December is one of the cooler months of the year in Riyadh, with average highs near 22.8°C and lows around 9.4°C (mean 16.1°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 7 mm of rainfall and 44% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Riyadh. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Riyadh was 2001 — when the month averaged 19.6°C — while the coldest was 1982 at 12.1°C. Typical December days reach 22.8°C with nights near 9.4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Riyadh, averaging 7 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2003 with 62 mm, while the driest were 2016, 2017 and 2024, among others at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Riyadh during December averages 44%. The most humid December was 1995 at 66%, and the least humid was 2010 at 29%.
December receives about 4.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Riyadh. The sunniest December was 2008 at 4.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1995 at 3.3.
Average wind speed in Riyadh during December is 2.5 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 1992, 1995 and 2001 at 3 m/s, while the calmest was 2014 at 1.9 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 15.2°C | 16.6°C | 16.0°C | 16.0°C | 17.0°C | +1.8°C |
| Avg High | 21.9°C | 23.2°C | 22.8°C | 23.0°C | 23.5°C | +1.6°C |
| Avg Low | 8.6°C | 9.8°C | 9.3°C | 9.0°C | 10.4°C | +1.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 9 mm | 3 mm | 9 mm | 4 mm | 11 mm | +2 mm |
December temperatures in Riyadh have risen by about 2.1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -0.7°C (2006) to a record high of 30.5°C (1991).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 7 mm, with a wettest year of 62 mm.
A good time to visit Riyadh
December is a good time to visit Riyadh, with days averaging 22.8°C and nights around 9.4°C (mean 16.1°C, cooler than Riyadh's yearly average) and low rainfall. November and March are marginally more temperate, but December still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22.7°C | 16.6°C | 10.5°C | 28.1°C | 2.7°C | 15 mm | 50% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 23.7°C | 16.5°C | 9.4°C | 29.4°C | 1.8°C | 0 mm | 35% | 2.5 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2023 | 24.7°C | 18.0°C | 11.2°C | 28.6°C | 5.4°C | 6 mm | 38% | 2.3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2022 | 23.0°C | 17.0°C | 11.0°C | 29.0°C | 3.5°C | 43 mm | 51% | 2.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2021 | 23.9°C | 17.2°C | 10.6°C | 28.2°C | 7.8°C | 2 mm | 37% | 2.5 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2020 | 23.0°C | 16.4°C | 9.8°C | 28.7°C | 4.6°C | 2 mm | 48% | 2.3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2019 | 23.9°C | 17.1°C | 10.3°C | 27.8°C | 4.7°C | 1 mm | 44% | 2.7 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2018 | 24.1°C | 17.5°C | 11.0°C | 28.5°C | 7.3°C | 15 mm | 53% | 2.4 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2017 | 22.5°C | 14.9°C | 7.4°C | 29.1°C | 0.7°C | 0 mm | 33% | 2.3 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2016 | 24.1°C | 16.9°C | 9.7°C | 30.2°C | 5.6°C | 0 mm | 45% | 2.4 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2015 | 21.4°C | 15.0°C | 8.6°C | 28.4°C | 1.4°C | 6 mm | 48% | 2.7 m/s | 4 |
| 2014 | 23.7°C | 16.7°C | 9.6°C | 28.0°C | 6.3°C | 1 mm | 41% | 1.9 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2013 | 22.1°C | 15.3°C | 8.5°C | 29.2°C | 1.9°C | 0 mm | 39% | 2.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2012 | 22.9°C | 16.6°C | 10.3°C | 30.0°C | 4.6°C | 13 mm | 53% | 2.8 m/s | 4 |
| 2011 | 21.3°C | 13.7°C | 6.2°C | 28.2°C | 3.1°C | 0 mm | 34% | 2.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2010 | 23.6°C | 16.1°C | 8.7°C | 28.2°C | 3.6°C | 0 mm | 29% | 2.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2009 | 23.1°C | 16.8°C | 10.5°C | 29.4°C | 7.4°C | 9 mm | 49% | 2.6 m/s | 4 |
