The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". }(document)); This website uses cookies. If you prefer to visit Morocco in a quieter season, youll find fewer crowds all over Morocco in February as its the shoulder season. March marks the first month of spring where temperatures range from 26 C to 15 cm on average (~15-59 degrees Fahrenheit). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The Sahara Desert is 3,600,000 square miles (9,200,000 square kilometers) of arid land stretched across the northern half of Africa, coming in just slightly smaller in size than the continental United States. Since 1995, joint Mongolian-American and Mongolian-European expeditions have also investigated the tectonic history and landscape evolution of the Gobi. If you venture into the heart of the Atacama Desert (the world's driest desert), you will find the town of Quillagua; the driest place in the world. The unique weather and climate of Antarctica provide the basis for its familiar appellationsHome of the Blizzard and White Desert. In Egypt they are known as the khamsin, in Libya as the ghibli, and in Tunisia as the chili. Erfoud Dates Festival. RELATED CONTENT: Our guide to everything you need to know before travelling to Morocco. Heres how it works. Hot. Mawazine Festival. To help you decide when to travel to Morocco and the Sahara Desert, read our month-by-month guide to discover the weather and the best events throughout the year. The average daily temperature in Marrakesh is around 28C, but temperatures can range from 15C and 35C from the mountains to the desert. People have adapted to life in the desert for thou sands of years. Sahara is considered one of the hottest deserts in the world, however, the temperatures arent constant and they vary based on the area. Held on 18 November, this day commemorates the day Morocco gained independence from Spain and France in 1956. The northernmost latitudes are arid subtropical and have two rainy seasons, while the southern latitudes are tropical and have one rainy season. What Electric Power Plugs Are Used in Morocco. Monthly Temperature and Precipitation from 1970 - 2000. Some locations in the Sahara Desert such as Kufra, Libya record an even drier 0.86mm (0.034in) of rainfall annually. The Sahara: Earth's largest hot desert | Live Science Of course, weather varies across the regionthe Sahara stretches across one-third of Africabut here, in the desert's northwest, days are long and hot, with highs in the mid-90s and lows in the mid-70s. Africa & The Middle East | Destination Guides, Africa & The Middle East | People & Stories. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Sahara Desert Temperature // How Hot is the Sahara Desert? - THINK MOROCCO If youre dreaming of some winter sun, December is a great time to visit Morocco. The precipitation threshold (in millimetres) involves first multiplying the average annual temperature in C by 20, then adding 280 if 70% or more of the total precipitation is in the high-sun summer half of the year (April through September in the Northern Hemisphere, or October through March in the Southern), or 140 if 3070% of the total precipitation is received during the applicable period, or 0 if less than 30% of the total precipitation is so received there. A number of geographic expeditions were launched by the Russians and British; and, though the main focus of these expeditions was the Takla Makan, most of them also went through the Gobi, where basic mapping and some study of the flora and fauna were conducted. Desert biomes are the driest of all the biomes. Both of these criteria are applicable to the southwestern half of the Kalahari. Examine how continuous climate change impacts the Sahara and its vegetation, Investigate the impact of sand particles of the Sahara on the Earth's climate. Rodents include marmots and gophers, and there are reptiles. Ouzoud Falls If you want to ski, head to Ifrane, a small resort town known as little Switzerland due to its gorgeous mountain scenery. Almond Blossom Festival in Tafraoute. two wet seasons; one from December until March and another from July to August). 1st mega-tsunami on record since antiquity was triggered by Tonga volcanic eruption, 'Mind boggling' array of 19,000 undersea volcanoes discovered with high-resolution radar satellites. Cold desert climates (BWk) usually feature hot (or warm in a few instances), dry summers, though summers are not typically as hot as hot desert climates. (function (d) { Harry is a U.K.