Dire Dawa lies at 1,200 metres — far lower than highland Ethiopia — and is one of the hottest cities in the country. Daytime temperatures from March to May regularly exceed 35°C, with little shade and dusty winds.
November to February is the best time to visit, with daytime temperatures in the high twenties and cool evenings. The "small rains" (March to May) and "big rains" (July to September) bring brief but heavy storms; the Dechatu wadi can flood spectacularly in August.
The Muslim festivals (Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha) and the Orthodox Christian Genna and Timkat are observed in the city. The Christmas-and-New-Year period brings cool evenings and a relaxed atmosphere in the Italian cafés of Kezira.