Palestinian National Authority Weather, climate and geography

Weather and climate

Best time to visit

Palestine has a temperate, Mediterranean climate. The rainy season in Palestine is between November and April. Winter can get rather cold and wet. Southern areas can get uncomfortably hot during the summer months. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit, with temperatures of around 23°C (74°F).

Required clothing

The desert can get cold at night, even during the summer months, so it is advisable to carry extra layers to wear. Otherwise, lightweight clothes are advisable in summer. Warmer clothes are required for the winter months.

Geography

The two territories of Palestine lie within Israel, around 40km (25 miles) apart at their closest point. The West Bank is to the west of the River Jordan, bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel to the north, south and west. The Gaza Strip, in Israel's southwest, is a narrow stretch of land bordered by the Mediterranean to the west and Egypt to the south. The Great Rift Valley follows the path of the River Jordan running along the West Bank and through the lowest point in the world, the Dead Sea at 390m (1,280ft) below sea level, before continuing on into Eastern Africa. The Jordanian Valley is green and fertile; the south contains the Judean Desert.