Weather in Hurghada in December and January | Which Month Fits Your Trip

Weather in Hurghada in December and January looks alike on paper but the details change every plan. This guide to weather in Hurghada in December and January also covers February so you can pick your dates.

Weather in Hurghada in December and January: Three Flight Tabs and One Decision

Marta has three flight tabs open. One is dated December 14. One is dated January 18. One is dated February 15. The fares differ by a small amount. What else differs she cannot tell from the screen.

Marta is a composite built from how people usually choose winter dates and not a real client. Her question is the one behind most searches for weather in Hurghada in December and January. A forecast app makes the Hurghada winter look flat. It is not flat. It is six short seasons that feel different on the beach and on the boat and at dinner.

This guide walks through those six and then compares the three months side by side. For the figures inside a single month see our posts on weather in january in hurghada and hurghada in january. This page is about choosing between months.

Weather in Hurghada in December and January at a Glance

These are averages and not forecasts. Individual days can run a few degrees either way so check a live forecast before you fly. The headline is how close the three months are. The details that separate them are the sea and the nights and the length of the day.

The Six Half-Months of a Hurghada Winter

Marta starts with the calendar and not the thermometer. Each half-month has its own feel.

Early December: The Warm Shoulder

This is Marta’s first tab. Midday sits near 25°C and the sea is about 24°C. Nights hold near 15°C. It is the warmest stretch of the winter and the only one where a swim feels easy for most adults.

The wind is present but often lighter than it will be in January. A sheltered sunbed feels like early summer in northern Europe. The catch is the short day. Sunset arrives around 4:55 p.m. so plan boat trips and long outdoor activities before lunch.

Prices are moderate because the holiday rush has not started. This half-month suits swimmers and first-timers who want the gentlest version of winter. A boat day to Giftun Island Hurghada or Orange Bay Hurghada is comfortable and the sea is warm enough for a proper snorkel in a thin wetsuit. Browse Swimming for water options.

Late December: Same Weather and Peak Prices

The thermometer barely moves. Midday sits near 23°C and nights near 13°C and the sea near 23°C. What changes is demand. Christmas and New Year fill hotels and boats and rates climb to their highest point of the year.

If your dates are tied to school holidays this is the slice you will land in. Book the hotel and the flights early and choose a property with a sheltered pool. For festive stays see hurghada christmas holidays and Christmas and New Year Egypt Tour Packages and egypt new year tour.

Early January: The Cold Edge

Marta’s second tab sits just after the rush. The first days of January are still busy but the weather has turned. Midday sits near 22°C and nights fall to 11 or 12°C. These are the coldest nights of the year on this coast.

The sea slips to about 22°C and the wind often sharpens. A calm afternoon in a sheltered spot is lovely. The same afternoon on an open beach feels several degrees cooler. Orthodox Christmas on January 7 keeps hotels busy for the first week. After that the crowds thin quickly.

This slice suits travelers who want sun without summer heat and do not mind layers at the edges of the day.

Late January: The Calm Middle

This is the slice Marta will end up choosing although she does not know it yet. The weather sits close to the January averages with midday near 22 or 23°C and nights near 12°C. The sea is about 21 to 22°C. The holiday crowds have gone and the February rise has not begun.

Queues are short. Dive boats and restaurants have room. Rates are usually the lowest of the winter apart from a few weeks in early December. If you want value and quiet and you are comfortable with cool water this is the best slice. Divers like it in particular. See Diving for trip types and diving holidays egypt for stays built around the reef. For a tighter budget look at cheap egypt holidays.

Early February: The Slow Warm-Up

This is Marta’s third tab. Midday climbs to 22 or 23°C and nights hold near 12°C. The sea reaches its coolest point of the year at about 21°C. That surprises people who assume the sea warms along with the air.

Days are longer and sunshine is plentiful. The wind is still frequent. Mid-term school breaks in some countries bring a modest rise in visitors in the second half of the month. This slice suits travelers who want a little more daylight than January gives and can live with the coolest water of the year. See holidays in egypt in february for stays.

