, with mild winters, but during which it can sometimes get cold, and very hot, sunny summers. Precipitation, which is rare, almost all occurs from October to April, while in summer it almost never rains.
The city is located in the northern part of the Saudi Arabian plateau, in an oasis at 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level, and 27 degrees north latitude. Near the city are the Shammar mountains, which exceed 1,400 meters (4,600 feet). To the north there is the sandy desert of Nefūd (or Nafud).
, from December to February, is mild during the day, but at night the temperature drops by several degrees. Furthermore, there may be cold periods, during which the temperature drops below freezing during the night.
Typically the temperature drops to around -5 °C (23 °F) in the coldest winters, but in January 2008 it dropped to as low as -10 °C (14 °F). Even in these cases, however, during the day the temperature reaches or exceeds 5 °C (41 °F).
, from June to September, is very hot and sunny, although much of Saudi Arabia is even hotter. However, there are periods, sometimes quite long, with highs of 42 °C (107.5 °F) and more. The hottest record is 46 °C (115 °F).
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
10.8 °C, with a minimum of
3.8 °C and a maximum of
17.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3 °C. However, it dropped to
-10 °C in January 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
29 °C in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
10.8 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is of
11.7 kph.
February is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
13.1 °C, with a minimum of
5.8 °C and a maximum of
20.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.8 °C in February 2017.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28 °C. However, it reached
31.4 °C in February 2018.
Precipitation amounts to only
6.2 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is of
12.9 kph.
March is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
16.9 °C, with a minimum of
9.6 °C and a maximum of
24.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.6 °C in March 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32 °C. However, it reached
36 °C in March 2008.
Precipitation amounts to
16.7 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 34%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
13.6 kph.
April is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
22.3 °C, with a minimum of
14.8 °C and a maximum of
29.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
5 °C in April 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
38.5 °C in April 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
11.5 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
The average humidity is 29%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
14.1 kph.
May is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
27.3 °C, with a minimum of
19.8 °C and a maximum of
34.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
10.4 °C in May 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
40 °C. However, it reached
42.3 °C in May 2000.
Precipitation amounts to only
6.3 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 21%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
14 kph.
June is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
30.8 °C, with a minimum of
22.8 °C and a maximum of
38.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
19 °C. However, it dropped to
16.5 °C in June 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
42 °C. However, it reached
44.2 °C in June 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 15%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
12.6 kph.
July is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
31.8 °C, with a minimum of
23.9 °C and a maximum of
39.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20.5 °C. However, it dropped to
18 °C in July 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
42.5 °C. However, it reached
44.4 °C in July 2005.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 15%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
12.3 kph.
August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a scorchingly hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
32.4 °C, with a minimum of
24.4 °C and a maximum of
40.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20.5 °C. However, it dropped to
18 °C in August 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
43 °C. However, it reached
46 °C in August 2009.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
The average humidity is 16%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
11.1 kph.
September is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
30 °C, with a minimum of
21.7 °C and a maximum of
38.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17.5 °C. However, it dropped to
14 °C in September 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
41.5 °C. However, it reached
44 °C in September 2009.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
The average humidity is 17%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
10.4 kph.
October is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
24.7 °C, with a minimum of
16.5 °C and a maximum of
32.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
8 °C in October 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37 °C. However, it reached
38.6 °C in October 2012.
Precipitation amounts to only
5.6 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 26%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
10.9 kph.
November is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
17.3 °C, with a minimum of
10.2 °C and a maximum of
24.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-1 °C in November 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C. However, it reached
33.4 °C in November 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
15.4 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is of
10.6 kph.
December is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
12.5 °C, with a minimum of
5.5 °C and a maximum of
19.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.6 °C in December 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
29 °C in December 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only
7 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is of
10.8 kph.