Salalah (or Ṣalāla) is a city of 165,000 inhabitants, capital of the governorate of Dhofar (or Ẓufār), located in the south-west of Oman, on the coast of the Arabian Sea (belonging to the Indian Ocean), at 17 degrees north latitude. Nearby is the port town of Raysut.
, which in the part north of Salalah do not reach 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) in height, but further east, in Jabal Samhan, reach 1,700 meters (5,600 ft).
is very scarce, since it amounts to about 100 millimeters (4 inches) per year, and is concentrated in summer, with a maximum in July and August, due to the aforementioned summer monsoon, which brings humid winds from the southwest, from the sea, which are then forced to rise when they meet the Dhofar mountains. In fact, the city of Salalah is the most affected by this phenomenon in all of Oman, being located on the coast and close to the mountains.
, from December to February, is warm, but not excessively so, and sunny, and the sea is also warm enough for swimming. The average temperature in January is 23.5 °C (74 °F).
Sometimes there can be short periods of cool and windy weather, with lows of 15 °C (59 °F) or slightly below, and highs around 20/22 °C (68/72 °F), more likely in January.
, from March to May, both temperature and humidity gradually increase. The daily average is close to 30 °C (86 °F) in May. On the other hand, the wind also increases in intensity.
are those when the winds blow from the interior, from the north, and warm up further as they descend from the mountains, but in return, the humidity decreases. In these cases, which however occur rarely, the temperature can exceed 30 °C (86 °F) in winter and 40 °C (104 °F) from April to June and again in October, while from July to September, when the southwest monsoon prevails, this phenomenon does not occur. In May and June the heat records are 45.5 °C (114 °F).
, from June to September, is warm and humid, although less hot than the previous months, and is characterized, especially in July and August, by cloudy skies, fog, and constant drizzle, which transform the landscape, making it green. The actual rainy days are much more than those that result from statistics. It is the period of
coming from the Arabian Sea, which bring strong winds and torrential rains. Cyclones form from May to December, and are more frequent at the beginning of the period (May-June), and somewhat less so at the end (October-December). For example, the city was hit by the cyclones Mekunu in late May 2018 and Keila in early November 2011.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coolest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
23.3 °C, with a minimum of
19.1 °C and a maximum of
27.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
13.7 °C in January 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
33.2 °C in January 1991.
Precipitation amounts to only
1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 84% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is of
12.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
February is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24 °C, with a minimum of
19.8 °C and a maximum of
28.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C. However, it dropped to
13.5 °C in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32.5 °C. However, it reached
36.8 °C in February 2000.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is of
11.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
March is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
26.1 °C, with a minimum of
22 °C and a maximum of
30.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
19 °C. However, it dropped to
15.8 °C in March 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
38.3 °C in March 1991.
Precipitation amounts to only
6 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is of
10.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
26.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
April is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of
28.2 °C, with a minimum of
24.8 °C and a maximum of
31.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22 °C. However, it dropped to
19.5 °C in April 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37 °C. However, it reached
41.7 °C in April 1996.
Precipitation amounts to only
6 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 82% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
10.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
May, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29.8 °C, with a minimum of
27 °C and a maximum of
32.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
24.5 °C. However, it dropped to
22.6 °C in May 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36.5 °C. However, it reached
45.5 °C in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to only
8 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 84% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
June is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29.7 °C, with a minimum of
27.5 °C and a maximum of
32 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
26 °C. However, it dropped to
24.5 °C in June 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
45.5 °C in June 2017.
Precipitation amounts to only
8 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
July is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
26.7 °C, with a minimum of
25 °C and a maximum of
28.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23.5 °C. However, it dropped to
22 °C in July 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C. However, it reached
33.1 °C in July 1992.
Precipitation amounts to
22 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 11% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
August is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
25.6 °C, with a minimum of
24 °C and a maximum of
27.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23 °C. However, it dropped to
21.6 °C in August 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
32.3 °C in August 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
25 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 11% of the time.
The average humidity is 88%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
September is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27 °C, with a minimum of
24.6 °C and a maximum of
29.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23 °C. However, it dropped to
19.4 °C in September 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C. However, it reached
36 °C in September 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
10 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
October is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
27.1 °C, with a minimum of
23.1 °C and a maximum of
31.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20.5 °C. However, it dropped to
18.1 °C in October 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
41.8 °C in October 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only
5 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 87% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
November is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
26.6 °C, with a minimum of
22.2 °C and a maximum of
31 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20 °C. However, it dropped to
16.7 °C in November 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
38.5 °C in November 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 90% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is of
9.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
December is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24.9 °C, with a minimum of
20.7 °C and a maximum of
29.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
18 °C. However, it dropped to
14.5 °C in December 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32.5 °C. However, it reached
34.5 °C in December 2016.
Precipitation amounts to only
5 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 86% of the time.
The average humidity is 49%.
The average wind speed is of
13.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
26 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.