Elevation has the most effect on climate in the Ethiopian Plateau. While tropical conditions may exist in lowland areas and valleys, temperate conditions are the average and alpine conditions exist at the highest elevations.
Ethiopia is located within the tropics, just north of the Equator and south of the Tropic of Cancer. However, the tropical location and its effects are less pronounced due to the plateau's higher elevations, creating a much more temperate climate and contributing to montane biogeographical areas.
Due to both elevation and location, three climate zones are found on the Ethiopian Plateau. The hot zone characterizes land below roughly 5,000 feet; the temperate zone exists between 5,000 and 8,000 feet; and the cool zone is located above 8,000 feet.
The annual monsoon winds arriving from the Indian Ocean abruptly hit the Ethiopian Plateau's higher elevations, creating a rainy season in the region from June to September.
The Ethiopian Plateau has three distinct seasons. The dry season occurs in the spring months, the rainy season occurs in the summer from June to September, and the cold season runs from October through February.
