Climate in Riyadh — Annual Weather Overview
Riyadh has a arid climate — hot and dry with very little rainfall. The hottest month is July (average high 43.5°C) and the coolest is January (19.5°C). The seasons are strongly defined — a 24.0°C swing between July highs and January lows. Rainfall is very low at around 70mm a year — January sees the most at 35.4mm. Average daily sunshine is 10.6 hours.
**Spring (March, April, May):** average highs 33.7°C, 15mm rain. **Summer (June, July, August):** average highs 42.9°C, 0mm rain. **Autumn (September, October, November):** average highs 34.5°C, 4mm rain. **Winter (December, January, February):** average highs 22.0°C, 52mm rain.
Riyadh — Monthly Temperatures
Riyadh — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
October to April
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Riyadh stays reasonable all year.
Riyadh weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19.5°C | 8.7°C | 35.4mm | 8.9h | 4 | 10/10 |
| February | 23.9°C | 11.2°C | 4.3mm | 9.8h | 1 | 10/10 |
| March | 29.3°C | 15.8°C | 2.1mm | 10.6h | 1 | 10/10 |
| April | 33.1°C | 20.4°C | 12.4mm | 10.3h | 3 | 10/10 |
| May | 38.7°C | 25.2°C | 0.1mm | 11.3h | 0 | 6/10 |
| June | 42.3°C | 28.2°C | 0.0mm | 11.9h | 0 | 6/10 |
| July | 43.5°C | 30.3°C | 0.1mm | 11.5h | 0 | 6/10 |
| August | 42.9°C | 29.6°C | 0.1mm | 11.6h | 0 | 6/10 |
| September | 40.1°C | 26.0°C | 0.0mm | 11.3h | 0 | 6/10 |
| October | 34.8°C | 21.1°C | 0.1mm | 10.9h | 0 | 10/10 |
| November | 28.7°C | 16.8°C | 3.9mm | 10.1h | 1 | 10/10 |
| December | 22.6°C | 11.2°C | 12.0mm | 9.4h | 2 | 10/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Riyadh. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Riyadh have?
Riyadh has a arid climate — hot and dry with very little rainfall. Average highs range from 19.5°C in January to 43.5°C in July.
What is the hottest month in Riyadh?
July is the hottest month in Riyadh, with average highs of 43.5°C and lows of 30.3°C.
What is the coldest month in Riyadh?
January is the coolest month, with average highs of 19.5°C and lows of 8.7°C.
What is the wettest month in Riyadh?
January is the wettest month, averaging 35.4mm of rainfall over around 4 rainy days.
How much rain does Riyadh get per year?
Riyadh receives around 70mm of rain per year. The driest month is June (0.0mm).
When is the best time to visit Riyadh?
The best time to visit Riyadh is October to April. See the full month-by-month guide →
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Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.