Berbera is one of the hottest inhabited places on earth. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 45°C, and the humidity from the Gulf of Aden makes July and August essentially unbearable for visitors unaccustomed to extreme heat. The beach, despite its beauty, is largely unusable in the middle of the day from May to September.
The best time to visit is October to March, when temperatures drop to a manageable 25–30°C, the sea is calm, and the town feels liveable. December and January are the coolest months. Even then, midday heat requires a slower pace than most travellers are used to.
The northeast monsoon (December to March) brings the calmest sea conditions and is the best period for snorkelling and any water-based activity. The southwest monsoon (June to September) can make the coast rough and the offshore wrecks inaccessible.