Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, sits on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, on a plain beside the Lake of Tunis near the Gulf of Tunis, at approximately 36.81°N, 10.18°E. It has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, moderated by the sea, and enjoys abundant sunshine — the northern coast being the greenest, wettest part of an otherwise increasingly arid country.

Summer, from June to September, is hot, dry and sunny, with August the warmest month — average highs around 33–34°C — tempered on the coast by sea breezes. Rain is essentially absent for months. The real heat comes with the Chili (sirocco), a hot, dry, dust-laden wind off the Sahara that can push temperatures above 45°C, most often in summer, though such extremes are brief. Between them, 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 16°C and lows near 8°C, rarely approaching freezing on the coast. Sunny spells alternate with periods of rain and wind arriving on Atlantic and Mediterranean systems, and snow is very rare in the city, though the northern hills can see a little. The mild winters make the city comfortable to visit year-round.

Tunis receives around 450–600 mm of rain a year — generous by Tunisian standards — concentrated in the cooler months from October to March, with a winter peak, while the summer is effectively dry. Autumn and spring rain can occasionally arrive as heavy, concentrated downpours. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Tunis sits at the meeting of the Mediterranean and the Sahara, and its most dramatic weather comes when the Chili (sirocco) blows in from the desert, bringing sudden spikes in heat and fine dust that can haze the sky, most often in spring and autumn. For most of the year, though, the sea keeps the climate agreeable, and spring and autumn — warm, sunny and comfortable — are the most pleasant times in the city.

To follow any single measurement in Tunis 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.