Socotra Weather

Socotra weather has two annual monsoons: The southwest monsoon kicks up high seas around the island from early June to early October (this moon soon brings occasionally heavy rains in June). It has created a physical barrier to access by sea since the earliest times. These intercontinental stratospheric winds blow from Africa towards the Himalayan mountains, bringing the wet to India. But as they pass over Socotra, they are caught by the nearly 5000 feet high Hagghier mountains and dragged fiercely down the northern coast. The wind blows on the north coast, non-stop, day and night, for three months at approximately 90 kilometers per hour with some gusts at 180 kph, in Hadibo, between Howlaf and Mori.

The northeast monsoon from April to May delivers a smaller amount of precipitation. The annual rainfall varies between 130 to 170 mm/hour. Even during the calmer months, sea landings may still be tricky due to logistical problems (absence of adequate harbor facilities). But since 1999, with the building of a new airstrip (the longest in Yemen), which is built facing the monsoon winds, Boeing planes can now land all year round. So as tourists you can come to Socotra any time, depending on what you want to experience.

Temperatures at Socotra are sufficiently warm year round that it is not entirely meaningful to discuss the growing season in these terms. We nevertheless include the charts below as an illustration of the distribution of temperatures experienced throughout the year.

Climate and Average Weather Year Round at Socotra Yemen

At Socotra, the summers are short, hot, arid, and extremely windy; the winters are short, warm, dry, and windy; and it is oppressive and partly cloudy year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 73°F to 93°F and is rarely below 71°F or above 95°F.

Climate at Socotra

Average Temperature at Socotra 

The hot season lasts for 2.4 months, from April 25 to July 4, with an average daily high temperature above 91°F. The hottest month of the year at Socotra is May, with an average high of 93°F and low of 80°F.

The cool season lasts for 3.0 months, from December 5 to March 3, with an average daily high temperature below 84°F. The coldest month of the year at Socotra is January, with an average low of 73°F and high of 82°F.

Average High and Low Temperature at Socotra

The figure below shows you a compact characterization of the entire year of hourly average temperatures. The horizontal axis is the day of the year, the vertical axis is the hour of the day, and the color is the average temperature for that hour and day.

Average Hourly Temperature at Socotra

Clouds

At Socotra, the average percentage of the sky covered by clouds experiences significant seasonal variation over the course of the year.

The clearer part of the year at Socotra begins around August 11 and lasts for 8.4 months, ending around April 24.

The clearest month of the year at Socotra is September, during which on average the sky is clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 72% of the time.

The cloudier part of the year begins around April 24 and lasts for 3.6 months, ending around August 11.

The cloudiest month of the year at Socotra is May, during which on average the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy 57% of the time.

Cloud Cover Categories at Socotra

Precipitation

Socotra does not experience significant seasonal variation in the frequency of wet days (i.e., those with greater than 0.04 inches of liquid or liquid-equivalent precipitation). The frequency ranges from 1% to 8%, with an average value of 3%.

Among wet days, we distinguish between those that experience rain alone, snow alone, or a mixture of the two. The month with the most days of rain alone at Socotra is November, with an average of 2.0 days. Based on this categorization, the most common form of precipitation throughout the year is rain alone, with a peak probability of 8% on November 4.

Daily Chance of Precipitation at Socotra

Rainfall

To show variation within the months and not just the monthly totals, we show the rainfall accumulated over a sliding 31-day period centered around each day of the year. Socotra experiences some seasonal variation in monthly rainfall.

The rainy period of the year lasts for 2.4 weeks, from October 29 to November 15, with a sliding 31-day rainfall of at least 0.5 inches. The month with the most rain at Socotra is November, with an average rainfall of 0.5 inches.

The rainless period of the year lasts for 11 months, from November 15 to October 29. The month with the least rain at Socotra is September, with an average rainfall of 0.0 inches.

