Spring in Addis Ababa feels like a blend of mild temperatures, shifting skies, and an early hint of the rainy season. Daytime highs usually settle in the mid-70s °F, while nights cool down to the low or mid-50s °F, so you get comfortable weather for exploring the city or just being outside.
The weather stays steady enough for sightseeing, but it’s never boring—each day brings something a little different.
As spring moves along, clouds start showing up more often, and short rains break up the sunshine, making everything greener and the air feel fresh. You’ll notice the days slowly grow longer, which means more time to wander through markets, try new cafés, or check out cultural spots.
Wind tends to ease off as spring goes on, and the air never really gets muggy, even when it does rain. This reliable rhythm shapes the mood of spring in Addis Ababa, quietly hinting at the wetter months around the corner.
Overview of Spring Climate in Addis Ababa
Spring in Addis Ababa brings steady mild temperatures, more clouds, and a slow uptick in rainfall. You get a bit more daylight, the wind calms down, and humidity stays low, so the whole season feels comfortable but always changing.
Spring Months and Seasonal Patterns
Spring in Addis Ababa runs from March through May. It’s a bridge between the dry winter and the much wetter summer.
Daily highs hover around 74°F (23°C), and nighttime lows sit near 54°F (12°C). These numbers barely budge as the weeks go by.
Rainfall keeps climbing. Early March might bring a few light showers, but by late May, more than a third of the days can turn wet. The average monthly rainfall goes from about 1.2 inches in March to 2.6 inches by May.
Clouds gather more often as spring progresses. Early March skies look mostly clear, but by the end of spring, you’ll see more overcast days. Still, you get roughly 12 hours of daylight on average, so there’s plenty of sun.
Winds start near 8 mph in March and slow down to about 6 mph by late May. The breeze usually comes from the east, so if you’re watching the weather, that’s the pattern.
Comparison to Other Seasons
Compared to the rest of the year, spring is one of the mildest and most stable times in Addis Ababa. Unlike the heavy summer rains (June through August), spring showers stay moderate and rarely ruin your plans.
Winter, from December to February, feels a bit drier and the nights get a little colder. Spring warms up, and the hills and parks get greener as the rain returns.
Autumn (September to November) comes after the rainy season and tends to be clearer and drier. Spring sits in the middle—neither too dry nor too wet.
Daylight in spring stretches out by about 40 minutes from March to May. Winter days feel shorter, and summer days only get a touch longer. That extra daylight makes spring a comfortable season for getting outside or wandering the city.
Key Climate Influences
Addis Ababa sits high up—about 7,900 feet (2,400 meters) above sea level. This elevation keeps spring temperatures cooler than you’d expect for a city so close to the equator.
The seasonal rain pattern depends a lot on the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) shifting north in spring. As the ITCZ moves, it drags moisture and clouds along with it.
Hills and valleys around the city add little twists to the weather. You might notice more rain in one part of town than another, even if you’re just a few miles apart.
Humidity rarely gets high, so muggy days are pretty much unheard of. The combination of mild temperatures, manageable showers, and steady daylight really defines spring in Addis Ababa.
Average Spring Temperatures
Addis Ababa’s high elevation—around 7,900 feet up—keeps spring temperatures mild. Mornings start on the cool side, but afternoons warm up comfortably. The daily temperature range stays pretty small compared to most lower-altitude cities.
Daily High and Low Temperatures
During spring, you can count on daytime highs averaging about 74°F (23°C). It’s rare for them to dip below 68°F (20°C) or push past 80°F (27°C). The warmest days usually show up in mid-May, with highs nudging up to 75°F (24°C).
Nights cool off. Lows usually hover near 54°F (12°C), but sometimes dip to 49°F (9°C). Early April nights feel a bit warmer, averaging 55°F (13°C).
Packing is easy. You’ll want a light jacket for the mornings or evenings, but you can probably get away with short sleeves during the day. With no wild temperature swings, heavy clothing just isn’t necessary.
Hourly Temperature Fluctuations
Throughout the day, temperatures in Addis Ababa change slowly. Mornings start cool, usually in the mid-50s °F (about 12°C). By midday, it warms up to the low or mid-70s °F (22–24°C), which feels just about perfect.
Unlike lowland places, Addis Ababa doesn’t heat up fast after sunrise. The altitude keeps things steady, so afternoons feel warm but never really hot.
At night, temperatures drop gradually. Evenings are nice for being outside. If you’re someone who feels the cold, a sweater or light layer should do the trick after sunset.
