The city is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia and is located in the center of the country, on the plateau called
, at 600 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level and at almost 25 degrees north latitude. We are on the edge of an escarpment called
, which to the west of the city exceeds 900 meters (2,950 ft) above sea level. To the north is the sandy desert of
, rare, generally occur from November (sometimes late October) to early May, while in summer it practically never rains.
As happens in some areas with a desert climate, every now and then there can be heavier rainfall than usual, which can even cause
can trigger sandstorms. This can happen all year round, but especially in spring, in March and April, when the clash between air masses also brings a certain increase in rainfall and thunderstorms. Sometimes thunderstorms with lightning and gusts of wind can occur, even without rain.
, from December to February, is very mild, in fact the maximum temperatures exceed 20 °C (68 °F) even in January. However, sometimes cold air can arrive from the north, and the night temperature can drop to 0 °C (32 °F) or slightly below. In January 1992 it dropped to -4 °C (25 °F), while in January 2008 it dropped to -5 °C (23 °F).
, from May to September, is very hot and sunny. We are in one of the areas of Saudi Arabia where the
is lower: in June and July the average is as low as 10%. Low humidity makes the heat more bearable, but increases the risk of dehydration, furthermore, the sun's rays are very strong, both due to the latitude (the Tropic is not far away) and the altitude.
On the hottest days, the temperature can exceed 45 °C (113 °F). In August 2020 it reached 48.8 °C (119.8 °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
14 °C, with a minimum of
7.4 °C and a maximum of
20.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
14.8 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is of
9.6 kph.
February is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
16.7 °C, with a minimum of
9.6 °C and a maximum of
23.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
8.3 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 35%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
11 kph.
March is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
20.8 °C, with a minimum of
13.6 °C and a maximum of
28 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
19.9 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 30%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
11.6 kph.
April is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
26.3 °C, with a minimum of
18.9 °C and a maximum of
33.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
39.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
23.7 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 27%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
12.1 kph.
May is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
31.7 °C, with a minimum of
24 °C and a maximum of
39.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
18.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
44 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
5.7 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 17%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
11.2 kph.
June is generally a scorchingly hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
34.4 °C, with a minimum of
26 °C and a maximum of
42.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
46 °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 35 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 81% of the time.
The average humidity is 10%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
11.9 kph.
July, 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
35.6 °C, with a minimum of
27.3 °C and a maximum of
43.8 °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
46.5 °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 30 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 10%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
12.6 kph.
August is generally a scorchingly hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
35.4 °C, with a minimum of
27 °C and a maximum of
43.8 °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
46 °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 0 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 12%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
10.7 kph.
September is generally a scorchingly hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
32.3 °C, with a minimum of
23.8 °C and a maximum of
40.8 °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
44 °C.
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.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 14%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
8.3 kph.
October is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
27.2 °C, with a minimum of
18.9 °C and a maximum of
35.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
39.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
1.5 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 87% of the time.
The average humidity is 21%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
7.3 kph.
November is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
20.4 °C, with a minimum of
13.4 °C and a maximum of
27.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
20.1 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 82% of the time.
The average humidity is 38%.
The average wind speed is of
8.3 kph.
December is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
15.6 °C, with a minimum of
9 °C and a maximum of
22.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
13.5 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is of
8.7 kph.