What rain there is tends to arrive in short, sharp bursts rather than steady drizzle, and a single thunderstorm can drop a large share of the annual total in an hour.
When does it rain?
The wet season runs from late autumn through spring. November, then March and April, are typically the wettest months, while the summer from June to September is almost completely dry. Year-to-year totals vary enormously: a single wet spring can deliver far more than an entire dry year.
Across the wider Riyadh Region the pattern is similar, though the higher western highlands toward Afif and Dawadmi tend to collect a little more rain than the lower, hotter south toward the Empty Quarter.
Thunderstorms and flash floods
Because the rain is intense and the dry ground absorbs little of it, Riyadh’s downpours can cause sudden flooding. Water runs off hard desert surfaces and roads and gathers fast in the wadis and low underpasses — Wadi Hanifah, which threads through the western city, can change from a dry bed to a running stream in hours.
During heavy rain, avoid driving through flooded underpasses and valley crossings, and follow Civil Defence advice. The live forecast and 7-day outlook on each page flag the days when rain and storms are likely.