Month summary
Riyadh weather in January
✅ Good
🌡️ Temperature min / max
9°C – 20°C
🌧 Rainy days
7% of days
☀️ Sunshine
10.0h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Winter
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
7.8/10
📅 📅 Best month
March (9.1/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Riyadh in January?
✅ Good
✅ Yes if: you want to explore the city on foot without suffering from heat.
❌ No if: you're looking for a beach destination — water and air are still cool.
Our take: Favourable conditions in January (7.8/10). March scores higher but the gap is small.
By trip type
Riyadh in January by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ✅ Good
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ✅ Good
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : — No sea access
- 💰 💰 Budget : 🌿 Shoulder
Local context
What to expect in January
🎯 Peak season — book ahead for best rates. Accommodation prices at their highest Even in winter, Riyadh enjoys 20°C. A real asset for escaping the European cold. Rain is virtually absent (7% of days) — ideal for planning without a backup. A good balance between weather and crowds, even if March (9.1/10) remains theoretically better.
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All months for Riyadh
Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌤️ January | 9°C | 20°C | 7% | 0.5 | 10.0h | 7.8/10 |
| 🌤️ February | 11°C | 23°C | 10% | 0.5 | 10.0h | 8.3/10 |
| ☀️ March | 16°C | 28°C | 9% | 0.3 | 10.7h | 9.1/10 |
| ☀️ April | 20°C | 34°C | 9% | 0.4 | 11.1h | 7.5/10 |
| 🥵 May | 26°C | 39°C | 3% | 0.1 | 11.7h | 6.9/10 |
| 🥵 June | 29°C | 42°C | 0% | 0.0 | 12.0h | 3.9/10 |
| 🥵 July | 30°C | 44°C | 0% | 0.0 | 12.0h | 3.9/10 |
| 🥵 August | 30°C | 43°C | 0% | 0.0 | 11.9h | 3.9/10 |
| 🥵 September | 27°C | 40°C | 0% | 0.0 | 11.4h | 6.9/10 |
| ☀️ October | 21°C | 35°C | 1% | 0.0 | 11.0h | 7.4/10 |
| ☀️ November | 16°C | 28°C | 8% | 0.4 | 10.3h | 9.1/10 |
| 🌤️ December | 11°C | 22°C | 5% | 0.3 | 10.0h | 8.3/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In January, Riyadh averages 20°C, 7% rainy days and 10.0h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 7.8/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
January vs March (best month)
The best month is March (score 9.1/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +8°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : +2%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +0.7h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Riyadh in January
Is January a good time to visit Riyadh?
January is an excellent time to visit Riyadh (score 7.8/10). With 20°C, 10.0h of sunshine and 7% rain, conditions are very favourable.
What to do in Riyadh in January?
With 20°C max and 10.0h of sunshine, focus on cultural sites, museums and local gastronomy.
Accommodation
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