-based staff writer at Live Science. Its mild enough to go sightseeing around the cities and warm enough to visit the Atlantic coast. The temperatures can still reach up to 33C so its still a great time to go to the beach. In these locations, stable descending air and high pressure aloft clear clouds and create hot, arid conditions with intense sunshine. The 12 Best Casablanca Beaches The typically bald, rocky, or sandy surfaces in desert climates are dry and hold little moisture, quickly evaporating the already little rainfall they receive. The area of greatest cultural interest in the Gobi has been the Mogao Caves complex, a series of Buddhist cave-temples near the city of Dunhuang in Gansu province, China; the complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. This includes the record of 56.7C (134.1F) in Death Valley, which is currently considered the highest temperature recorded on Earth. The Sahara desert has been hit by an icy blast with temperatures dipping below freezing. To improve your online experience, we use cookies for enhanced functionality and analytics. It covers about a third of Africas landmass! "There's a lot of different places to go to be warmer or cooler, especially when you're small," DeNardo told Live Science. Perennials survive for several years by becoming dormant and flourishing when water is available. Its not a great time to visit the Sahara Desert due to the scorching temperatures and influx of snakes and insects. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Still, the Moroccan Sahara is not a place to visit casually or spontaneously: to have the best experience in this far-flung region, it's best to plan well ahead of time. Though hot in the summer, it shares the very cold winters of the rest of Inner Asia. Although no part of Earth is known for certain to be absolutely rainless ever, in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, the average annual rainfall over a period of 17 years was only just 5 millimetres (0.20in). The coldest months in the Sahara Desert are January and December. It is even home to some people, with several major cities located there, including Egypts Cairo, Libyas Tripoli, and Malis Timbuktu. // embed.js CDN What Is A Riad? The weather continues to cool down in October, making this month a popular time for tourists. Youll get a real Moroccan experience here with folklore art and music, traditional horse riding performances, and more. As in the north, much of this rainfall occurs as thunderstorms. This story was updated at 5:00 AM ET on Feb. 22 to fix a Fahrenheit to Celsius conversion. However, large warm blooded, or endothermic mammals, like camels, are too big to hide away from the sun and can't let their body temperature drop. Hot desert climates (BWh) are typically found under the subtropical ridge in the lower middle latitudes or the subtropics, often between 20 and 33 north and south latitudes. Despite these rapid temperature swings, desert animals are well adapted for the desert's extreme temperature changes. Scientific study of the complexes began with the discovery in 1907 of the caves by the Hungarian-British archaeologist and geographer Aurel Stein. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. We are so glad we wen", "Out tour guides and driver Yassine were incredible. For other uses, see, "Updated world map of the Kppen-Geiger climate classification", "Weather - Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service)", "Why are polar regions not considered deserts? The summers in the Sahara Desert are very humid, and temperatures can reach 122 degrees Fahrenheit during summer. Saguaro cacti infront of the Mazatzal Mountains in Pheonix, Arizona. Indeed, Lakes Orog and Bntsagaan, in the easternmost Mongolian Altai, and Lake Ulaan, in the northwestern Gobi Altai, are but shadows of their former selves. Technically, it's the coldest month of the year in Morocco, but you won't need heavier clothing until after dark, when the temperatures fall into the high 30s or lower 40s. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Spring continues into April, with lovely temperatures ranging from 15C to 27C depending on the region. From the ", Traveled to Morocco as a group in April, 2023, "Soufiane, our driver and day-to-day guide, had excellent food recommendations, kept us hydrated with fresh water in the car each day, and was a friendly and ", "Late to review. The Absheron Peninsula in eastern Azerbaijan is also an example of a cold desert climate. Kelaat-MGouna, known as the valley of roses, hosts this annual festival every year in May. SidmartinBio", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Desert_climate&oldid=1150209265, This page was last edited on 16 April 2023, at 22:03. Be aware that spring sandstorms are common in the Sahara Desert during March. The average daytime