Meteorological Climate Report: Historical Weather Fluctuations in Saudi Arabia
The National Center for Meteorology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued a comprehensive study reviewing documented climate records for the month of May over four decades, specifically for the period from 1985 to 2025. The meteorology climate report highlights the prominent weather shifts and fluctuations witnessed by the Kingdom's populated stations, revealing remarkable temperature and rainfall variations that reflect the ongoing climate changes in the region.
The most significant findings of the meteorological climate report regarding temperatures
Historically, May is ranked as the fifth hottest month of the year in Saudi Arabia, with an average temperature of approximately 29.4 degrees Celsius. According to official records, 1999 saw the highest average maximum temperature recorded over this period.
In detail, daily records show that the holy city of Mecca holds the record for the highest daily maximum temperature, reaching 49.4 degrees Celsius on May 21, 1988. Conversely, 1986 saw the lowest average minimum temperature recorded in the Kingdom, while the Tarif station holds the record for the lowest daily minimum temperature ever recorded in May, at just 2.1 degrees Celsius on May 27, 2000.
Rainfall fluctuations and severe weather phenomena in the Kingdom
In terms of rainfall, the report indicates that the average rainfall for this month is 8.20 mm, making it the sixth wettest month of the year. However, recent years have witnessed unprecedented rainfall spikes; 2023 topped the list as the year with the highest average rainfall for May at 20.45 mm, while 2022 recorded the lowest on record at only 0.71 mm.
At the level of individual stations, the highest daily rainfall was recorded at the Bisha Governorate station, with 96.1 mm on May 1, 2013. The fluctuations were not limited to rainfall and temperature, but also included severe weather phenomena; the Al-Jawf region station recorded the highest wind speed at 148 kilometers per hour on May 20, 2021.
The importance of climate data and its impact on future planning
These periodic reports are of paramount importance at the local, regional, and international levels. Locally, this accurate data contributes to supporting sustainable development plans and developing infrastructure to be more resilient to extreme weather events, such as floods and dust storms. It also helps the agricultural sector and water resource management in the Kingdom to make strategic decisions based on sound scientific principles.
Regionally and internationally, these records enhance our understanding of climate change in the Arabian Peninsula and support international efforts to combat global warming. The statistics reveal the varying distribution of weather phenomena across the Kingdom's regions. Abha recorded the highest frequency of thunderstorms at 460 days, while Qaisumah recorded the highest frequency of dust storms at 82 days. Regarding dust and sandstorms, Riyadh recorded the highest frequency at 768 days, followed by Al-Ahsa with 455 days. This underscores the need to intensify afforestation and desertification control initiatives, such as the Saudi Green Initiative.
