, hot even in winter, from December to February, and very hot in the rest of the year, with a daily average above 30 °C (86 °F) from May to October.
The city is located in the west of Saudi Arabia, at 21 degrees north latitude, and 65 kilometers (40 miles) from the Red Sea coast, where Jeddah is located.
, which exceed 800 meters (2,600 ft) in height. They and are the first spurs of the mountain range located further east, the
, which, at about 50 km (30) mi to the south-east of the city, reach almost 2,400 metres (7,875 ft) in height. On the plateau east of the mountains, at 1,650 meters (5,400 ft), is the city of Taif.
Hot, dry winds can descend from these mountains. When the wind is strong, it can trigger sandstorms.
, in fact, during the day the temperature normally reaches or exceeds 40 °C (104 °F) for several months, from May to October; there are about 300 days with more than 32 °C (90 °F) per year, and the daily average temperature of the whole year is as high as 31.8 °C (89.2 °F).
, the humidity is lower than on the coast, but higher than on the plateau (see Riyadh), and the combination of humidity and temperature makes the heat oppressive.
On the hottest days, the temperature can reach 47/48 °C (117/118 °F), from May to September, and occasionally even 50 °C (122 °F), from June to August. In these cases, the minimum can remain around 35 °C (95 °F). The highest record is 51.4 °C (124.5 °F), set in June 2012. Mecca is therefore one of the hottest large cities in the world.
, sometimes the temperature can reach 35 °C (95 °F), and at times more. However, in this season, cool air can also arrive from the north, which can lower the night temperature to around 15 °C (59 °F). In February 1992 and February 1993, the temperature dropped to 10 °C (50 °F); in both months, there was one day with a high of 20 °C (68 °F).
in Mecca is scarce, around 105 millimeters (4.1 inches) per year, however, it is slightly more abundant than in Jeddah, due to the proximity of the mountains. Most rainfall occurs from November to January, with some resumption in April, however, it is irregular from year to year.
Since the rains can sometimes be intense and concentrated in time, on dry terrain and surrounded by hills, they can cause
In 2014 there was a flash flood in early May, with 50 mm (2 in) of rain in a few hours. In 2023 there was one late August.
are more frequent from September to November. Sometimes, thunderstorms with lightning and gusts of wind can occur, even without rain. Here is the average rainfall.
shines very often; in summer, however, there can be some cloud banks coming from Africa, though there are still as many as 3,400 hours of sunshine per year.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the least warm month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
25 °C, with a minimum of
19.1 °C and a maximum of
30.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
20.7 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is of
4.7 kph.
February is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
26.2 °C, with a minimum of
19.8 °C and a maximum of
32.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
2.5 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is of
5.3 kph.
March is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
28.5 °C, with a minimum of
21.6 °C and a maximum of
35.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
39.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
5.2 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is of
5.5 kph.
April 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
24.8 °C and a maximum of
38.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
19.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
42.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
8.3 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is of
5.2 kph.
May is generally a scorchingly hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
35.3 °C, with a minimum of
28.1 °C and a maximum of
42.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
24 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
47 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
2.6 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 34%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
4.9 kph.
June, 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
36.6 °C, with a minimum of
29.2 °C and a maximum of
44 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
25.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
48 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 80% of the time.
The average humidity is 30%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
4.6 kph.
July is generally a scorchingly hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
36.5 °C, with a minimum of
29.8 °C and a maximum of
43.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
27 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
47 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
1.4 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 32%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
4.6 kph.
August is generally a scorchingly hot month. The average temperature is of
36.4 °C, with a minimum of
30 °C and a maximum of
42.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
26.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
46.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
5.8 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is of
4.9 kph.
September is generally a scorchingly hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
36 °C, with a minimum of
29.2 °C and a maximum of
42.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
26.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
47 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
6.3 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is of
4.3 kph.
October is generally a scorchingly hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
33.2 °C, with a minimum of
26.3 °C and a maximum of
40.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
43.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
14.1 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 84% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is of
3.9 kph.
November is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of
29.5 °C, with a minimum of
23.4 °C and a maximum of
35.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
39.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
23.2 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is of
3.6 kph.
December is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
26.6 °C, with a minimum of
20.7 °C and a maximum of
32.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
14.7 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is of
3.8 kph.