Thuwal weather in January

In January, Thuwal sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 20°C, with 16 mm of rain across 2.2 wet days and about 10.8 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 73% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 42 min at the start of January to 11 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Thuwal's 12th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Thuwal's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
12th warmest
Overnight low
20°
1st coldest
Rainfall
16 mm
2.2 wet days
Daylight
10 h 48 min
7:10 AM – 5:56 PM
Cloud cover
27%
12th clearest
Wind
16 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
4.51 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.3
out of 10

Thuwal is human settlement in Saudi Arabia.

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

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month.

A typical January day in Thuwal reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 20°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 24°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 2°C cooler than December and on par with February.

15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12821
22821
32821
42821
52721
62721
72721
82721
92721
102721
112720
122720
132720
142720
152720
162720
172720
182720
192720
202720
212720
222720
232720
242720
252720
262720
272720
282720
292720
302720
312720

How January really feels in Thuwal

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January 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

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

Thuwal weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 20°162.210.88.3
Feb28° / 21°20.611.28.4
Mar29° / 22°30.611.87.2
Apr32° / 24°30.512.55.6
May34° / 26°10.213.14.0
Jun35° / 27°0013.33.3
Jul36° / 29°0013.22.6
Aug36° / 30°0012.82.6
Sep36° / 28°0012.13.0
Oct34° / 27°20.511.53.8
Nov31° / 24°292.210.95.6
Dec29° / 22°122.210.77.3

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 73% of the time in January, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 16%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18218
28218
38218
48218
58119
68119
78119
88119
98119
108119
118119
128218
138317
148317
158416
168515
178515
188515
198515
208614
218614
228713
238713
248713
258713
268713
278713
288713
298812
308911
318911

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Thuwal gets around 16 mm of rain over 2.2 wet days in January. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 7% and peaks near 9% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
18
28
38
48
59
69
79
89
99
109
118
128
138
148
158
168
177
187
197
207
216
226
236
246
256
266
276
286
295
305
315

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, January lands in the dry band about 31% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 21% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1202628216
2212628205
3222627205
4232627195
5252626194
6262626194
7272625184
8292625174
9302624173
10312623163
11332622163
12342621153
13352621153
14362620153
15362620153
16372620152
17372620152
18372620152
19362620162
20362620162
21352620172
22352620172
23342620182
24332620182
25332619193
26322619203
27312619203
28312619213
29302619213
30302619224
31292619224

Wind in January

Winds average 16 km/h in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 15 km/h on the calmest days to 16 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
115light breeze
215light breeze
315light breeze
416light breeze
516light breeze
616light breeze
716light breeze
816light breeze
916light breeze
1016light breeze
1116light breeze
1216light breeze
1316light breeze
1416light breeze
1516light breeze
1616light breeze
1716light breeze
1816light breeze
1916light breeze
2016light breeze
2116light breeze
2216light breeze
2316light breeze
2416light breeze
2516light breeze
2616light breeze
2716light breeze
2816light breeze
2916light breeze
3016light breeze
3116light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 42 min at the start of January to 11 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 18 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 7:07 AM to 7:08 AM, and sunset from 5:46 PM to 6:06 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.77:075:46
210.77:075:47
310.77:085:48
410.77:085:48
510.77:085:49
610.77:085:50
710.77:095:50
810.77:095:51
910.77:095:51
1010.77:095:52
1110.77:095:53
1210.77:095:53
1310.77:095:54
1410.87:105:55
1510.87:105:55
1610.87:105:56
1710.87:105:57
1810.87:105:57
1910.87:105:58
2010.87:105:59
2110.87:095:59
2210.87:096:00
2310.97:096:01
2410.97:096:01
2510.97:096:02
2610.97:096:03
2710.97:096:03
2810.97:086:04
2910.97:086:05
3011.07:086:05
3111.07:086:06

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 4.51 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.34 kWh/m² to a high of 7.51 kWh/m² in May across the year — January's 4.51 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.3Bright
24.3Bright
34.3Bright
44.3Bright
54.3Bright
64.3Bright
74.3Bright
84.3Bright
94.4Bright
104.4Bright
114.4Bright
124.4Bright
134.4Bright
144.5Bright
154.5Bright
164.5Bright
174.5Bright
184.6Bright
194.6Bright
204.6Bright
214.6Bright
224.7Bright
234.7Bright
244.7Bright
254.7Bright
264.8Bright
274.8Bright
284.8Bright
294.8Bright
304.9Bright
314.9Bright
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Thuwal

In seasonPeak

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

Thuwal sees seasonal dust haze (April–September), heaviest in June.

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

Is January a good time to visit Thuwal?

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

8.3
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
8.4
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Thuwal in January

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

In January, Thuwal sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 20°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection.

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Thuwal in January

The nearest coast averages about 26°C in January — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 31°C and coldest in February near 25°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

24°26°28°30°32°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan26Warm
Feb25Warm
Mar25Warm
Apr27Warm
May28Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul30Tropical
Aug31Tropical
Sep31Tropical
Oct31Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec27Warm

UV index in Thuwal in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks 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 Thuwal peaks around June 13 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 4 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highExtremeVery highModerateJun 13UV 11Dec 16UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan6High
Feb8Very high
Mar10Very high
Apr10Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug10Very high
Sep10Very high
Oct9Very high
Nov6High
Dec4Moderate

Air quality in Thuwal in January

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in Thuwal is worst in March — around 40 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecPoorModerateMar 2339 µg/m³Nov 925 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan39Poor
Feb37Poor
Mar40Poor
Apr39Poor
May32Moderate
Jun28Moderate
Jul27Moderate
Aug28Moderate
Sep27Moderate
Oct25Moderate
Nov25Moderate
Dec36Poor
Location & terrain

Where is Thuwal?

Thuwal sits at 22.3°N, 39.1°E, 6 m above sea level, in Saudi Arabia. The nearest listed city is Khulayş, 26 km away.

MeccaBadr ḨunaynTa'ifAsh Shafā

Topography around Thuwal

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Thuwal has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 19 m around an average of 5 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 104 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,568 m.

The land around Thuwal is covered by bare terrain (59%) and artificial surfaces (29%) within 3 km, bare terrain (60%) and water (37%) within 16 km, and bare terrain (66%) and water (32%) within 80 km.

3 km
19 m
16 km
104 m
80 km
1,568 m
artificial surfacesbare terrainwater
January weather nearby: Khulayş 26 km · Rābigh 58 km · Jeddah 88 km · Al Jumūm 95 km · Mecca 120 km · Badr Ḩunayn 170 km · Ta'if 175 km · Ash Shafā 183 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 Thuwal (22.2827°, 39.1125°, elevation 6 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).