Climate Change Information Center warns of cold weather across Egypt

CAIRO – 27 December 2025: Egypt’s Climate Change Information Center has warned that very cold weather will prevail across the country over the next five days, particularly during the early morning and nighttime hours, while temperatures are expected to rise slightly during the daytime.

In a statement, the center - affiliated with the Agricultural Research Center and headed by Dr. Mohamed Ali Fahim - released a detailed forecast covering the period from Saturday, December 27, through Wednesday, December 31.

According to the report, maritime navigation in the Mediterranean Sea is expected to be very rough, with wave heights reaching up to 3.5 meters. Strong winds are forecast along the northern coast, the Nile Delta, and South Sinai. There is also a heightened chance of light to moderate rainfall along coastal areas through next Monday.

Dr. Fahim warned of dense fog forming between 3:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., particularly on roads leading to Greater Cairo, northern Egypt, central Sinai, and northern Upper Egypt.

Expected Temperatures:

Cairo and Central Egypt: Highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C

North Coast: Highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C

North Upper Egypt: Extremely cold nights, with temperatures dropping to 6°C

South Upper Egypt: Highs of 24°C and lows ranging from 10°C to 12°C

In light of the damp cold conditions, characterized by low temperatures combined with high humidity, Dr. Fahim provided several agricultural guidelines to help farmers protect their crops during the cold wave.

Key Recommendations for Farmers:

• Apply light irrigation at frequent intervals, avoiding early morning watering.
• Midday irrigation is preferred to ensure relatively warmer water. Both dry soil and over-irrigation can increase the risk of plant diseases.
• Spray potato, beet, strawberry, and legume crops with high-phosphorus compounds, and apply preventative treatments against damp cold-related diseases.
• Watch for yellow rust in water-retaining soils. Use nitrate fertilizers instead of urea, and avoid herbicide application on crops older than 45 days to prevent premature fruit drop.
• Monitor onions and garlic for purple blotch and downy mildew, and support greenhouse crops with potassium silicate compounds to enhance plant immunity.
• Closely monitor mango and banana farms, particularly in desert areas, and use fulvic acid to reduce the impact of cold winds.

Dr. Fahim concluded by stressing that continuous daily weather monitoring is essential to protect crops and minimize losses. He also urged farmers and citizens to wear heavy winter clothing and exercise extreme caution while driving during early morning hours due to fog.