January is one of the cooler months of the year in Riyadh, with average highs near 21.5°C and lows around 7.5°C (mean 14.5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 9 mm of rainfall and 43% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Riyadh. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Riyadh was 2024 — when the month averaged 17.9°C — while the coldest was 1992 at 10.8°C. Typical January days reach 21.5°C with nights near 7.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Riyadh, averaging 9 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2023 with 81 mm, while the driest were 2018, 2019 and 2024, among others at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Riyadh during January averages 43%. The most humid January was 2023 at 71%, and the least humid was 2015 at 29%.
January receives about 4.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Riyadh. The sunniest Januarys were 2001, 2010 and 2012, among others at 4.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2023 at 3.5.
Average wind speed in Riyadh during January is 2.7 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1981, 2019 and 2020 at 3 m/s, while the calmest was 1995 at 2.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 14.1°C | 14.2°C | 14.1°C | 15.3°C | 14.9°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg High | 21.4°C | 20.9°C | 21.2°C | 22.6°C | 21.6°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg Low | 6.8°C | 7.4°C | 7.1°C | 8.0°C | 8.2°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 5 mm | 10 mm | 3 mm | 8 mm | 23 mm | +18 mm |
January temperatures in Riyadh have risen by about 0.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -3.5°C (1992) to a record high of 32.2°C (2015).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 9 mm, with a wettest year of 81 mm.
A good time to visit Riyadh
January is a good time to visit Riyadh, with days averaging 21.5°C and nights around 7.5°C (mean 14.5°C, cooler than Riyadh's yearly average) and low rainfall. November and March are marginally more temperate, but January still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20.1°C | 13.5°C | 6.9°C | 23.8°C | 3.5°C | 15 mm | 45% | 2.3 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2024 🔥 | 24.9°C | 17.9°C | 10.9°C | 30.5°C | 5.7°C | 0 mm | 42% | 2.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2023 🌧️ | 19.1°C | 13.8°C | 8.4°C | 26.8°C | 3.7°C | 81 mm | 71% | 2.6 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2022 | 21.5°C | 14.7°C | 7.8°C | 26.8°C | -0.4°C | 33 mm | 46% | 2.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2021 | 22.4°C | 15.3°C | 8.3°C | 28.7°C | 2.6°C | 7 mm | 42% | 2.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2020 | 21.3°C | 14.1°C | 6.9°C | 29.7°C | 1.6°C | 3 mm | 39% | 3 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2019 | 24.6°C | 17.3°C | 10.1°C | 30.0°C | 3.6°C | 0 mm | 38% | 3 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2018 | 22.0°C | 14.4°C | 6.7°C | 27.9°C | 3.5°C | 0 mm | 31% | 2.6 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2017 | 23.8°C | 16.2°C | 8.6°C | 28.7°C | 1.9°C | 0 mm | 35% | 2.7 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2016 | 22.0°C | 15.1°C | 8.1°C | 29.3°C | -0.4°C | 0 mm | 42% | 2.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2015 | 22.5°C | 14.5°C | 6.5°C | 32.2°C | 0.7°C | 1 mm | 29% | 2.6 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2014 | 20.8°C | 14.1°C | 7.3°C | 25.5°C | 1.6°C | 38 mm | 55% | 2.7 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2013 | 23.0°C | 15.8°C | 8.6°C | 29.5°C | 0.9°C | 0 mm | 35% | 2.8 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2012 | 23.0°C | 15.2°C | 7.4°C | 29.9°C | -1.2°C | 0 mm | 36% | 2.8 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2011 | 20.9°C | 14.7°C | 8.6°C | 27.8°C | 4.8°C | 37 mm | 54% | 2.5 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2010 | 23.6°C | 15.8°C | 8.1°C | 29.1°C | 3.8°C | 0 mm | 35% | 2.6 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2009 | 21.4°C | 13.9°C | 6.4°C | 30.0°C | -0.3°C | 0 mm | 33% | 2.6 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2008 | 19.9°C | 13.4°C | 6.9°C | 28.7°C | -2.8°C | 0 mm | 42% | 2.8 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2007 | 19.1°C | 12.3°C | 5.6°C | 26.0°C | -2.1°C | 1 mm | 45% | 2.6 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2006 | 22.0°C | 15.0°C | 7.9°C | 30.8°C | 2.9°C | 0 mm | 41% | 2.9 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2005 | 21.3°C | 14.2°C | 7.1°C | 26.8°C | 1.0°C | 0 mm | 42% | 2.8 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2004 | 23.1°C | 16.6°C | 10.0°C | 28.7°C | 4.8°C | 25 mm | 56% | 2.