temperature in the Sahara Desert is 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not store any personal data. Desert climate - Wikipedia If you're taking a day trip to the Sahara Desert in North Africa, you're going to want to bring a lot of water and plenty of sunscreen. The dry tropical climate is characterized by a strong annual temperature cycle following the declination of the sun; mild, dry winters; and a hot dry season preceding variable summer rains. RELATED CONTENT: 12 quarantine-free travel experiences to try in 2021. The traditional living quarters of the Mongol nomads are felt yurts and orgers (types of tent), while the Chinese farmers live in clay homes built from crude brick. Northerly and northwesterly winds prevail over the Gobi in autumn, winter, and spring. Livestock raising is mainly nomadic, and herds move several times a year, migrating as much as 120 miles (190 km) between extreme points. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. Hot desert climates are found across vast areas of North Africa, Western Asia, northwestern parts of the Indian Subcontinent, interior Australia, the Southwestern United States, northern Mexico, the coast of Peru, and Chile. This symmetry is, however, imperfect because of a third factorthe great east . Winters are relatively cold in the northern regions and cool in the central Sahara. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. Youll find all kinds of festivities from decorated mosques to market stalls selling traditional snacks and crafts. A desert is actually just a place that has very little precipitation. If youre heading to the Sahara Desert, youll get mild daytime temperatures, but the nights will be very cold, so bring your warmest clothes! Useful mineral deposits are scant, but salt, coal, petroleum, copper and other ores are mined. In 2018 there was 40cm (15in) of snow. A desert is actually just a place that has very little precipitation. October means chilly fall temperatures in some parts of the Sahara. Youll also witness many cultural traditions of the Amazigh (Berber) people who live here, plus youll get to taste the delicious products made with almonds. Clear. Several studies of the rocks in the region indicate that the Sahara became established as a climatic desert approximately 23 million years ago, an interval that spanned from the late Pliocene to the early Pleistocene Epoch. During winter, temperatures in the Sahara Desert are about 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 C) on average. Incredible Earth: $22.99 at Magazines Direct (opens in new tab). During the same period, U.S. and European expeditions conducted paleontological research on exceptionally preserved dinosaur fossil assemblages in the desert dating to Late Cretaceous times (i.e., about 100 million to 66 million years ago). Summers in South America's Atacama Desert are mild with only slight temperature variations between seasons. A noteworthy departure from existing norms occurred from the 16th to the 18th century, the period of the so-called Little Ice Age in Europe: precipitation increased significantly along the tropical margin of the Sahara, in the desert itself, and perhaps along the northern margin as well. The reason that arid deserts dry regions covering about 35% of Earth's land get so hot, and subsequently so cold, is a combination of two key factors: sand and humidity. The dry subtropical climate of the northern Sahara is caused by stable high-pressure cells centred over the Tropic of Cancer. The drainage of the desert is largely underground; surface rivers have little constant flow. Snowy conditions make much of the High Atlas mountains impassable and snow falls heavily in many of the smaller villages. The Ladakh region, and the city of Leh in the Great Himalayas in India also have a cold desert climate. August is another scorching month with daytime temperatures reaching the mid-40Cs. Skiing. Do camels really have water in their humps? How we predict the weather? t.src = 'https://' + cdn + '/media/js/common/plugin_goconnect_embed.js'; Has the Earth ever been this hot before? "The bigger challenge is getting enough food and water to survive.". Hot desert climates can be found in the deserts of North Africa such as the wide Sahara Desert, the Libyan Desert or the Nubian Desert; deserts of the Horn of Africa such as the Danakil Desert or the Grand Bara Desert; deserts of Southern Africa such as the Namib Desert or the Kalahari Desert; deserts of Western Asia such as the Arabian Desert, the Syrian Desert or the Dasht-e Lut; deserts of South Asia such as Dasht-e Kavir or the Thar Desert of India and Pakistan; deserts of the United States and Mexico such as the Mojave Desert, the Sonoran Desert or the Chihuahuan Desert; deserts of Australia such as the Simpson Desert or the Great Victoria Desert and many other regions.