Does It Snow in Egypt? Surprising Truth About Egypt’s Rare Winter Snowfall
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Fatima Saif
- . January 12, 2026
- . Update: January 12, 2026 8:29 pm
Egypt is a country that is pictured by many individuals as a place of endless sunshine, desert and pyramids. This will always result in one frequent query; does it snow in Egypt? Although Egypt is known to have hot climate, snow is not a complete myth. There are some very localized areas and very rare weather conditions in which snow has been detected. This can be done by understanding the reasons and the location of where it occurs. This paper elaborates on the answer of do snow fall in Egypt, where snow fall happens, why uncommonly and how the climate and geography are important in this abnormal natural phenomenon.
Does It Snow in Egypt? The Simple Answer
It does snow in Egypt, but in very small places, and under exceptional circumstances. Egypt is generally a hot desert climate with the occurrence of a snow-fall being very rare. But, does it snow in Egypt will however be a factor of elevation and season weather patterns. The snowfall is experienced primarily in winter seasons between December and February when the temperatures become low in mountainous areas.
Where Does Snowfall Occur in Egypt?
The prominent location of snow falls is the Sinai peninsula. Mount Sinai (Gebel Katherina) and high altitude regions like Saint Catherine are common during winter with snowfall. These are areas above sea level by a distance of over 2,000 meters and hence they are cold and snowy. When you are wondering does it snow in Egypt, then the clearest example of the same is available in these mountains.
Rare Snowfall in Egyptian Cities
It is very unusual to have snow in the major cities in Egypt. An example is Cairo, where there was a record snowfall in December 2013 (the first in more than a century). It was an unexpected incident that caught the eyes of the world. Likewise, there is occasional sleet or little ice pellets, but no continuous snowfall falls in Alexandria. Such rare instances frequently provoke the question of whether or not there is snow in Egypt despite the fact that the incidences are rare.
Why Snow Is Rare in Egypt
The major factor that makes snow scarce is the desert climate of Egypt which is hot and dry. The humidity is low and temperatures are high in most of the regions throughout the year. It is only under cold air that has enough moisture that snow is formed and this normally occurs at high mountainous areas. This is the reason why does it snow in Egypt is a question with conditional response of yes but only under special places.