Late February: The Edge of Spring

The last slice feels different. Afternoons reach 24°C on good days and the sun is noticeably stronger. Evenings are still cool and the sea is still cold but the light and the length of the day make it feel like the start of a new season.

Sunset moves toward 6:00 p.m. which gives a full extra hour of outdoor time compared with December. For what comes next see egypt holidays march.

Weather Egypt Hurghada December January Side by Side

Here are the two main months in one view with February as a reference.

Three numbers separate the months most. The sea is warmest in December and coolest in February. Night lows are lowest in early January. Daylight grows steadily from December to February. Everything else is close.

The Red Sea coast is not the only place where these months differ. For the whole country see weather in egypt in december and january and for the wider picture of the later month read egypt in january.

Weather in Hurghada in January and February: What Carries Over

January and February are close cousins. Both have dry air and strong wind and a cool sea. Both have almost no rain. The practical differences are small:

• February is about one degree warmer by day.
• The sea in February is about one degree cooler than in January.
• Daylight in late February lasts about thirty minutes longer in the evening than in late January.
• Crowds rise a little in February during mid-term breaks.

If your trip straddles late January and early February the weather will feel the same. Choose on price and availability and not on temperature. For a wider seasonal view see egypt winter holidays.

Sea Temperature Month by Month

The sea is the one number that lags the air. The Red Sea cools through autumn and winter and reaches its low point in February. By late March it begins to recover.

Here is the pattern in plain terms:

• Early December: about 24°C and comfortable for most adults.
• Late December: about 23°C and fine for a dip.
• January: about 21 to 22°C and cool once you are wet.
• February: about 21°C and the coolest of the year.

Water at 21 to 22°C pulls heat from the body much faster than air at the same temperature. A short swim is fine for most adults. A long one is not. Wind on wet skin makes it feel colder. Ask your hotel whether the pool is heated because many are not in winter. Divers and snorkelers use thicker wetsuits from January onward and many add a hood or gloves. Most operators supply them so confirm what is included.

Wind: The Constant Across All Three Months

The wind does not follow the calendar. It blows from the north in all three months and it is the reason a 22°C afternoon can feel like 17°C on an open sunbed. December tends to be a little lighter. January and February tend to be a little stronger.

A simple rule helps. If the wind is above 25 km/h and you are out of the sun subtract three to five degrees from the forecast high to get the real feel. If you are in a sheltered spot in full sun add two or three. The place you sit matters as much as the month you choose.

Boat trips follow the wind. Mornings are often calmer than afternoons so book the earliest departure. A Glass Boat or SeaScope trip keeps you dry and a Speed Boat outing is fun but cold in a breeze.

Daylight and Sunshine Across the Winter

December has the shortest days of the year. Sunset falls around 4:55 p.m. and the usable day is about ten hours. January adds roughly twenty to thirty minutes at the end of the day. By late February sunset nears 6:00 p.m. and the day is close to eleven hours.

Sunshine is steady through all three months. Skies are clear on most days and rain is close to zero. The sun is gentler than in summer but still strong enough to burn on open water so use sunscreen.

Plan the day around the light:

• Put boat trips and long outdoor activities before lunch.
• Finish open air stops by about four in December and January.
• Save evenings for somewhere sheltered such as a Turkish Bath or a meal at the Hurghada Marina.

What the Weather Means for Your Plans

For desert days the cool season is the right season. See Quad Bike and Buggy Ride and Jeep and the combined Safari options. The full range is under Egypt Desert Safari Tours. A Camel Ride at sunset ends with a cold ride back so bring a layer.

Keep one indoor plan ready for windy afternoons. The Hurghada Grand Aquarium and the Hurghada Museum and the Dolphin Show all work. Browse Hurghada Tours and Excursions for the full list of activities.

Choosing Your Tab: Who Should Book Which Month

• Book December if you want the warmest sea and the gentlest evenings and you do not mind higher prices in the second half. It suits families on school holidays and anyone who wants a proper swim. See holidays to egypt in december and egypt family holidays.
• Book January if you want fewer crowds and lower rates and you are happy with cool water and layers. It suits divers and couples and travelers who plan to mix sea and sightseeing. See holidays to egypt in january and couples holidays in egypt. Adults who want a quieter stay can look at egypt holidays adults only and higher comfort stays sit under 5 star egypt holidays.
• Book February if you want longer light and a slightly warmer feel on land and you can live with the coolest sea of the year. It suits travelers who plan more sightseeing than swimming. See holidays in egypt in february and solo holidays egypt.

