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Climate of Saudi Arabia
The
climate of Saudi Arabia varies from one province to another. The
Kingdom lies in the tropics, and the nationwide average temperature
is 18°C (64°F). Local averages vary considerably from 24°C (75°F)
in the Western Province, rising as one descends toward the
southwest until it reaches 28°C (82°F) in Jeddah and 30°C (86°F)
in Jizan. In the northwest, the average temperature is 22°C (72°F)
in Tabouk and 28°C (82°F) in Madinah, which is 850 meters (2,789
feet) above the sea level. In the Asir region in the southwest, the
average temperature is only 19°C (66°F) because of the high
altitude. The Central Province, which is surrounded by desert, has
an average of 25°C (77°F) for Riyadh, 21°C (70°F) in Ha’il
and 23°C (73°F) in Qaseem. In Dhaharan, the Eastern Province, the
temperature is an average of 26°C (79°F). Apart from
topographical factors, Saudi Arabia's climate is also affected by
tropical winds that cause monsoons in the west and the southwest.
These occur during the summer months. In the south, tropical
continental winds blow, particularly in winter, often accompanied
by sandstorms.
Saudi
Arabia is one of the driest countries in the world, with rainfall
averaging less than 127 millimeters (5 inches) per year. Marked
seasons, in the European or American sense, do not exist.
The
climate is principally determined by the southerly shift in wind
patterns during the winter months, which brings rain and cool
weather.
Other
factors, such as latitude, proximity to the sea, and altitude, also
affect the climate. In the Empty Quarter, the great southeastern
sand desert, ten years may pass with no rain. The Asir Highlands in
the south receive rainfall due to the monsoon that may exceed 255
millimeters (10 inches) per year. Jeddah, on the shores of the Red
Sea, has a hot and humid climate year-round. Taif, on the other
hand, and Abha enjoy much more temperate weather.
Summer
is hot with temperatures in some areas reaching 49°C (120°F).
Winter is cooler with an average temperature of 23°C (74°F) in
Jeddah and 14°C (58°F) in Riyadh. Winter temperatures drop below
freezing in the central and northern parts of the country, and snow
and ice sometimes occur in the higher elevations in the southwest.
In
areas where there is little ground cover, a northwesterly wind
blows for most of the summer months and may whip up violent
sandstorms, especially in the eastern part of the country.
Between
October and May, the weather is generally pleasant with cool nights
and sunny days. Night temperatures in the coastal areas may dip
into the single digits Celsius (40s Fahrenheit). From April to
November, on the other hand, temperatures are considerably higher
and life without air-conditioning would be very unpleasant indeed.
*
Excerpted with slight modifications from, http://www.arab.net/saudi/sa_climate.htm
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