Tunisian Climate

Tunisian Climate

Tunisia's climate is hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa) in the north, where winters are mild with moderate rainfall and summers are hot and dry. Temperatures in July and August can exceed 40 °C (104 °F) when the tropical continental air mass of the desert reaches the whole Tunisia. Winters are mild with temperatures rarely exceeding 20 °C (68 °F) (exception is the south-west of the country). The south of the country is desert. The terrain in the north is mountainous, which, moving south, gives way to a hot, dry central plain. As we go to the south, the climate naturally becomes hotter, drier and sunnier. The southern part has therefore a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh) with extremely hot summers, warm winters and very low annual rainfall amount. Daytime temperatures consistently turn around 45 °C (113 °F) during summers. However, the warmth of winters is only during daytime because nights can be cold in the desert. A series of salt lakes, known as chottzz or shatts, lie in an east–west line at the northern edge of the Sahara Desert, extending from the Gulf of Gabes into Algeria. The lowest point is Chott el Djerid, at −17 m (−55.8 ft), and the highest is Jebel ech Chambi, at 1,544 metres (5,066 ft). Annual average rainfall amount is lower than 500 mm (20 in) nearly everywhere in Tunisia. Tunisia is therefore a dry, semi-arid country. Areas with a pre-Saharan climate receive below 250 mm (9.8 in) and areas with a typical Saharan climate receive below 100 mm (3.9 in) of annual average precipitation. The southernmost part receives rainfall as low as 50 mm (2.0 in) in areas around El Borma, along the Algerian border.

Tunisia Climate Data Examples

• Climate data for Tunis         (Tunis–Carthage International Airport) 1981–2010, extremes 1943–present
• Climate data for Bizerte      (1981–2010, extremes 1901–2021)
• Climate data for Sousse
• Climate data for Sfax           (1981–2010, extremes 1950–2017)
• Climate data for Gabès       (1981–2010, extremes 1950–2021)
• Climate data for Kasserine (1981–2010, extremes 1950–2017)
• Climate data for Kebili         (1901–1953)

Tunisia Natural Resources

Tunisia possesses petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt, gold and arable land. 3,850 km2 of land is irrigated in Tunisia. The use of land in the country is demonstrated in the following table.

Geography of Tunisia Overview

Geography of Tunisia Continent: Africa
Geography of Tunisia Region: Northern Africa
Geography of Tunisia Coordinates: 34°00′N 9°00′E
Geography of Tunisia Area: Ranked 93rd
Geography of Tunisia Total Land Mass: 163,610 km2 (63,170 sq mi)
Geography of Tunisia Land: 95%
Geography of Tunisia Water: 5%
Geography of Tunisia Coastline: 1,148 km (713 mi)
Geography of Tunisia Total Land Borders: 1,424 km
Algeria: 965 km
Libya: 459 km
Geography of Tunisia Highest Point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Geography of Tunisia Lowest Point: Chott el Djerid -17 m
Geography of Tunisia Longest River: Medjerda River 450 km