| 2008 | 21.8°C | 14.1°C | 6.5°C | 26.6°C | -0.3°C | 0 mm | 33% | 2.3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2007 | 23.5°C | 16.4°C | 9.3°C | 29.5°C | 2.6°C | 0 mm | 38% | 2.5 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2006 | 18.7°C | 12.2°C | 5.7°C | 25.1°C | -0.7°C | 8 mm | 51% | 2.9 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2005 | 25.3°C | 18.0°C | 10.8°C | 30.0°C | 5.2°C | 0 mm | 31% | 2.2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2004 | 20.6°C | 14.5°C | 8.4°C | 26.8°C | 2.4°C | 7 mm | 49% | 2.7 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2003 🌧️ | 22.6°C | 16.4°C | 10.3°C | 26.6°C | 6.3°C | 62 mm | 58% | 2.5 m/s | 4 |
| 2002 | 22.6°C | 16.2°C | 9.7°C | 29.0°C | 2.8°C | 1 mm | 47% | 2.9 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2001 🔥 | 26.3°C | 19.6°C | 13.0°C | 30.0°C | 8.4°C | 1 mm | 44% | 3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2000 | 23.1°C | 16.2°C | 9.2°C | 29.0°C | 2.9°C | 0 mm | 43% | 2.7 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1999 | 23.7°C | 16.4°C | 9.2°C | 27.8°C | 4.3°C | 0 mm | 40% | 2.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1998 | 26.6°C | 19.0°C | 11.4°C | 29.2°C | 8.0°C | 0 mm | 32% | 2.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1997 | 22.5°C | 16.4°C | 10.2°C | 28.0°C | 4.9°C | 3 mm | 55% | 2.8 m/s | 4 |
| 1996 | 23.7°C | 16.7°C | 9.6°C | 27.5°C | 7.0°C | 0 mm | 40% | 2.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1995 | 19.6°C | 14.9°C | 10.1°C | 29.0°C | 3.8°C | 18 mm | 66% | 3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1994 | 21.2°C | 14.5°C | 7.8°C | 29.5°C | 1.4°C | 0 mm | 40% | 2.8 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1993 | 24.6°C | 17.2°C | 9.8°C | 27.7°C | 6.0°C | 0 mm | 40% | 2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1992 | 21.1°C | 15.4°C | 9.6°C | 28.0°C | 4.0°C | 10 mm | 52% | 3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1991 | 23.9°C | 17.3°C | 10.6°C | 30.5°C | 4.4°C | 0 mm | 42% | 2.9 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1990 | 25.5°C | 17.7°C | 10.0°C | 28.2°C | 1.4°C | 0 mm | 33% | 2.2 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1989 | 21.8°C | 15.0°C | 8.3°C | 28.7°C | 3.1°C | 0 mm | 44% | 2.6 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1988 | 23.9°C | 16.7°C | 9.6°C | 29.0°C | 1.4°C | 0 mm | 38% | 2.3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1987 | 23.6°C | 16.8°C | 9.9°C | 28.0°C | 4.9°C | 0 mm | 42% | 2.7 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1986 | 20.2°C | 13.6°C | 7.1°C | 27.9°C | -0.6°C | 21 mm | 53% | 2.7 m/s | 4 |
| 1985 | 22.0°C | 15.5°C | 9.1°C | 28.8°C | 1.6°C | 15 mm | 47% | 2.7 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1984 | 20.6°C | 14.8°C | 8.9°C | 26.9°C | 3.8°C | 13 mm | 54% | 2.7 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1983 | 21.9°C | 15.1°C | 8.3°C | 27.5°C | 2.9°C | 0 mm | 41% | 2.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 ❄️ | 18.1°C | 12.1°C | 6.1°C | 28.3°C | 2.5°C | 34 mm | 59% | 2.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 24.8°C | 17.4°C | 9.9°C | 27.7°C | 6.5°C | 0 mm | 35% | 2.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 22.8°C with lows near 9.4°C (mean 16.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 7 mm of rainfall in Riyadh, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 62 mm in 2003.
The hottest December reached 30.5°C in 1991. The coldest dipped to -0.7°C in 2006.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.1°C. Daytime highs moved from 21.5°C to 23.6°C and overnight lows from 8.5°C to 10.5°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Riyadh and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 22.8°C daytime highs and 9.4°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Riyadh, averaging 16.1°C.
For December in Riyadh, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 22.8°C and lows of 9.4°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 44% — relatively dry.
Average wind speed in December is 2.5 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3 m/s (1992).
The wettest December on record was 2003 with 62 mm. On average, December sees 7 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Riyadh behaves each December, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for December specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
