Medina features a hot desert climate with sweltering, arid summers and short, mild winters. Summer highs often exceed 41°C, while winter days are pleasantly warm at 22–27°C and nights can dip to 11°C. Rain is scarce year-round, with brief showers mainly in late autumn and spring. Sunshine is abundant, making Medina a sun-drenched city throughout the year.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Medina’s climate is shaped by its desert setting in western Saudi Arabia, resulting in dramatic seasonal temperature swings and extremely low rainfall. Summers (May–September) are long, intensely hot, and dry, with average highs of 41–44°C and nighttime lows around 27–29°C. The hottest months are June to August, when temperatures can reach up to 46–50°C during heatwaves. Humidity is very low in summer, often below 20%, and rain is virtually nonexistent. Sunshine is relentless, with up to 11–13 hours of daylight and 90% or more of possible sunshine. Winds are often moderate and can become brisk, occasionally bringing dust or sandstorms.
Winters (December–February) are short, mild, and dry, with average highs of 22–27°C and lows of 11–13°C. Nights can feel cool, especially in January and February, but freezing temperatures are extremely rare. Rainfall is minimal, with only a few millimetres falling over 1–2 days per month, mainly in November, December, and April. Spring (March–April) and autumn (October–November) are transitional, with rapidly rising or falling temperatures (daytime highs from 28°C in March to 38°C in May, and from 36°C in October to 29°C in November). These periods are also mostly dry, though brief showers can occur. Medina receives about 60 mm of rain annually and enjoys over 3,500 hours of sunshine per year. The air is generally clear, and humidity rises slightly in winter, peaking at around 36% in December.
| Average climate data for Medina, Saudi Arabia | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 24 | 27 | 31 | 35 | 40 | 43 | 43 | 44 | 42 | 37 | 31 | 26 | 44 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 12 | 13 | 17 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 23 | 18 | 14 | 12 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 6 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 60 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 25 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 39 | 31 | 25 | 21 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 38 | 23 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Average UV index | 6 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 10 |
The best time to visit Medina is from November to March, when daytime temperatures are mild (22–30°C), nights are cool, and humidity is comfortable. These months offer the most pleasant conditions for sightseeing, outdoor activities, and religious visits, as the intense summer heat is absent and sunshine is abundant.
The least favourable time to visit is from June to September, when daytime highs regularly exceed 41°C and nights remain hot. The extreme heat and dryness can make outdoor activities dangerous, especially at midday. Rain is almost nonexistent, and sandstorms are possible, making travel less comfortable.
Medina has a hot desert climate with extremely hot, dry summers (highs 41–44°C) and short, mild winters (highs 22–27°C, lows 11–13°C). Rain is scarce, and sunshine is abundant throughout the year.
The best time to visit Medina is from November to March, when temperatures are mild and pleasant for sightseeing and religious visits. Days are sunny and warm, while nights are cool and comfortable.
Rain is rare in Medina, with only a few millimetres falling on 1–2 days per month, mainly in November, December, and April. The rest of the year is almost entirely dry.
Summer temperatures in Medina frequently exceed 41°C, with peaks up to 46–50°C during heatwaves. Nights remain hot, and humidity is very low, making the heat feel even more intense.
Humidity in Medina is low year-round, dropping to 10–20% in summer and rising slightly to 32–36% in winter. The dry air and strong sun are defining features of the climate.
Pack lightweight, breathable clothing, sunblock, sunglasses, and a hat for the intense sun. In winter, bring a light jacket for cool evenings. Stay hydrated and plan outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon in summer.
Sandstorms are possible, especially in spring and early summer, but not frequent. When they occur, they can reduce visibility and air quality—it's best to stay indoors during these events.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (43.7 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (24.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 35.1 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (30 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (11.6 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 21.5 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is November (10.4 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is June (0.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 60.1 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is April (4.1 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is June (0.1 days). Over the whole year there are 24.6 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (38.7 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is June (12 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 22.9 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 13.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 10.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 12.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is November (Average sunshine: 7.9 h). Over the whole year there are 10 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are April, May, June, July and August (UV index: 12). The months with the lowest average UV index are January and December (UV index: 6). Over the whole year the average UV index is 9.8.
