What are the features of winter in Saudi Arabia?

Written By ندى ماهر عبدربه on 2024/11/05

This article was written originally in Arabic and is translated using a 3rd party automated service. ArabiaWeather is not responsible for any grammatical errors whatsoever.

Arab Weather - Winter in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia extends from mid-December to mid-March. This season is considered one of the most beautiful seasons in Saudi Arabia, despite the cold weather experienced by the desert areas at night, where temperatures reach less than 20 degrees Celsius. During this period, snow falls in the northern highlands, which gives a special character to the natural landscapes in those areas.

It is important to note that the climate of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is characterized by a semi-arid to dry desert character, where most days pass with high temperatures during the day and low temperatures at night, leading to noticeable differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures. The Kingdom also experiences a sharp decline in annual rainfall rates. In winter, the northern and central parts of the Kingdom receive rainfall due to the interaction of westerly winds with the extension of the Sudan Low. In contrast, the southwestern regions of the Kingdom receive rainfall in the summer due to the shift of the tropical convergence zone and the rotation of monsoon winds and their interaction with the region's topography.

Winter Season Sections in Saudi Arabia

Winter in Saudi Arabia can be divided into three main sections, each of which has specific climatic characteristics:

The square or the fortieth

This period is called Al-Murabba’aniyah or Al-Arba’iniyah, and it is the coldest of the winter seasons, and it lasts for forty days. Al-Murabba’aniyah begins on the twenty-second of December and continues until the thirty-first of January. During this period, the weather is considered one of the harshest conditions that the Kingdom experiences during the year, as it rains heavily, and snow also falls, making it a special period in terms of climate.

The Shabat

The Shabat season extends from the end of the forty-day period and continues for another twenty-six days. Shabat is also characterized by cold weather, which has a significant impact on temperatures at this time.

Scorpions

The Scorpio stage comes after Shabat, and is characterized by warmer temperatures compared to the previous seasons. The Scorpio season consists of three stages: the first Scorpio, the second Scorpio, and the third Scorpio, and each stage has specific climatic characteristics.

Other seasons in Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is characterized by a large variation in temperatures between seasons, depending on the geographical area. Here we review the other seasons of the year:

Spring

Spring starts from mid-March and lasts until mid-June. During this season, the weather is spring-like and relatively cool in the north of the Kingdom, but temperatures drop at night to less than 15 degrees Celsius. While the central and southern regions are warmer, with night temperatures reaching around 20 degrees Celsius, making it an ideal time to enjoy going out and outdoor activities.

Summer

Summer is considered one of the most difficult seasons for Saudis, as it starts from mid-June until mid-September. Temperatures begin to rise significantly in most areas, reaching about 45 degrees Celsius in some areas. However, the mountainous highlands in the southwest of the Kingdom remain more moderate in temperature.

autumn

Autumn extends from mid-September to mid-December. This season is characterized by a relatively warm climate, with temperatures reaching around 30 degrees Celsius. Autumn is considered one of the beautiful seasons in Saudi Arabia, as temperatures drop, making it an ideal time to enjoy nature and get outdoors.