Thuwal climate — normals and trends

Q: What is the climate of Thuwal?

Thuwal has a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh). Over 1940-2025, the average annual temperature is 27.9 °C and it receives 92 mm of precipitation per year.

Q: What is the hottest day ever recorded in Thuwal?

The hottest day measured in Thuwal between 1940 and 2025 was 30 June 1995, reaching 44.1 °C.

Q: What is the coldest day in Thuwal?

The coldest day measured in Thuwal between 1940 and 2025 was 20 February 1949, at 12.3 °C.

Q: Does it snow in Thuwal?

Almost never: Thuwal sees virtually no snow, with about 0 frost days per year.

Q: Has the climate of Thuwal warmed?

Yes: Thuwal warmed by +2.4 °C between 1940 and 2025, a statistically significant trend.

Q: What is the wettest day in Thuwal?

The wettest day measured in Thuwal between 1940 and 2025 was 3 March 1987, with 88 mm of rain in 24 hours.

Q: What was the windiest day in Thuwal?

The windiest day measured in Thuwal between 1940 and 2025 was 18 December 1985, with winds reaching 57.0 km/h.

Q: What is the warmest month in Thuwal?

The warmest month in Thuwal is August (32.1 °C on average); the coldest is January (23.0 °C).

Q: How much does it rain in Thuwal?

Thuwal receives on average 92 mm of precipitation per year, spread over about 12 rainy days.

Q: Is it sunny in Thuwal?

Thuwal gets on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day, roughly 4,198 hours per year over 1940-2025.

Thuwal (Saudi Arabia) has a hot desert climate (BWh) under the Köppen-Geiger classification. Its mean annual temperature is 27.9 °C and it receives 92 mm of precipitation per year.

These figures are normals computed over 86 complete calendar years, from 1940 to 2025, using ERA5 reanalysis data from the Copernicus programme.

The warmest month is August (32.1 °C on average) and the coldest is January (23.0 °C). Rainfall peaks in November.

Thuwal averages 0 frost days, 247 hot days (≥ 30 °C) and 12 rainy days per year.

Thuwal has warmed by +2.4 °C between 1940 and 2025, or +0.28 °C per decade. This trend is statistically significant.

The hottest day of the period reached 44.1 °C (on 30 June 1995) and the coldest 12.3 °C (on 20 February 1949).

Data from ERA5 reanalysis (Copernicus Climate Change Service), redistributed under a CC-BY 4.0 licence. Normals are recomputed whenever the archive is updated.

Climate normals · ERA5

ThuwalMecca Region

coords: 22.28°, 39.11°
period: 1940–2025 · 86 yrs

BWhHot desertWarmest monthAugustColdest monthJanuaryWettest monthNovemberDriest monthJune

Mean daily temperature

27.9°C

Average daily high

31.7°C

Average daily low

24.3°C

Annual rainfall

92mm

Sunshine / day

11.5h

Mean relative humidity

64%

Average peak wind

25.2km/h

Seasonal range

9.1°C

Frost days (< 0 °C)

0 d/yr

Hot days (≥ 30 °C)

247 d/yr

Rainy days (≥ 1 mm)

12 d/yr

Annual snowfall

0.0 cm

Average feels-like high

33.7 °C

Average feels-like low

26.9 °C

Average peak gust

38.9 km/h

Tropical nights (≥ 20 °C)

317 d/yr

Solar radiation

22.2 MJ/m²

Has the climate changed?

One stripe per year, 1940 to 2025

+2.4 °C

since 1940

+0.3 °C per decade · r² = 0.78 · p = < 0.001

19402025

Trend fitted by linear regression (ordinary least squares) on annual means. A trend is shown only when it is statistically significant (p < 0.05).

A climograph overlays rainfall (bars) and temperature (line): the standard reading in climatology, where you can see at a glance whether the warm season is also the dry one.

