Climate

The two main climatic influences in Tunisia are the Sahara Desert with its dry, hot winds, such as the Sirocco, and the Mediterranean Sea, which produces rainfall and reduces temperature. This leads to two regional climatic belts, with Saharan influences in the south and Mediterranean in the north. Temperatures are hot in the interior south, and more moderate along the coast, with an average annual temperature of 20°C (68°F).

The winter season in the north, from October to April, is mild, with average temperatures ranging from 10 to 16°C, and characterised by frequent rains (5-6 cm per month). The summer, from May through to September, is hot with temperatures ranging from a minimum of 15°C to a maximum of 32°C (average of 19-26°C) and dry (0-4 cm a month).

In the south, winter temperatures range from a minimum of 4°C to a maximum of 25°C (average of 9-20°C) with a monthly rainfall of 1-2 cm, whilst in the summer, temperatures range from 15-36°C (average of 20-30°C).