Jeddah's December temperature is getting increasingly hotter

Growing up in Jeddah, December has always been a month of chillier and nicer weather, where my family enjoyed outdoor outings by the corniche or in the backyard, grilling corn and chestnuts. The “winter” would last from late November to mid-late February. Over the past decade, this period has become less “wintery.” Like the rest of the world, average temperature has been rising. the average temperature has risen over the last decades. This year is no different. We have seen record-breaking temperatures all over the globe. Jeddah and the region are no different. This December has already seen temperatures well above the average in recent decades. Since 2000, December average temperature has risen by ~ 1°C.

Looking at the rest of the country, Jeddah did not witness the highest temperature increases when comparing December averages in the 50s and 60s to the average over the past ~13 years. Jeddah only comes at the 43rd percentile regarding increases in December average temperature (1.48°C). Al Sulayimi in Ha’il province ranks the highest with a 2.45°C increase in average December temperature. Al Harth in Jizan has the lowest increase, with a 0.45°C increase in average December temperature.

Looking at the two most populated cities in the Kingdom, both Jeddah and Riyadh have witnessed increases in average monthly temperature throughout the year. The climate profiles for these two cities differ. Riyadh’s desert climate means winters are much colder than Jeddah’s, and summers are much hotter. On the other hand, Jeddah’s average temperature does not change considerably throughout the year, and the weather is more humid.

What does shifting temperature mean? Rising temperatures have a multifaceted impact on earth systems. This year, oceans have seen numerous heatwaves. Rising ocean temperatures can disrupt marine ecosystems. Warming ocean surface temperature could also influence tropical cyclones. Higher temperatures can also contribute to increases in wildfire risks. All of these ramifications have downstream impacts on humans and human systems.

What is driving this? Aside from human-induced climate change, other contributing factors include the arrival of Elniño, rules aimed at limiting air pollution from maritime shipping, and last year’s Tonga volcanic eruption.

Let us hope January and February bring much cooler temperatures with them!