Algiers, the capital of Algeria, sits on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, rising up hillsides above the bay at approximately 36.75°N, 3.06°E. It has a classic Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) with hot, dry, sunny summers and mild, wet winters. The sea moderates its temperatures year-round, so it rarely freezes and rarely becomes as oppressively hot as the Algerian interior, and it enjoys around 2,770 hours of sunshine a year.

Summer, from June to September, is hot, sunny and almost rainless, with August the warmest month — average highs around 30–31°C, tempered on the coast by a reliable sea breeze. The real heat comes when the Chili, a scorching wind off the Sahara, breaks through: it can send temperatures soaring above 40°C, and in July 2023 the city reached an extraordinary 48.7°C. Between such episodes, the maritime air keeps the coast comfortable.

Winter, from December to February, is mild and the rainy season, with January the coolest month — average highs around 17–18°C and lows near 6–8°C, cooler on clear nights in the inland suburbs. Occasional cold outbreaks from the north can bring a chill, and though snow in the city is very rare — falling only a handful of times in recent decades — the mountains just behind Algiers get enough for ski resorts.

Algiers is one of the wetter spots on the Algerian coast, receiving around 600–640 mm of rain a year in the typical Mediterranean pattern: the wettest months are November through January, often with heavy downpours, while June to September are almost completely dry. Humidity is high in winter and eases in summer. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

The defining wild card in Algiers' weather is the Chili (or sirocco), a hot, dust-laden wind that climbs over the Atlas Mountains from the Sahara and can cause sudden, dramatic spikes in temperature and drops in humidity, most often in spring and autumn but occasionally delivering searing heat in summer. Spring and autumn, especially April, May and September, are the most comfortable and pleasant times in the city.

To follow any single measurement in Algiers more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.