The city is located in the west of Saudi Arabia, 150 kilometers (95 miles) from the Red Sea coast and 350 km (215 mi) north of Mecca, at 600 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level and at almost 25 degrees north latitude.
, occupied by the Hijaz (or Hejaz) chain, in fact, to the south and west of Medina there are peaks that reach 2,300 meters (7,500 ft) above sea level. In the immediate vicinity of the city, on the other hand, there are low mountains that exceed 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) above sea level, such as Mount Uhud, 1,077 meters (3,533 ft) high.
is very low, around 60 millimeters (2.3 inches) per year. Most occur from November to May, however, they are irregular from year to year. Furthermore, since the rains can sometimes be intense and concentrated in time,
In July and August, thunderstorms can occasionally break out (perhaps only with thunder and lightning, i.e. without rain).
, from December to February, is quite warm, and is warmer than in the capital, Riyadh, which is still located at the same latitude and altitude, but is more exposed to cold air irruptions. In fact, in Medina the cold outbreaks from the north produce modest effects, and the temperature never drops below freezing, but at least it reached 1 °C (34 °F) in January 2008.
, from May to September, is very hot and sunny. However, the humidity is very low, especially in June. Daytime temperatures are similar to those of Riyadh, while nighttime temperatures are higher.
On the hottest days, the temperature can exceed 45 °C (113 °F). The hottest records from June to September are 48/49 °C (118/120 °F).
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.2 °C, with a minimum of
12 °C and a maximum of
24.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
1 °C in January 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
33 °C in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only
8.6 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 35%.
The average wind speed is of
10.3 kph.
February is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.5 °C, with a minimum of
14 °C and a maximum of
27 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
3 °C in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
36.6 °C in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only
3 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 28%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
11.5 kph.
March is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
24.1 °C, with a minimum of
17.3 °C and a maximum of
30.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
7 °C in March 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36.5 °C. However, it reached
39.8 °C in March 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only
5.3 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 82% of the time.
The average humidity is 21%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
12.1 kph.
April is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
28.6 °C, with a minimum of
21.6 °C and a maximum of
35.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16 °C. However, it dropped to
11 °C in April 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
40.5 °C. However, it reached
43 °C in April 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only
6.5 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 86% of the time.
The average humidity is 19%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
12 kph.
May is generally a scorchingly hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
32.8 °C, with a minimum of
25.8 °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
16 °C in May 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
43.5 °C. However, it reached
46 °C in May 1999.
Precipitation amounts to only
4.5 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 90% of the time.
The average humidity is 15%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
11.9 kph.
June 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
28.9 °C and a maximum of
43 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
25 °C. However, it dropped to
23 °C in June 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
45.5 °C. However, it reached
48.1 °C in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.2 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 13 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 94% of the time.
The average humidity is 10%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
11.8 kph.
July is generally a scorchingly hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
36.4 °C, with a minimum of
29.8 °C and a maximum of
43 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
25.5 °C. However, it dropped to
23 °C in July 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
46.5 °C. However, it reached
49 °C in July 2005.
Precipitation amounts to only
1.3 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 12.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 91% of the time.
The average humidity is 12%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
12.9 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
37.2 °C, with a minimum of
30.5 °C and a maximum of
43.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
26.5 °C. However, it dropped to
23.5 °C in August 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
46.5 °C. However, it reached
48.5 °C in August 2011.
Precipitation amounts to only
3.9 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 92% of the time.
The average humidity is 14%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
12.4 kph.
September is generally a scorchingly hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
35.5 °C, with a minimum of
28.6 °C and a maximum of
42.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
24.5 °C. However, it dropped to
22 °C in September 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
45 °C. However, it reached
46.4 °C in September 2012.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.3 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 96% of the time.
The average humidity is 12%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
10.6 kph.
October is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
30.4 °C, with a minimum of
23.4 °C and a maximum of
37.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
18.5 °C. However, it dropped to
15 °C in October 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
41 °C. However, it reached
42.4 °C in October 1999.
Precipitation amounts to only
5.2 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 94% of the time.
The average humidity is 17%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
9.5 kph.
November is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24.3 °C, with a minimum of
18 °C and a maximum of
30.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C. However, it dropped to
5 °C in November 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
37 °C in November 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
13.9 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 31%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
10.4 kph.
December is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20 °C, with a minimum of
13.9 °C and a maximum of
26 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
4 °C in December 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
33 °C in December 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only
7 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 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 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 36%.
The average wind speed is of
10.1 kph.