Weather
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Climate in Saudi Arabia:
Almost all of Saudi Arabia has a desert climate with
scant , unreliable rainfall and extremely hot
temperatures for many months of the year. The north
receives less than 1 inch of rainfall annually and the
south has even less rainfalls. Only the mountainous Asir
region in the southwest receives appreciable quantities
of rainfall from Indian Ocean monsoons. In summer daytime
temperatures are hot everywhere except at the higher
elevations.Maximum temperatures in the interior often
reach 130 F (54 C). In winter temperatures in the
interior are mild during the day (in the 70’s F or 20’s
C) but often fall below freezing at night. Saudi Arabia lacks permanent
rivers and lakes and must rely heavily on groundwater. Jeddah is on the coast of the
Red Sea and therefore enjoys a slightly humid climate in
summer.It becomes less humid in winter. Makkah is about 70 kilometers
inland. It has an escarpment around it. The only natural
source of drinking water is from the well of Zam Zam.
Most of the water from bore holes and wells is brackish,
unfit for human consumption.Because of the escarpment,
the climate is dry and harsh. There is very little
vegetation in and around Makkah due to the low rainfall.
The Great Arabian Desert is all around Makkah.The
climate is dry. Temperaturesare extremely high,usually
in the forty degree Celsius range and sometimes going
into the fifties in summer.Even in winter, it is hot! It
is sometimes referred to as the hottest place on earth! Medinah is situated about 500
kilometers north and is about 150 kilometers from the
coast.It is a large oasis with the Great Arabian Desert
all around it.Because of the numerous wells providing
excellent drinking water, it has date orchards spreading
out on to the outskirts of the city. The climate is dry
and hot, the temperatures not reaching as high as in
Makkah. In winter, it can become cool to cold especially
around Tahadjud and Fajr times. Since the climate of Medinah
is less hot and dry than that of Makkah,spending 8-10
days in Medinah before coming to Makkah helps to allow
our bodies to acclimatize.
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