Climate

Dhahran’s climate is characterized by hot, humid summers, and cold long winters. Temperatures can rise to more than 40 °C (100 °F) in the summer, coupled with extreme humidity (85–100 per cent), given the city’s proximity to the Persian Gulf. The highest recorded temperature in Dhahran is 51.1 °C (124.0 °F). In winter, the temperature rarely falls below −2 °C (28 °F), with the lowest ever recorded being −5 °C (23 °F) in January 1964. Rain falls almost exclusively between the months of November and May. The Shamal winds usually blow across the city in the early months of the summer, bringing dust storms that can reduce visibility to a few metres. These winds can last for up to six months.

On July 8, 2003, the dew point was 35 °C (95 °F) while the temperature was 42 °C (108 °F), resulting in a heat index of 68 to 71 °C (154 to 160 °F), one of the highest heat indexes in the world.

Climate data for Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 30.0 (86) 36.2 (97.2) 38.8 (101.8) 45.0 (113) 49.5 (121.1) 49.0 (120.2) 49.0 (120.2) 48.5 (119.3) 46.6 (115.9) 44.5 (112.1) 37.5 (99.5) 31.0 (87.8) 49.5 (121.1) Average high °C (°F) 20.8 (69.4) 22.3 (72.1) 25.6 (78.1) 32.4 (90.3) 38.7 (101.7) 41.7 (107.1) 43.3 (109.9) 42.4 (108.3) 40.3 (104.5) 35.6 (96.1) 28.9 (84) 23.2 (73.8) 32.93 (91.28) Daily mean °C (°F) 15.5 (59.9) 16.7 (62.1) 20.6 (69.1) 25.0 (77) 30.6 (87.1) 33.4 (92.1) 35.2 (95.4) 34.4 (93.9) 31.9 (89.4) 27.9 (82.2) 22.3 (72.1) 17.0 (62.6) 25.88 (78.58) Average low °C (°F) 10.2 (50.4) 11.5 (52.7) 14.7 (58.5) 19.7 (67.5) 24.6 (76.3) 27.5 (81.5) 28.9 (84) 28.7 (83.7) 25.6 (78.1) 22.0 (71.6) 17.1 (62.8) 12.4 (54.3) 20.24 (68.45) Record low °C (°F) −1.0 (30.2) 3.0 (37.4) 6.0 (42.8) 10.0 (50) 14.0 (57.2) 19.4 (66.9) 21.0 (69.8) 19.5 (67.1) 18.5 (65.3) 13.4 (56.1) 8.0 (46.4) 3.4 (38.1) −1 (30.2) Precipitation mm (inches) 17.7 (0.697) 15.2 (0.598) 35.3 (1.39) 3.5 (0.138) 1.2 (0.047) 0.0 (0) 0.0 (0) 0.0 (0) 0.0 (0) 0.3 (0.012) 18.6 (0.732) 15.7 (0.618) 107.5 (4.232) Avg. precipitation days 11.0 9.7 16.2 7.6 2.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.6 4.9 10.2 62.7  % humidity 73 68 60 55 43 34 36 44 53 60 64 66 54.7 Source #1: Hong Kong Observatory (1981–2000) Source #2: NOAA (extremes and humidity, 1961-1990)