Temperature Trends Through Spring
As spring rolls on, Addis Ababa gets just a bit warmer. Early March starts out with highs near 73°F (23°C) and lows around 53°F (12°C). By late May, highs edge up to 75°F (24°C), and lows stick close to 55°F (13°C).
The difference between the warmest and coolest spring days stays small. The city’s elevation and reliable climate patterns keep things steady. You don’t get those sudden jumps in warmth that happen in other places as spring arrives.
So, if you’re planning a trip, you can expect predictable comfort. Whether you visit in March or at the end of May, you’ll find mild daytime warmth and cool, but not chilly, nights. Spring is honestly one of the best times for enjoying Addis Ababa’s weather.
Rainfall and Precipitation Patterns
Spring in Addis Ababa brings a gradual shift from dry to wetter weather. You’ll notice both rainfall totals and the number of rainy days increasing as the months go by.
Monthly Rainfall Totals
Rainfall during spring stays moderate, especially when you compare it to the summer deluges. March brings light showers, averaging around 40–60 mm for the month. April steps it up to 80–100 mm, and May often records 100–120 mm as the wet season draws closer.
This steady climb matches the city’s highland tropical climate. Rain usually falls in short, sometimes intense bursts, not all-day storms. The high elevation keeps temperatures mild, so the extra rain never brings sticky heat.
By May, showers get more frequent. If you’re planning outdoor activities, it’s smart to aim for mornings, since afternoon showers pop up pretty often. A light rain jacket or umbrella comes in handy, especially late in the season.
Precipitation Frequency
Rainy days tick up as spring goes on. March usually brings 6–8 days with rain. April jumps to 10–12 days, and May can see 15 or more days with measurable precipitation.
Rain doesn’t last all day, though. Showers tend to develop in the afternoon or evening, so mornings are often dry. This makes it easier to fit in sightseeing or errands before the rain starts.
Local weather reports talk about this daily rhythm a lot. Expect a mix of sun and clouds, with short but sometimes heavy showers. Even on rainy days, you’ll still get a few hours of sunshine, which keeps things feeling pleasant.
Onset of the Wet Season
May marks the real transition into the main rainy season. Both the total rainfall and the number of rainy days jump, signaling the long rains that peak in July and August.
Afternoon storms become a regular thing, and humidity creeps up compared to earlier in spring. While it’s not as intense as summer, you can tell the wet season is kicking off.
If you’re visiting, you might need to be flexible with outdoor plans, and checking the weather forecast becomes more important. By late May, rain can affect travel and events, so it pays to plan ahead if you want to make the most of your time in Addis Ababa.
Humidity and Dew Point Levels
Spring in Addis Ababa feels comfortable because humidity stays low and dew point levels rarely climb. You get mild air, never that sticky, tropical feeling.
Average Humidity by Month
Relative humidity shifts as the seasonal rains pick up. In spring, humidity usually sits between 50% and 60%, which feels pretty moderate—especially when you consider July and August can get close to 80%.
March tends to be driest, with readings near 50%. April sees a slight rise, and by May, humidity averages around 60% as the rains come in.
This slow increase means you never get hit with sudden stickiness. Even when it’s a bit more humid, the mild temperatures keep things comfortable.
Monthly Averages (Spring):
- March: ~50%
- April: ~55%
- May: ~60%
These numbers make spring a great time for outdoor activities. The air stays balanced, never too damp.
Dew Point Variations
Dew point tells you how humid the air actually feels. In Addis Ababa, spring dew points stay low—usually in the 40s to low 50s °F. This keeps the air dry and comfortable.
Unlike in lowland tropical cities, you won’t get muggy nights here. Dew point values barely change from day to day. If the day feels pleasant, you can bet the evening will too.
Since dew points rarely go above 55°F, sweat evaporates easily and you avoid that sticky feeling. Even as May brings more rain, the dew point stays moderate, which helps keep things comfortable.
For travelers, this means you can count on steady comfort without worrying about high humidity messing up your plans.
Cloud Cover and Sky Conditions
Spring skies in Addis Ababa grow cloudier as the season moves on. Early March often starts with clear mornings, but by late May, overcast afternoons are a lot more common. Cloud cover really shapes how bright or dim the city feels each day.
Cloud Cover Trends
Cloud cover climbs steadily through spring. At the start of March, the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy about 53% of the time. By late May, that number rises to around 58%.
