This guide was written prior to the 2026 conflict between the US, Israel and Iran and related hostilities. Non-essential travel to Israel is not advisable due to the risks related to military action in the broader Middle East area. Please consult official government travel advisories and exercise extreme caution before considering travel to the region.
The weather in Israel is one of its most immediately striking features for new arrivals: sun-drenched, varied, and – in summer – intense.
Israel’s geography falls into four broad climate zones. The Mediterranean coast runs north to south in the west; the hilly interior and mountain ranges occupy the centre and north; the Jordan Valley drops to the east, reaching the lowest point on Earth at the Dead Sea; and the vast Negev desert dominates the south. Each zone has its own character, and the differences between them are sharp.
Summers are warm and dry throughout the country, with average temperatures around 82°F (28°C). Winters are mild, with temperatures around 54°F (12°C), although Jerusalem, high up in the Judean Hills, experiences noticeably colder winters and occasional snow. The Jordan Valley, by contrast, is warm year-round, with summer highs that can be genuinely extreme.
Sunshine is abundant, and the heat can feel oppressive at the peak of summer. Expats in Tel Aviv get some respite from cool breezes off the Mediterranean, although the coastal humidity is a factor. Winter brings at least six to seven hours of sunlight daily; summer stretches this to 12 to 13 hours.
Rain falls primarily between October and April, concentrated in the north and along the coast. The Negev is dry year-round.