Records for the period

Hottest day

44.1 °C

30 June 1995

Coldest day

12.3 °C

20 February 1949

Wettest day

88 mm

3 March 1987

Windiest day

57.0 km/h

18 December 1985

Strongest gust

83.9 km/h

18 December 1985

Hottest feels-like

45.9 °C

21 August 2023

Coldest feels-like

6.2 °C

24 January 1957

Sunniest day

13.0 h

25 May 1940

Year	Hottest day	Coldest day	Annual mean	Rainfall	Hot days
2025	40.7 °C16 September 2025	16.6 °C19 December 2025	29.3 °C	76 mm	275
2024	39.4 °C14 July 2024	18.3 °C12 February 2024	29.7 °C	31 mm	274
2023	40.4 °C26 July 2023	17.4 °C7 January 2023	29.5 °C	73 mm	276
2022	42.3 °C15 May 2022	17.1 °C18 January 2022	28.9 °C	64 mm	267
2021	42.3 °C12 June 2021	17.8 °C25 February 2021	29.3 °C	20 mm	282
2020	41.4 °C23 September 2020	15.0 °C13 January 2020	28.8 °C	48 mm	252
2019	42.2 °C21 June 2019	17.1 °C4 March 2019	29.2 °C	32 mm	265
2018	41.6 °C17 June 2018	18.1 °C28 January 2018	29.4 °C	77 mm	281
2017	42.3 °C10 September 2017	17.4 °C18 February 2017	29.1 °C	45 mm	272
2016	40.5 °C13 June 2016	17.1 °C29 January 2016	29.5 °C	34 mm	285
2015	44.1 °C20 August 2015	14.7 °C12 January 2015	29.0 °C	74 mm	255
2014	41.2 °C17 June 2014	16.6 °C12 January 2014	29.0 °C	48 mm	282
2013	42.9 °C5 June 2013	17.6 °C9 January 2013	28.9 °C	32 mm	283
2012	40.3 °C23 May 2012	15.4 °C22 January 2012	28.6 °C	46 mm	254
2011	39.8 °C27 July 2011	16.5 °C1 December 2011	28.1 °C	53 mm	244
2010	43.4 °C22 June 2010	18.2 °C10 February 2010	29.4 °C	43 mm	301
2009	38.8 °C15 October 2009	17.8 °C20 January 2009	28.5 °C	99 mm	253
2008	41.8 °C9 June 2008	15.5 °C16 January 2008	28.5 °C	38 mm	273
2007	40.0 °C27 August 2007	16.8 °C5 February 2007	28.4 °C	19 mm	256
2006	40.9 °C14 September 2006	15.9 °C30 December 2006	28.5 °C	37 mm	260
2005	40.1 °C4 September 2005	16.1 °C25 January 2005	28.4 °C	67 mm	255
2004	42.5 °C31 May 2004	17.5 °C7 February 2004	28.5 °C	39 mm	270
2003	40.8 °C24 May 2003	17.0 °C27 February 2003	28.7 °C	80 mm	248
2002	39.2 °C14 May 2002	15.6 °C13 January 2002	28.6 °C	53 mm	272
2001	40.7 °C22 May 2001	17.1 °C9 January 2001	28.6 °C	46 mm	268
2000	40.0 °C9 September 2000	16.0 °C29 January 2000	27.9 °C	175 mm	247
1999	40.7 °C3 October 1999	17.1 °C22 January 1999	28.7 °C	85 mm	284
1998	40.0 °C15 October 1998	14.1 °C14 January 1998	28.4 °C	43 mm	256
1997	39.0 °C16 August 1997	14.9 °C26 January 1997	27.8 °C	125 mm	230
1996	41.4 °C2 October 1996	17.6 °C8 March 1996	28.1 °C	184 mm	241
1995	44.1 °C30 June 1995	16.5 °C10 February 1995	28.2 °C	105 mm	243
1994	38.5 °C26 May 1994	17.3 °C18 February 1994	28.5 °C	46 mm	250
1993	40.1 °C17 October 1993	13.8 °C6 February 1993	28.0 °C	65 mm	259
1992	40.9 °C6 October 1992	13.1 °C13 January 1992	26.9 °C	148 mm	220
1991	37.8 °C4 August 1991	15.1 °C7 March 1991	27.7 °C	58 mm	254
1990	38.7 °C7 October 1990	14.7 °C15 February 1990	27.7 °C	29 mm	262
1989	40.4 °C11 October 1989	15.3 °C6 January 1989	27.7 °C	60 mm	240
1988	41.9 °C20 June 1988	16.3 °C20 February 1988	28.4 °C	57 mm	274
1987	38.8 °C24 July 1987	16.8 °C15 March 1987	28.1 °C	114 mm	263
1986	37.9 °C11 June 1986	15.1 °C6 December 1986	28.0 °C	25 mm	246
