Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ sees average daytime highs around 22°C and overnight lows near 9°C, with 30 mm of rain over about 5 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 23°C in early December to 25°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 70% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Riyāḑ al Khabrā’'s best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Riyāḑ al Khabrā’'s year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 22°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 9°C
- Rainfall
- 30 mm
- 5 wet days
- Avg wind
- 13 km/h
- Travel score
- 8.4
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 23°C in early December to 25°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ reaches about 22°C and drops to 9°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Riyāḑ al Khabrā’
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
winter sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20° / 8° | 13 | 2.2 | 10.6 | 8.0 |
| Feb | 23° / 10° | 6 | 1.1 | 11.1 | 8.9 |
| Mar | 28° / 14° | 12 | 2.2 | 11.8 | 7.9 |
| Apr | 33° / 19° | 13 | 2.5 | 12.6 | 4.5 |
| May | 38° / 24° | 2 | 0.5 | 13.3 | 1.1 |
| Jun | 42° / 26° | 0 | 0 | 13.6 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 43° / 27° | 0 | 0 | 13.5 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 43° / 27° | 0 | 0 | 12.9 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 41° / 24° | 0 | 0.1 | 12.2 | 0.2 |
| Oct | 35° / 20° | 3 | 0.3 | 11.4 | 3.3 |
| Nov | 27° / 14° | 21 | 2.9 | 10.7 | 7.8 |
| Dec | 22° / 9° | 12 | 2.1 | 10.4 | 8.4 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 70% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ gets around 30 mm of rain over 5 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 13 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 10 h 30 min in early December to 11 h 24 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 4.5 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Riyāḑ al Khabrā’
In winter, Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ overlaps its dust season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ sees seasonal dust haze (February–September), heaviest in May.
Is winter a good time to visit Riyāḑ al Khabrā’?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is one of the better times to visit Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ for general sightseeing.
What to pack for Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ sees daytime highs around 22°C and nights near 9°C. Worth packing: light clothes, a warm layer and sun protection. About 5 days see rain.
UV index in Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ peaks around July 17 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 5 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 6 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 5 |
| Level | High | Very high | Very high | High | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 | High |
| Feb | 7 | Very high |
| Mar | 9 | Very high |
| Apr | 7 | High |
| May | 10 | Extreme |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 11 | Extreme |
| Sep | 10 | Very high |
| Oct | 9 | Very high |
| Nov | 6 | High |
| Dec | 5 | Moderate |
Air quality in Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ is worst in March — around 79 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 1.9× the cleanest month (July, 41 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 55 | 61 | 79 | 71 | 70 | 45 | 41 | 41 | 41 | 42 | 50 | 54 |
| Level | Poor | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55 | Poor |
| Feb | 61 | Unhealthy |
| Mar | 79 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 71 | Unhealthy |
| May | 70 | Unhealthy |
| Jun | 45 | Poor |
| Jul | 41 | Poor |
| Aug | 41 | Poor |
| Sep | 41 | Poor |
| Oct | 42 | Poor |
| Nov | 50 | Poor |
| Dec | 54 | Poor |
Where is Riyāḑ al Khabrā’?
Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ sits at 26.1°N, 43.6°E, 658 m above sea level, in Saudi Arabia. The nearest listed city is Al Khabrā’, 7.0 km away.
Topography around Riyāḑ al Khabrā’
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Riyāḑ al Khabrā’.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 36 m around an average of 662 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 81 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 643 m.
The land around Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ is covered by bare terrain (65%) and artificial surfaces (30%) within 3 km, bare terrain (84%) within 16 km, and bare terrain (92%) within 80 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 Riyāḑ al Khabrā’ (26.0667°, 43.5534°, elevation 658 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.