Extreme heat and
aridity are characteristic of most of Saudi Arabia.
The average temperature range in January is 8° to
20°C (47° to 68°F) in Riyadh and 19°
to 29°C (66° to 83°F) in Jiddah. The average
range in July is 27° to 43°C (81° to 109°F)
in Riyadh and 27°to 38°C (80°to 100°F)
in Jiddah. The Arabian Peninsula is one of the few places
in the world where summer temperatures above 48°C
(120°F) are common, while in winter frost or snow
can occur in the interior and the higher mountains.
Precipitation is sparse throughout the country. Annual
rainfall in Riyadh averages 100 mm (4 in) and falls
almost exclusively between January and May; the average
in Jiddah is 54 mm (2.1 in) and occurs between November
and January. Because of the general aridity, Saudi Arabia
has no permanent rivers or lakes.
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