1985	39.1 °C7 October 1985	17.0 °C28 February 1985	28.1 °C	118 mm	276
1984	37.5 °C20 October 1984	16.0 °C17 January 1984	27.8 °C	26 mm	254
1983	37.7 °C3 August 1983	14.6 °C29 January 1983	27.1 °C	49 mm	236
1982	38.2 °C28 June 1982	15.6 °C7 January 1982	27.2 °C	67 mm	227
1981	40.3 °C3 September 1981	15.8 °C12 February 1981	27.8 °C	44 mm	225
1980	37.2 °C31 May 1980	16.1 °C18 December 1980	27.8 °C	38 mm	247
1979	41.0 °C25 June 1979	17.5 °C16 December 1979	28.2 °C	103 mm	260
1978	38.8 °C5 June 1978	16.3 °C12 January 1978	27.5 °C	97 mm	235
1977	40.8 °C1 June 1977	16.7 °C23 January 1977	27.5 °C	72 mm	230
1976	36.9 °C1 October 1976	16.7 °C1 March 1976	27.4 °C	20 mm	240
1975	36.8 °C21 October 1975	16.4 °C18 January 1975	27.3 °C	98 mm	227
1974	37.6 °C20 October 1974	13.6 °C25 January 1974	27.4 °C	96 mm	243
1973	39.1 °C12 June 1973	13.8 °C3 January 1973	27.7 °C	54 mm	240
1972	38.4 °C25 October 1972	14.6 °C2 February 1972	27.5 °C	156 mm	224
1971	38.8 °C21 September 1971	13.8 °C30 December 1971	27.3 °C	161 mm	231
1970	41.1 °C22 May 1970	16.2 °C15 December 1970	27.7 °C	58 mm	251
1969	40.0 °C5 September 1969	14.4 °C25 January 1969	27.9 °C	136 mm	258
1968	38.4 °C20 September 1968	12.4 °C3 February 1968	27.6 °C	183 mm	224
1967	39.0 °C23 June 1967	16.4 °C30 March 1967	27.2 °C	324 mm	209
1966	37.2 °C11 July 1966	16.3 °C5 February 1966	27.7 °C	57 mm	247
1965	37.5 °C4 August 1965	15.1 °C15 January 1965	26.8 °C	302 mm	189
1964	37.6 °C1 June 1964	14.1 °C14 December 1964	26.8 °C	194 mm	234
1963	39.1 °C26 May 1963	14.4 °C27 December 1963	27.7 °C	255 mm	221
1962	40.9 °C10 June 1962	17.2 °C23 January 1962	27.8 °C	119 mm	252
1961	42.6 °C7 June 1961	18.0 °C13 March 1961	27.5 °C	169 mm	220
1960	38.4 °C26 May 1960	17.1 °C2 January 1960	27.8 °C	72 mm	240
1959	41.5 °C11 June 1959	15.2 °C23 January 1959	27.5 °C	67 mm	238
1958	37.3 °C24 April 1958	16.2 °C1 February 1958	27.9 °C	59 mm	259
1957	40.7 °C10 September 1957	12.5 °C24 January 1957	27.3 °C	91 mm	229
1956	42.4 °C6 June 1956	15.0 °C16 January 1956	27.2 °C	163 mm	230
1955	39.1 °C4 September 1955	14.3 °C1 January 1955	27.1 °C	93 mm	240
1954	39.7 °C24 May 1954	14.9 °C12 February 1954	27.1 °C	35 mm	230
1953	42.2 °C17 June 1953	14.7 °C22 December 1953	27.1 °C	85 mm	229
1952	38.8 °C22 May 1952	13.4 °C12 January 1952	27.2 °C	193 mm	220
1951	36.2 °C3 June 1951	15.1 °C23 December 1951	27.1 °C	63 mm	224
1950	39.2 °C29 May 1950	14.0 °C7 February 1950	26.8 °C	317 mm	222
1949	39.5 °C24 May 1949	12.3 °C20 February 1949	26.2 °C	272 mm	217
1948	40.9 °C18 June 1948	15.0 °C7 February 1948	26.6 °C	78 mm	210
1947	37.6 °C29 June 1947	15.0 °C21 January 1947	27.1 °C	173 mm	236
1946	37.2 °C25 July 1946	13.7 °C12 January 1946	27.2 °C	60 mm	238
1945	38.8 °C27 August 1945	15.1 °C3 February 1945	26.9 °C	70 mm	227
1944	37.9 °C16 June 1944	15.1 °C19 December 1944	27.1 °C	85 mm	234
1943	36.3 °C21 August 1943	14.3 °C4 February 1943	26.9 °C	88 mm	227
1942	40.3 °C21 May 1942	13.2 °C7 January 1942	27.2 °C	149 mm	234
1941	38.2 °C6 October 1941	14.2 °C6 March 1941	27.2 °C	20 mm	237
1940	38.5 °C23 August 1940	14.2 °C12 January 1940	27.3 °C	90 mm	243