Average Monthly Rainfall at Socotra

Sun

The length of the day at Socotra does not vary substantially over the course of the year, staying within 52 minutes of 12 hours throughout. In 2022, the shortest day is December 22, with 11 hours, 23 minutes of daylight; the longest day is June 21, with 12 hours, 52 minutes of daylight.

Hours of Daylight and Twilight at Socotra

The earliest sunrise is at 4:57 AM on June 2, and the latest sunrise is 53 minutes later at 5:50 AM on January 24. The earliest sunset is at 4:55 PM on November 19, and the latest sunset is 59 minutes later at 5:54 PM on July 9.

Daylight saving time (DST) is not observed at Socotra during 2022.

Sunrise & Sunset with Twilight at Socotra

Moon

The figure below presents a compact representation of key lunar data for 2022. The horizontal axis is the day, the vertical axis is the hour of the day, and the colored areas indicate when the moon is above the horizon. The vertical gray bars (new Moons) and blue bars (full Moons) indicate key Moon phases.

Moon Rise, Set & Phases at Socotra

Humidity

We base the humidity comfort level on the dew point, as it determines whether perspiration will evaporate from the skin, thereby cooling the body. Lower dew points feel drier and higher dew points feel more humid. Unlike temperature, which typically varies significantly between night and day, dew point tends to change more slowly, so while the temperature may drop at night, a muggy day is typically followed by a muggy night.

Socotra experiences some seasonal variation in the perceived humidity.

The muggier period of the year lasts for 10 months, from March 1 to January 7, during which time the comfort level is muggy, oppressive, or miserable at least 81% of the time. The month with the most muggy days at Socotra is July, with 30.9 days that are muggy or worse.

The month with the fewest muggy days at Socotra is February, with 21.5 days that are muggy or worse.

Humidity Comfort Levels at Socotra

Wind

This section discusses the wide-area hourly average wind vector (speed and direction) at 10 meters above the ground. The wind experienced at any given location is highly dependent on local topography and other factors, and instantaneous wind speed and direction vary more widely than hourly averages.

The average hourly wind speed at Socotra experiences extreme seasonal variation over the course of the year.

The windier part of the year lasts for 3.6 months, from May 30 to September 18, with average wind speeds of more than 17.9 miles per hour. The windiest month of the year at Socotra is July, with an average hourly wind speed of 28.8 miles per hour.

The calmer time of year lasts for 8.4 months, from September 18 to May 30. The calmest month of the year at Socotra is April, with an average hourly wind speed of 7.0 miles per hour.

Average Wind Speed at Socotra

The predominant average hourly wind direction at Socotra varies throughout the year.

The wind is most often from the south for 5.8 months, from April 18 to October 13, with a peak percentage of 100% on July 22. The wind is most often from the east for 6.2 months, from October 13 to April 18, with a peak percentage of 68% on January 1.

Wind Direction at Socotra

Water Temperature

Socotra is located near a large body of water (e.g., ocean, sea, or large lake). This section reports on the wide-area average surface temperature of that water.

The average water temperature experiences some seasonal variation over the course of the year.

The time of year with warmer water lasts for 1.6 months, from April 17 to June 5, with an average temperature above 84°F. The month of the year at Socotra with the warmest water is May, with an average temperature of 85°F.

The time of year with cooler water lasts for 2.3 months, from July 12 to September 22, with an average temperature below 78°F. The month of the year at Socotra with the coolest water is August, with an average temperature of 76°F

Average Water Temperature at Socotra

Best Time of Year to Visit

The tourism score favors clear, rainless days with perceived temperatures between 65°F and 80°F. Based on this score, the best time of year to visit Socotra for general outdoor tourist activities is from mid December to early March, with a peak score in the third week of January. Find more details by clicking here!

Tourism Score at Socotra

In favors of clear, rainless days with perceived temperatures between 75°F and 90°F. Based on this score, the best time of year to visit Socotra for hot-weather activities is from late September to early April, with a peak score in the first week of March.

Beach/Pool Score at Socotra