Weather and Climate in Erbil
This page pairs Erbil’s live conditions — temperature, feels-like, wind, UV and air quality — with an hourly outlook and a seven-day forecast. The guide below explains how the seasons unfold beneath the mountains, from snowy winters on the surrounding high ground to long, bright summers on the plateau.
Erbil has a hot-summer Mediterranean-influenced climate (Köppen Csa), shaped by its position at roughly 390 metres elevation against the Zagros foothills. Compared with central and southern Iraq it is cooler year-round, wetter, and far more seasonal: winters are properly cold and wet, summers hot and dry.
Rainfall is much more generous here than on the plains — in the region of 400 millimetres or more in an average year — and it falls across a long wet season stretching from autumn into late spring. Typical daytime highs run from around 38 °C in July down to about 9 °C in January, and the altitude means summer nights cool off noticeably.
Summer
Summers in Erbil are hot, dry and sunny, with daytime highs around 38 °C in July and August. Crucially, though, the elevation keeps the air dry and the nights comparatively cool, so the diurnal swing is large and evenings are pleasant — a real contrast with the sweltering nights of the south. Rain all but disappears for the summer, and clear skies are the norm.
Winter
Winter is the coldest of any major Iraqi city. From December to February daytime highs hover near 9 °C, frost is routine, and snow falls both in the city and, more heavily, on the surrounding mountains. Cold fronts arrive from the north and west bringing rain on the plateau and snow above, with the higher passes liable to close during heavy falls. This long wet season is what makes the north so much greener than the rest of the country.
Spring & Autumn
Spring is the showpiece season around Erbil. Rain and snowmelt turn the hillsides briefly green, wildflowers appear, and the temperatures are ideal. Autumn is the gentler mirror: the first rains break the summer drought and the heat eases into a comfortable range. Both shoulder seasons mix bright, clear spells with passing weather systems.
Rain Probability
Erbil receives substantially more rain than the Iraqi lowlands, and across a longer season — broadly October through May. Summers, by contrast, are essentially dry. The hourly and seven-day panels above show the live probability of rain, which is most relevant from autumn through spring.
Through the wet season, fronts moving in from the north and west can bring sustained rain on the plateau and snow on the heights. When a system is forecast, the precipitation figures above will reflect it; in the cold months it is also worth watching for snow on routes into the mountains around the city.
Wind and Humidity
Winds around Erbil are influenced by the nearby mountains as well as the broader regional flow. Dust is far less of a problem here than on the plains, reserved mainly for the occasional hot, windy spell in midsummer. The live wind speed, gusts and direction in the dashboard above update through the day.
Humidity sits in a moderate range, rising with the wet season and falling away through the dry summer. The cooler, drier summer air means the feels-like temperature tracks the actual reading more closely than it does in humid Basra — though winter wind chill on a raw, cloudy day can still make it feel several degrees colder than the thermometer shows.
Planning around the weather
Erbil rewards seasonal planning. Summers call for light clothing and sun protection by day but a light layer for the cool evenings — a welcome difference from the lowlands. Winters genuinely require warm clothing, and anyone heading into the mountains should plan for snow, ice and the chance of closed passes during heavy weather.
Spring and autumn are superb times to visit, with mild days, green hills and clear light. Whatever the season, the live conditions and seven-day forecast on this page refresh automatically, giving you an up-to-date view of Erbil and the surrounding highlands before you set out.