May is one of the warmer months of the year in Riyadh, with average highs near 39.8°C and lows around 23.8°C (mean 31.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 2 mm of rainfall and 17% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Riyadh. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Riyadh was 2012 — when the month averaged 33.3°C — while the coldest were 1984 and 2013 at 30.3°C. Typical May days reach 39.8°C with nights near 23.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
May is about average for rainfall in Riyadh, averaging 2 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 1981 with 18 mm, while the driest were 2021, 2022 and 2025, among others at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Riyadh during May averages 17%. The most humid May was 2024 at 25%, and the least humid was 2001 at 12%.
May receives about 7.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Riyadh. The sunniest May was 1999 at 8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1987 at 6.5.
Average wind speed in Riyadh during May is 2.8 m/s. The windiest May was 1986 at 3.4 m/s, while the calmest was 2021 at 2.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 31.3°C | 31.5°C | 32.2°C | 32.1°C | 31.9°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg High | 39.3°C | 39.5°C | 40.4°C | 39.9°C | 40.0°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg Low | 23.3°C | 23.6°C | 24.0°C | 24.3°C | 23.7°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 4 mm | 2 mm | 0 mm | 2 mm | 3 mm | -1 mm |
May temperatures in Riyadh have risen by about 1.1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 15.6°C (2005) to a record high of 45.2°C (1998).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 2 mm, with a wettest year of 18 mm.
A good time to visit Riyadh
May is a good time to visit Riyadh, with days averaging 39.8°C and nights around 23.8°C (mean 31.8°C, warmer than Riyadh's yearly average) and low rainfall. November and March are marginally more temperate, but May still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41.1°C | 32.9°C | 24.7°C | 45.2°C | 19.7°C | 0 mm | 14% | 2.9 m/s | 7.6 |
| 2024 | 39.8°C | 31.6°C | 23.4°C | 45.0°C | 18.4°C | 13 mm | 25% | 3.1 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2023 | 38.9°C | 31.3°C | 23.7°C | 42.7°C | 17.6°C | 3 mm | 22% | 3 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2022 | 39.9°C | 31.1°C | 22.3°C | 43.8°C | 18.8°C | 0 mm | 14% | 2.8 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2021 | 40.9°C | 32.7°C | 24.4°C | 44.5°C | 18.2°C | 0 mm | 12% | 2.4 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2020 | 39.4°C | 31.5°C | 23.7°C | 43.1°C | 19.4°C | 0 mm | 18% | 2.9 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2019 | 39.1°C | 31.8°C | 24.5°C | 43.5°C | 19.8°C | 2 mm | 21% | 2.5 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2018 | 39.4°C | 31.3°C | 23.3°C | 42.3°C | 19.3°C | 0 mm | 18% | 3 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2017 | 40.6°C | 33.2°C | 25.8°C | 44.1°C | 23.5°C | 0 mm | 18% | 2.7 m/s | 7 |
| 2016 | 40.2°C | 32.2°C | 24.2°C | 44.5°C | 19.5°C | 0 mm | 18% | 3 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2015 | 40.5°C | 32.8°C | 25.1°C | 44.2°C | 23.0°C | 0 mm | 17% | 3.1 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2014 | 39.9°C | 31.9°C | 23.9°C | 45.0°C | 19.6°C | 0 mm | 14% | 2.8 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2013 | 38.3°C | 30.3°C | 22.2°C | 42.3°C | 17.1°C | 0 mm | 23% | 2.8 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2012 🔥 | 41.3°C | 33.3°C | 25.2°C | 44.2°C | 22.8°C | 0 mm | 14% | 3 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2011 | 39.7°C | 32.1°C | 24.4°C | 43.1°C | 18.2°C | 3 mm | 20% | 3 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2010 | 39.5°C | 31.8°C | 24.1°C | 44.0°C | 19.7°C | 11 mm | 23% | 2.7 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2009 | 41.0°C | 32.6°C | 24.2°C | 45.0°C | 19.2°C | 0 mm | 15% | 2.8 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2008 | 40.4°C | 32.4°C | 24.5°C | 42.8°C | 20.8°C | 0 mm | 16% | 3.1 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2007 | 40.2°C | 32.6°C | 25.0°C | 43.5°C | 21.9°C | 0 mm | 15% | 2.7 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2006 | 40.4°C | 32.8°C | 25.2°C | 42.8°C | 21.3°C | 0 mm | 16% | 2.5 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2005 | 39.2°C | 31.2°C | 23.2°C | 42.9°C | 15.6°C | 0 mm | 15% | 2.8 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2004 | 40.0°C | 31.4°C | 22.8°C | 44.6°C | 18.1°C | 0 mm | 14% | 2.9 m/s | 7.9 |