Prices and Crowds Follow Dates and Not Weather

The weather is close across the three months but demand is not. Rates peak in the second half of December and stay high into the first week of January. They ease through mid January and stay modest until the mid-term breaks in February. Early December is also good value before the holiday rush.

If your dates are flexible aim for early December or the second half of January. Compare package formats under Egypt Tour Packages and stay ideas under red sea holidays egypt. Prices on Bastet Travel exclude international flights and customer service can help you book those.

Compare Hurghada With Sharm El Sheikh and Cairo

Sharm El Sheikh runs a degree or two warmer than Hurghada in all three months and has more sheltered bays. Read weather in sharm el sheikh in december january and january weather in sharm el sheikh and sharm el sheikh in january to compare.

Cairo is cooler by day and has no sea. See weather in cairo egypt in january for the capital. If you want temples as well as the coast consider a river trip that ends on the Red Sea. See nile cruise and hurghada stay and hurghada nile cruise and Cairo Nile cruise and Hurghada. For a two base trip see egypt two centre holidays and for a Luxor day trip start with Luxor Tours and Excursions.

Quieter reefs lie further south. See Marsa Alam Trips and Abu Dabbab. If you are still deciding whether the month suits you read is january a good time to visit egypt. For a spring alternative see our post on easter break egypt.

What to Pack for Each Month

All three months

• A windproof jacket. It is the most useful single item.
• Sunglasses and a hat and sunscreen.
• Swimwear and a robe or large towel for warmth after swimming.
• Closed shoes for desert trips and sandals for the resort.

December

• Light shirts for midday and a fleece for evenings.
• A thin wetsuit or rash vest if you snorkel and your operator does not supply one.

January

• A warmer jacket and a fleece for the cold edges of the day.
• A thicker wetsuit for snorkeling and a hood or gloves for diving.
• Gloves and a scarf if you plan a Luxor dawn.

February

• Layers similar to January with lighter pieces for late month afternoons.
• Extra sunscreen because the sun strengthens.

Close Two Tabs

Marta closes two tabs. She keeps January 18 because it gave her two things the others did not. One was a calm week. The other was a hotel with a sheltered heated pool. She did not find either by reading forecasts. She found them by asking.

You can close two tabs as well. Send your three candidate dates to Bastet Travel on WhatsApp and say which matters most. It might be a warm sea or a low price or a quiet week. We will reply with the one date that fits and a hotel area and a boat plan that suits the wind.

Not ready to send anything yet? Plan Tailor-Made Hurghada Trip lets you sketch the trip first. Prices exclude international flights and our customer service team can help you book those as well.

Frequently Asked Questions about Weather in Hurghada in December and January

What is the weather in Hurghada in December and January?

Both months are sunny and dry. December has highs near 24°C and nights near 14°C. January has highs near 22°C and nights near 12°C. Wind is frequent in both and decides how warm it feels.

Is Hurghada warmer in December or January?

December. It is usually about two degrees warmer by day and the sea is one or two degrees warmer too. January has the coldest nights of the year.

What is the weather in Hurghada in January and February?

Very similar. Both have highs near 22 or 23°C and a cool sea. February is about one degree warmer by day and has longer light while the sea is at its coolest.

What is the sea temperature in Hurghada in December and January?

About 23 or 24°C in December and about 21 or 22°C in January. February is the coolest month at about 21°C.

Can you swim in Hurghada in December and January?

Yes. December is the easier month. In January a short dip is fine for most adults and a heated pool is better for longer swims so ask your hotel before you book.

Does it rain in Hurghada in December and January?

Almost never. Many winters pass without measurable rain. A rare shower is possible and heavy rain in the mountains can affect desert trips so follow your operator’s advice.

Which month is best for Hurghada in winter?

It depends on your goal. Choose early December for the warmest sea and late January for value and quiet. Choose February for longer light.