Climate of Syria
Where is the country of Syria located? The Syrian Arab Republic is a country in western Asia, in the so-called Levant. Syria, as the country is usually called, is located on the Mediterranean Sea and forms about a third of the Fertile Crescent, also known as the Fertile Crescent. Thanks to the river valleys of the Euphrates and the Tigris, this area has a reasonable amount of fertile land, which has made large-scale agriculture possible here in the distant past. In the west, Syria has a warm Mediterranean climate (type Csa), with warm dry summers and wet mild winters. Further inland there is a mix of the four different arid climates: central Syria has a cold steppe climate and a cold desert climate; in the east this changes into a warm steppe climate (northeast) and a warm desert climate (southeast).
Precipitation
Syria has a precipitation pattern that shows moderate amounts of rain in the west during the winter and to a lesser extent in the spring and autumn. The summers in the west can be called almost completely dry, the chance of rain along the Mediterranean coast is quite small in the period from June to September. Further inland the same pattern applies, but the amounts of precipitation are lower throughout the year than in the rest of Syria. The central and eastern parts of Syria have almost no rain in the summer and in the winter months only about 20 to a maximum of 50-55 millimeters falls within one month during the wettest months.
Temperature
Summers in Syria are warm to hot. Along the Mediterranean Sea, the long-term average maximum temperature is still around thirty degrees, further inland it is a lot warmer: in many places the thermometer rises almost every day to about forty degrees, sometimes a bit higher. On the steppes, the temperatures are about 35 degrees between the extremely high values that apply in the desert and the still fairly pleasant temperatures along the coast. In winter it is mild during the day, especially along the coast. Temperatures inland can easily drop below freezing at night. Snowfall is also a possibility in the winter months, although most snow does not last long. A white snow cover will often melt the same day under the influence of the temperature during the day. The only exception to this is the mountainous region of southwestern Syria, where higher elevations significantly increase the chance that it will remain cold enough during the day to let the snow settle. In some places there is even enough snow for winter sports, such as on the Hermonberg, which is on the border ofLebanon, Israel and Syria.
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 | |
| January | 10℃ | 0℃ | 5 | 14 |
| February | 11℃ | 1℃ | 6 | 12 |
| March | 15℃ | 3℃ | 7 | 11 |
| April | 20℃ | 6℃ | 8 | 8 |
| May | 25℃ | 9℃ | 10 | 5 |
| June | 29℃ | 12℃ | 12 | 2 |
| July | 32℃ | 14℃ | 13 | 0 |
| August | 32℃ | 14℃ | 12 | 0 |
| September | 29℃ | 12℃ | 10 | 1 |
| October | 24℃ | 9℃ | 8 | 6 |
| November | 17℃ | 4℃ | 7 | 8 |
| December | 11℃ | 1℃ | 5 | 12 |
Best time to visit Syria
Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Syria? 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. If you are considering traveling to Syria, first check the official travel advice for this country in the Middle East. Security in Syria leaves much to be desired.
Based on the weather and climate of Syria, the best time to visit is April and October. The other months in the spring and autumn can be an alternative to a trip to Syria. It depends a bit on where exactly you want to travel. Syria has three areas in terms of climate: the coast, the semi-arid western and northern areas and the arid interior.
The coast
Syria is located on the Mediterranean Sea. The northwest of the country has a Mediterranean climate with dry, warm summers and mild, wetter winters. The best travel period for this area therefore differs from the rest of the country. This is mainly because the summer months are warm here, but not nearly as hot as inland. With maximum temperatures of about 28 to 32 degrees Celsius, lots of sun and hardly any rain, the weather here is great for a sun holiday from June to September. In winter there is regular rain and temperatures are around 14 to 18 degrees. As a result, Syria is not a winter sun destination.
The interior
As you go further inland it gets drier. In the capital Damascus, there is only about 150 to 180 millimeters of rainfall per year, while on the coast the annual precipitation sum can rise to 700 to 800 millimeters. The absence of influences from the sea ensures that the temperatures can rise much further in the summer. From June to September, maximum temperatures of 35 to 40 degrees are normal in the interior of Syria. In July and August it can regularly get even warmer: 45 degrees is sometimes reached.