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2003 | 21.9°C | 14.4°C | 7.0°C | 29.7°C | 0.2°C | 1 mm | 38% | 2.5 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2002 | 20.8°C | 14.1°C | 7.5°C | 26.4°C | 2.3°C | 5 mm | 41% | 2.8 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2001 | 20.7°C | 13.0°C | 5.3°C | 27.0°C | -0.1°C | 0 mm | 39% | 2.4 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2000 | 21.6°C | 14.5°C | 7.5°C | 27.2°C | 3.0°C | 1 mm | 43% | 2.9 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1999 | 22.2°C | 15.1°C | 8.1°C | 27.9°C | 4.0°C | 5 mm | 42% | 2.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1998 | 19.3°C | 13.2°C | 7.2°C | 24.8°C | 0.5°C | 21 mm | 57% | 2.9 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1997 | 21.9°C | 15.0°C | 8.2°C | 26.3°C | 3.6°C | 1 mm | 37% | 2.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1996 | 20.9°C | 14.5°C | 8.1°C | 26.2°C | 3.2°C | 8 mm | 58% | 2.9 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1995 | 22.4°C | 15.2°C | 7.9°C | 27.5°C | 4.1°C | 0 mm | 39% | 2.2 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1994 | 23.6°C | 16.3°C | 9.0°C | 30.4°C | 4.6°C | 0 mm | 37% | 2.6 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1993 | 19.8°C | 13.1°C | 6.4°C | 28.7°C | -1.5°C | 21 mm | 54% | 2.5 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1992 ❄️ | 17.3°C | 10.8°C | 4.3°C | 25.9°C | -3.5°C | 0 mm | 42% | 2.9 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1991 | 22.0°C | 15.0°C | 8.0°C | 30.0°C | 0.9°C | 26 mm | 53% | 2.9 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1990 | 19.9°C | 13.3°C | 6.7°C | 27.4°C | 1.7°C | 18 mm | 46% | 2.5 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1989 | 19.0°C | 11.4°C | 3.9°C | 24.9°C | -2.3°C | 0 mm | 32% | 2.8 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1988 | 20.7°C | 13.5°C | 6.4°C | 28.3°C | 1.0°C | 2 mm | 39% | 2.6 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1987 | 21.9°C | 14.2°C | 6.6°C | 28.8°C | 2.9°C | 3 mm | 42% | 2.5 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1986 | 21.7°C | 14.0°C | 6.3°C | 27.1°C | 0.0°C | 7 mm | 40% | 2.5 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1985 | 24.1°C | 17.2°C | 10.4°C | 28.5°C | 6.0°C | 12 mm | 49% | 2.8 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1984 | 21.4°C | 13.9°C | 6.4°C | 28.2°C | 2.2°C | 4 mm | 43% | 2.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1983 | 18.5°C | 11.5°C | 4.5°C | 25.4°C | 0.9°C | 16 mm | 53% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 21.8°C | 14.5°C | 7.3°C | 29.8°C | 0.3°C | 1 mm | 41% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 23.2°C | 16.3°C | 9.4°C | 31.6°C | 2.1°C | 1 mm | 43% | 3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 21.5°C with lows near 7.5°C (mean 14.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 9 mm of rainfall in Riyadh, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 81 mm in 2023.
The hottest January reached 32.2°C in 2015. The coldest dipped to -3.5°C in 1992.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 0.3°C — but days and nights have moved in opposite directions. Overnight lows rose from 7.6°C to 8.5°C while daytime highs eased from 21.8°C to 21.6°C, narrowing the gap between day and night.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Riyadh and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 21.5°C daytime highs and 7.5°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Riyadh, averaging 14.5°C.
For January in Riyadh, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 21.5°C and lows of 7.5°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 43% — relatively dry.
Average wind speed in January is 2.7 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 3 m/s (1981).
The wettest January on record was 2023 with 81 mm. On average, January sees 9 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 January, 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 January specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