Normals computed over complete calendar years 1940–2025.

A specific year

Pick a year and see how it compares to normal — warmer, drier or more extreme than usual?

Year

Across the whole year

Average daily high

33.0 °C

+1.3 °C

Hot days (≥ 30 °C)

275 d/yr

+28

Frost days (< 0 °C)

0 d/yr

Annual rainfall

76 mm

-17 mm

Month by month

	High	vs. normal	Precipitation	vs. normal
Jan	28.8 °C	+2.2 °C	37 mm	+20 mm
Feb	27.4 °C	+0.3 °C	1 mm	-5 mm
Mar	30.3 °C	+1.5 °C	7 mm	+2 mm
Apr	32.1 °C	+0.9 °C	1 mm	-6 mm
May	34.0 °C	+0.5 °C	0 mm	-3 mm
Jun	35.7 °C	+1.0 °C	0 mm	0 mm
Jul	37.8 °C	+2.3 °C	0 mm	-0 mm
Aug	37.0 °C	+1.3 °C	0 mm	-0 mm
Sep	36.1 °C	+1.3 °C	0 mm	-0 mm
Oct	35.3 °C	+1.6 °C	0 mm	-3 mm
Nov	33.2 °C	+2.4 °C	13 mm	-15 mm
Dec	28.5 °C	+0.5 °C	16 mm	-6 mm

The year's extremes

Hottest day

40.7 °C

16 Sep 2025

Coldest day

16.6 °C

19 Dec 2025

Wettest day

36.0 mm

6 Jan 2025

Windiest day

41.9 km/h

5 Aug 2025

Strongest gust

61.2 km/h

31 Aug 2025

Hottest feels-like

44.7 °C

16 Aug 2025

Coldest feels-like

12.1 °C

19 Dec 2025

Sunniest day

13.0 h

25 May 2025

What was the weather like that day?

Your birthday, a wedding, a memorable trip: discover the actual weather for any date since 1940.

Date

Frequently asked questions

What is the climate of Thuwal?

Thuwal has a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh). Over 1940-2025, the average annual temperature is 27.9 °C and it receives 92 mm of precipitation per year.

What is the hottest day ever recorded in Thuwal?

The hottest day measured in Thuwal between 1940 and 2025 was 30 June 1995, reaching 44.1 °C.

What is the coldest day in Thuwal?

The coldest day measured in Thuwal between 1940 and 2025 was 20 February 1949, at 12.3 °C.

Does it snow in Thuwal?

Almost never: Thuwal sees virtually no snow, with about 0 frost days per year.

Has the climate of Thuwal warmed?

Yes: Thuwal warmed by +2.4 °C between 1940 and 2025, a statistically significant trend.

What is the wettest day in Thuwal?

The wettest day measured in Thuwal between 1940 and 2025 was 3 March 1987, with 88 mm of rain in 24 hours.

What was the windiest day in Thuwal?

The windiest day measured in Thuwal between 1940 and 2025 was 18 December 1985, with winds reaching 57.0 km/h.

What is the warmest month in Thuwal?

The warmest month in Thuwal is August (32.1 °C on average); the coldest is January (23.0 °C).

How much does it rain in Thuwal?

Thuwal receives on average 92 mm of precipitation per year, spread over about 12 rainy days.

Is it sunny in Thuwal?

Thuwal gets on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day, roughly 4,198 hours per year over 1940-2025.

Are there tropical nights in Thuwal?

Yes: Thuwal has on average 317 tropical nights per year (temperature staying above 20 °C), over 1940-2025.

What was the most extreme apparent temperature in Thuwal?

In Thuwal, between 1940 and 2025, the highest apparent temperature reached 45.9 °C on 21 August 2023, and the lowest was 6.2 °C on 24 January 1957.

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