| 2003 | 40.4°C | 32.1°C | 23.9°C | 43.3°C | 17.6°C | 0 mm | 14% | 3 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2002 | 41.4°C | 32.5°C | 23.6°C | 45.0°C | 18.2°C | 0 mm | 12% | 3 m/s | 7.9 |
| 2001 | 40.8°C | 32.2°C | 23.6°C | 43.9°C | 19.9°C | 0 mm | 12% | 3 m/s | 7.9 |
| 2000 | 40.7°C | 32.4°C | 24.1°C | 43.9°C | 18.7°C | 3 mm | 15% | 2.5 m/s | 7.6 |
| 1999 | 41.0°C | 32.5°C | 24.1°C | 43.9°C | 21.8°C | 0 mm | 12% | 2.9 m/s | 8 |
| 1998 | 40.3°C | 32.3°C | 24.3°C | 45.2°C | 19.2°C | 0 mm | 18% | 2.7 m/s | 7.7 |
| 1997 | 38.2°C | 30.9°C | 23.6°C | 43.9°C | 18.3°C | 0 mm | 20% | 2.8 m/s | 7 |
| 1996 | 40.1°C | 32.3°C | 24.5°C | 43.0°C | 20.9°C | 0 mm | 15% | 2.5 m/s | 7 |
| 1995 | 38.9°C | 30.9°C | 22.9°C | 41.7°C | 19.0°C | 0 mm | 16% | 2.6 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1994 | 39.3°C | 31.9°C | 24.5°C | 44.8°C | 20.7°C | 1 mm | 19% | 2.8 m/s | 7 |
| 1993 | 38.0°C | 30.4°C | 22.8°C | 42.1°C | 18.1°C | 15 mm | 24% | 2.9 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1992 | 39.0°C | 31.1°C | 23.2°C | 42.6°C | 18.7°C | 0 mm | 18% | 3.3 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1991 | 39.3°C | 31.0°C | 22.7°C | 44.3°C | 18.2°C | 0 mm | 14% | 2.7 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1990 | 40.5°C | 31.9°C | 23.4°C | 44.4°C | 17.0°C | 0 mm | 14% | 2.6 m/s | 7.3 |
| 1989 | 39.6°C | 31.5°C | 23.3°C | 43.0°C | 19.6°C | 0 mm | 14% | 2.8 m/s | 7.9 |
| 1988 | 40.4°C | 31.9°C | 23.3°C | 43.3°C | 20.4°C | 0 mm | 13% | 2.8 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1987 | 40.6°C | 32.9°C | 25.2°C | 42.4°C | 21.7°C | 0 mm | 20% | 2.7 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1986 | 39.8°C | 31.4°C | 23.1°C | 44.6°C | 17.3°C | 5 mm | 18% | 3.4 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1985 | 38.7°C | 31.2°C | 23.7°C | 42.4°C | 20.1°C | 1 mm | 21% | 2.5 m/s | 7 |
| 1984 ❄️ | 38.6°C | 30.3°C | 22.0°C | 43.5°C | 16.9°C | 0 mm | 19% | 3.1 m/s | 7 |
| 1983 | 38.9°C | 31.4°C | 23.8°C | 42.2°C | 17.9°C | 9 mm | 24% | 3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 38.3°C | 30.6°C | 22.8°C | 42.4°C | 20.2°C | 0 mm | 24% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 🌧️ | 38.8°C | 30.6°C | 22.4°C | 44.1°C | 16.4°C | 18 mm | 21% | 2.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 39.8°C with lows near 23.8°C (mean 31.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 2 mm of rainfall in Riyadh, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 18 mm in 1981.
The hottest May reached 45.2°C in 1998. The coldest dipped to 15.6°C in 2005.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 1.1°C. Daytime highs moved from 38.7°C to 40.1°C and overnight lows from 22.9°C to 23.7°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Riyadh and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 39.8°C daytime highs and 23.8°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 8th coolest month in Riyadh, averaging 31.8°C.
For May in Riyadh, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 39.8°C and lows of 23.8°C.
Relative humidity in May averages 17% — relatively dry.
Average wind speed in May is 2.8 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 3.4 m/s (1986).
The wettest May on record was 1981 with 18 mm. On average, May sees 2 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 May, 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 May specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
