Libya Weather

With one of the harshest deserts in the world meeting the mild Mediterranean, most of Libya has a changeable climate. Summer is generally very hot, with average temperatures on the coast of around 30°C (86°F) and often accompanied by high humidity. In the south temperatures can reach a sweltering 50°C (122°F) or higher. Around 2500 years ago, the historian Herodotus claimed that 'in the upper parts of Libya, it is always summer'. And, yet, in winter the weather can be cool and rainy on the coast, even snowing occasionally in the mountains. Desert temperatures can drop to subfreezing at night; over the course of a year, Libya's desert regions receive less than 100mm (4in) of rain. During the spring in northern Libya, you may encounter the ghibli, a hot, dry, sandladen wind which can raise the temperature in a matter of hours to 50°C (122°F). The ghibli can last from just a few hours to several days.