This means the season gradually feels less sunny. Early March might give you almost half a day of clear or partly cloudy skies. But as spring ends, gray skies take over more often, and direct sunlight gets filtered out.
If you’re planning outings, expect more diffused light as spring goes on. Heavy rain isn’t constant, but the extra clouds hint at the wetter months ahead. This shift can affect outdoor plans, photography, or even how warm afternoons feel, even though the temperatures don’t really change much.
Partly Cloudy and Overcast Days
You’ll notice a mix of partly cloudy and overcast weather through the spring. “Partly cloudy” days tend to show up earlier in the season, when the sky opens up for longer stretches.
These days bring brighter mornings and better visibility, which makes sightseeing or walking tours a lot more enjoyable.
As spring moves toward May, overcast days start to take over. The sun stays hidden most of the time, and you get that diffused, soft light everywhere.
Even though temperatures stay mild, the evenings can feel a bit cooler without direct sunshine.
Plenty of travelers say these overcast spells actually help with photos, since the softer light flatters the city’s landmarks.
Still, it’s smart to bring an umbrella or a jacket, because more clouds often mean a higher chance of showers as spring goes on.
Sunrise, Sunset, and Daylight Changes
Addis Ababa sits close to the equator, so sunrise and sunset times barely shift during the year. You get almost equal hours of day and night, though the spring months do stretch or shrink the daylight just a little.
Sunrise and Sunset Times
In spring, sunrise in Addis Ababa usually lands between 6:10 AM and 6:20 AM. Sunset falls between 6:20 PM and 6:30 PM, depending on the month.
The times only change by a few minutes each week, so you don’t really see the big jumps you’d get farther from the equator.
For example:
| Month | Approx. Sunrise | Approx. Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| March | 6:20 AM | 6:30 PM |
| April | 6:15 AM | 6:25 PM |
| May | 6:10 AM | 6:20 PM |
This steady sunlight makes it pretty easy to plan outdoor activities. You always know what to expect, with mornings and evenings staying predictable all spring.
Daylight Duration in Spring
During spring, Addis Ababa gets close to 12 hours of daylight each day. The day length only changes a bit, from about 12 hours 10 minutes in March to around 11 hours 55 minutes in May.
You’re only losing a few minutes of daylight as the season heads toward the summer rains.
Unlike places farther north, where daylight can swing wildly, you’ll find your outdoor time stays steady.
Most days bring 8 to 9 hours of sunshine, even with some clouds around.
This balance makes spring a great time for sightseeing, walking, or local travel. If you like sticking to a schedule, you’ll appreciate how reliable the daylight feels.
Wind Speed and Weather Variability
Spring in Addis Ababa brings steady breezes and mild changes in daily weather. You can count on moderate winds that shape comfort and outdoor plans, but don’t usually cause any trouble.
Average Wind Speeds
During spring, average wind speeds in Addis Ababa sit between 5–10 miles per hour (8–16 km/h). That’s enough to keep the air moving and make the climate comfortable, even as clouds and rain increase.
The windiest stretch of the year runs from late September to early June. Spring falls somewhere in the middle, with winds that you’ll notice but probably won’t mind.
November usually brings the strongest winds, but March through May tends to be a bit calmer.
Here’s a quick look at average spring wind speeds:
| Month | Avg. Wind Speed |
|---|---|
| March | ~9 mph (14 km/h) |
| April | ~8 mph (13 km/h) |
| May | ~7 mph (11 km/h) |
These breezes help balance out the warmer daytime highs of spring, which usually reach the low 20s °C (around 72–74°F).
Evenings might feel cooler, but winds rarely drop below 5 mph, so the air never gets stale.
Wind Patterns in Spring
In Addis Ababa, spring winds usually blow in from the northeast and east. The city sits at about 2,355 meters above sea level, so the highland landscape really shapes how the air moves.
You’ll notice the terrain channels the wind, making certain patterns more common. These patterns shift a bit when the seasonal rains start rolling in.
March feels a bit windier with more consistent breezes. By the time April and May show up, the winds calm down but stick around in a steady way.
As humidity and rainfall go up, you get breezy afternoons and those cooler nights that make the city feel pretty refreshing.
After a good rain, spring winds help clear the air, which is honestly a relief. They also make walking around or sightseeing a lot more pleasant since the breeze takes the edge off the daytime heat.
Unlike in July and August, when heavy rains crash in, spring winds usually don’t bring storms. So, if you’re planning to travel, you can count on steadier, more reliable weather.