Abqaiq weather in December

In December, Abqaiq sees average daytime highs of 23°C and overnight lows near 12°C, with 16 mm of rain across 2.5 wet days and about 10.4 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 24°C in the first days to 22°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 73% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 30 min at the start of December to 10 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Abqaiq's 9th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Abqaiq's year-round climate.

Daytime high
23°
11th warmest
Overnight low
12°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
16 mm
2.5 wet days
Daylight
10 h 24 min
6:26 AM – 4:49 PM
Cloud cover
25%
9th clearest
Wind
15 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
4.06 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.7
out of 10

Abqaiq is Saudi Aramco gated community.

Founded
1940

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 24°C in the first days to 22°C by the end.

A typical December day in Abqaiq reaches about 23°C in the afternoon and slips back to 12°C overnight — a 11°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 18°C and 27°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 6°C cooler than November and about 2°C warmer than January.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12514
22514
32414
42414
52413
62413
72413
82413
92413
102313
112313
122312
132312
142312
152312
162312
172312
182212
192212
202212
212211
222211
232211
242211
252211
262211
272211
282211
292211
302211
312211

How December really feels in Abqaiq

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

December sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Abqaiq weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan21° / 10°16310.68.1
Feb24° / 12°111.711.18.8
Mar28° / 15°132.211.87.6
Apr34° / 21°51.112.63.8
May40° / 26°10.113.30.4
Jun44° / 29°0013.60.0
Jul45° / 30°0013.50.0
Aug44° / 30°0012.90.0
Sep41° / 26°0012.20.0
Oct36° / 22°00.211.42.5
Nov29° / 17°121.910.77.2
Dec23° / 12°162.510.48.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 73% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 10% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 17%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18416
28416
38416
48416
58416
68317
78317
88317
98317
108317
118317
128317
138317
148317
158317
168317
178317
188317
198317
208317
218317
228317
238317
248317
258317
268317
278317
288218
298218
308020
318020

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Abqaiq gets around 16 mm of rain over 2.5 wet days in December, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 8% and peaks near 9% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
18
28
38
48
58
68
78
89
99
109
119
129
139
149
159
169
178
188
198
208
218
227
237
247
257
267
277
288
298
308
318

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 81% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
16617134
26617134
36717124
46717124
56916114
66916114
77116103
8721693
9731683
10751573
11761563
12771562
13781552
14801442
15821431
16821431
17841321
18851221
19861220
20881110
21881110
22891010
2390910
2490910
2590820
2690820
2790820
2890820
2989830
3089830
3189830

Wind in December

Winds average 15 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 14 km/h on the calmest days to 15 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
114light breeze
214light breeze
315light breeze
415light breeze
515light breeze
615light breeze
715light breeze
815light breeze
915light breeze
1015light breeze
1115light breeze
1215light breeze
1315light breeze
1415light breeze
1515light breeze
1615light breeze
1715light breeze
1815light breeze
1915light breeze
2015light breeze
2115light breeze
2215light breeze
2315light breeze
2415light breeze
2515light breeze
2615light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3015light breeze
3115light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 30 min at the start of December to 10 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:16 AM to 6:33 AM, and sunset from 4:46 PM to 4:56 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.56:164:46
210.56:174:46
310.56:184:46
410.56:184:46
510.56:194:46
610.46:204:46
710.46:204:47
810.46:214:47
910.46:224:47
1010.46:224:47
1110.46:234:48
1210.46:244:48
1310.46:244:48
1410.46:254:48
1510.46:254:49
1610.46:264:49
1710.46:264:49
1810.46:274:50
1910.46:274:50
2010.46:284:51
2110.46:294:51
2210.46:294:52
2310.46:294:52
2410.46:304:53
2510.46:304:53
2610.46:314:54
2710.46:314:54
2810.46:314:55
2910.46:324:55
3010.46:324:56
3110.46:334:56

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.06 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.06 kWh/m² to a high of 7.78 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 4.06 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.2Bright
24.2Bright
34.1Bright
44.1Bright
54.1Bright
64.1Bright
74.1Bright
84.1Bright
94.1Bright
104.1Bright
114.1Bright
124.0Bright
134.0Bright
144.0Bright
154.0Bright
164.0Bright
174.0Bright
184.0Bright
194.0Bright
204.0Bright
214.0Bright
224.0Bright
234.0Bright
244.0Bright
254.0Bright
264.0Bright
274.0Bright
284.0Bright
294.0Bright
304.0Bright
314.0Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Abqaiq

In seasonPeak

None of Abqaiq's seasonal hazards are active in December. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Abqaiq sees seasonal dust haze (February–September), heaviest in May.

Dust
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Abqaiq?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

8.7
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
6.5
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

December is one of the better times to visit Abqaiq for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Abqaiq in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Abqaiq sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 12°C. Worth packing: light clothes.

light clothes

Sea temperature near Abqaiq in December

The nearest coast averages about 21°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 46 km away) is warmest in August at about 33°C and coldest in February near 18°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Mar 18 to Dec 28 — about 9.4 months when the water holds above 20°C.

15°20°25°30°35°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan18Cool
Feb18Cool
Mar20Cool
Apr23Refreshing
May27Warm
Jun30Tropical
Jul32Tropical
Aug33Tropical
Sep32Tropical
Oct30Tropical
Nov26Warm
Dec21Refreshing

UV index in Abqaiq in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Abqaiq peaks around July 16 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 4 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 16UV 10Dec 18UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan5High
Feb8Very high
Mar7High
Apr7High
May9Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Extreme
Aug10Very high
Sep9Very high
Oct8Very high
Nov6High
Dec4Moderate

Air quality in Abqaiq in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Abqaiq is worst in June — around 98 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 1.6× the cleanest month (November, 61 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0306090120JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecUnhealthyJun 2198 µg/m³Nov 1061 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan82Unhealthy
Feb80Unhealthy
Mar88Unhealthy
Apr92Unhealthy
May90Unhealthy
Jun98Unhealthy
Jul97Unhealthy
Aug85Unhealthy
Sep71Unhealthy
Oct62Unhealthy
Nov61Unhealthy
Dec73Unhealthy
Location & terrain

Where is Abqaiq?

Abqaiq sits at 25.9°N, 49.7°E, 103 m above sea level, in Saudi Arabia. The nearest listed city is Al Baţţālīyah, 56 km away.

Topography around Abqaiq

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Abqaiq.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Abqaiq has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 37 m around an average of 90 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 122 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 331 m.

The land around Abqaiq is covered by bare terrain (67%) and artificial surfaces (30%) within 3 km, bare terrain (97%) within 16 km, and bare terrain (83%) within 80 km.

3 km
37 m
16 km
122 m
80 km
331 m
treesshrubsartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Al Baţţālīyah 56 km · Al Mubarraz 59 km · Dhahran 59 km · Al Munayzilah 61 km · Al Hufūf 64 km · Aţ Ţaraf 64 km · Thuqbah 65 km · Khobar 66 km

Saudi Arabia travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Power plugs
Type G
230 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 47% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$34,537
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
0.9
per 100k, 2019
Road deaths
35.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Very low
EF EPI 404

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Abqaiq (25.934°, 49.6688°, elevation 103 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).