Csa according to the Köppen climate classification). As a result, Lebanon has beautiful weather for a beach holiday for months.

Four Seasons

Lebanon has four seasons: a fairly long and warm summer, a pleasant spring and autumn and a cool to mild, but wet winter. Both summer (June to September) and winter (December to March) last four months, while spring and autumn last only two months. In autumn and spring, rain falls mainly during shorter but also heavier showers, while in winter the precipitation intensity is lower and the number of rainy days is greater.

Precipitation

The Mediterranean climate of Lebanon shows a precipitation pattern with the winter months being fairly wet and the summers dry. From June to September, rain or thunderstorms are rare in Lebanon, although inland the chance is slightly higher than along the very sunny coastal areas. For example, the capital Beirut measures a total of less than five millimeters of rain in the four summer months combined. Thanks to the wet winters, in which the amounts of precipitation in the period from November to March easily exceed one hundred millimeters per month, most places in Lebanon eventually end up with an annual sum that is higher than in the Netherlands. For example, Beirut registers an average of 826 millimeters of precipitation per year, which is about twenty percent more than the average Dutch city.

Winter sports

Ski enthusiasts will find excellent options in Lebanon in the winter months. In the mountain areas inland you can enjoy winter sports from December to mid-March. A popular ski resort is the Faraya Mzaar Ski Domain in Kfardebian. The heights of the peaks in this ski area vary between 1913 and 2465 meters. Other ski resorts in Lebanon include The Cedars, Fakra, Zaarour and Laqlouq.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Maximum temperature Minimum temperature Hours of sunshine per day Days of rainfall per month Water temperature
January 15℃ 7℃ 5 15 18℃
February 16℃ 8℃ 6 13 17℃
March 18℃ 9℃ 7 11 17℃
April 21℃ 12℃ 8 7 18℃
May 25℃ 15℃ 10 4 21℃
June 27℃ 18℃ 12 1 24℃
July 30℃ 20℃ 11 0 26℃
August 30℃ 21℃ 11 0 27℃
September 29℃ 19℃ 10 1 27℃
October 26℃ 16℃ 8 6 25℃
November 21℃ 12℃ 7 9 22℃
December 16℃ 9℃ 5 13 20℃

Best time to visit Lebanon

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Lebanon? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. The Republic of Lebanon is a Mediterranean country in the Middle East. Geographically, the coastal area is the lowest part of Lebanon. Parallel to the coast is the Lebanon Mountains with a highest peak of 3088 meters above sea level. Behind the mountains lies the wide Beqaa Valley. East of the valley is the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, which forms the natural boundary with neighboring Syria. Lebanon has a warm Mediterranean climate with dry warm summers and fairly mild wetter winters, with cooler weather and snow in the mountain areas.

Best travel months

The overall best time to travel for a holiday in Lebanon is from April to mid-October. This is the period when there is little precipitation, the sun shines exuberantly and the temperatures are the most pleasant. The only question is whether the months of July and August with maximum temperatures that are often around thirty degrees are not too hot for a tour through Lebanon. If you take into account that there are enough days in which the 35 degrees or higher is reached, then you are more likely to choose May, June or September to travel around Lebanon.

Beach holiday

If you want to celebrate a beach holiday in Lebanon, the best time to travel is the period from June to September. May and October can also provide some great beach days. The seawater has not yet warmed up completely in May. Expect about 19-20 degrees at the beginning of the month and about 22 degrees at the end of May. In October, the sea water temperature is a lot more pleasant with an average of 25 degrees. You can feel above water that the sun has diminished in strength.

Ski holiday

In Lebanon you can enjoy skiing or snowboarding. There are several winter sports areas that are located at altitudes that rise to more than 2400 meters. The ski season starts in December and lasts until March. The best time to travel for a winter sports holiday in Lebanon is from the beginning of January to the end of February. This is the coolest and snowiest time of the year.

Lebanon