[7]. Planning A Moroccan Wedding A narrow strip of the western coastal zone has a relatively cool, uniform temperature reflecting the influence of the cold Canary Current. Desert . Its not hard to imagine how quickly temperatures plummet when there isnt any sunshine! The Sahara has rocky plateaus as well as sand dunes. Unlike hot desert climates, cold desert climates tend to feature cold, dry winters. January is one of the coldest months there with an average temperature of 14C (57F). Summer arrives in June and so does the heat. The temperature varies dramatically from day to night here daytime temperatures often hover around 120 degrees Fahrenheit while nighttime lows drop below freezing. However, very rarely do temperatures drop far below freezing under the hot subtype. The Sahara is a dry place, but it gets chilly at night. Subtropical deserts like the Sahara are what people generally imagine when they think about the desert. You cant turn around without running into sand dunes that are as high as 300 feet tall with peaks sometimes reaching an elevation over 1 mile off sea level. The reason that arid deserts dry regions covering about 35% of Earth's land get so hot, and subsequently so cold, is a combination of two key factors: sand and humidity. Saudi Arabia also experienced snow in 2018 and locals had fun with sleighs and snowballs. A photographer has captured images of camels after a snowfall in the Tabuk region in northwestern Saudi Arabia. January is the coldest month in Saudi Arabia, with the mercury hitting an average of 20.2C. The hot summer nights are especially magical with lively markets and events. In the Gobi, particularly its semidesert sections, livestock raising is the main economic activity, sheep and goats constituting more than half of the total herds. Since January is a shoulder season, its a quieter time of year for tourism. Where is the hottest place on Earth and what's the highest - The Sun NY 10036. Based on fossil evidence, the Sahara and Antarctica appear to have been the homes of many plants and animals in the past. Processes used to mine certain ores in large quantities, notably copper, also have increased contamination of the groundwater at other sites. In North America the cold desert climate occurs in the drier parts of the Great Basin Desert and in the Bighorn Basin in Big Horn and Washakie County in Wyoming. Cold deserts are areas whose mean annual temperatures fall below the isotherm. A significant example is phosphate contamination of the groundwater caused by chemical fertilizer manufacture in the Hohhot area, which has adversely affected local herds. THE SAHARA desert has been hit by an icy blast with temperatures dipping below freezing. Subtropical deserts like the Sahara are what people generally imagine when they think about the desert. Hot-month average temperatures are normally between 29 and 35 C (84 and 95 F), and midday readings of 43-46 C (109-115 F) are common. In fact the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134F (56.6C) in California and Nevada's Death Valley. Since the 1950s, population increase and the overuse of marginal lands have decreased vegetation cover and increased soil erosion, resulting in an overall expansion of the desert area of the Gobi at the expense of semiarid grasslands on the fringes. The daytime temperature averages 38C while in some deserts it can get down to -4C at night. Deserts are landscapes that receive little precipitation. The main occupation of the inhabitants is nomadic cattle raising, though agriculture is predominant in regions where the Chinese are concentrated. The average temperature in April ranges from 27C (80.6F) 16 C (60.8 F). var t = d.createElement('script'); And as autumn rolls in, the Sahara Desert also becomes much more manageable. Sahara desert hit by icy blast as snow blankets parts of Saudi Arabia In comparison to summer months, when the heat can be dangerous in the Sahara, January is a great time for outdoor activities. Moroccan Highlights: Fes, the Sahara Desert, & Marrakech - 6 Days This whirlwind trip takes you to Morocco's top attractions, including Fes, the Sahara Desert, and Marrakech. If you're prepared for cold and snow, you could also plan to spend a day skiing in the nearby Atlas mountains. All rights reserved. The Sahara is one of the harshest environments on . The annual range in average daily temperatures in the dry tropical regions of the Sahara is approximately 31.5 F (17.5 C). Its usually held in March in the Draa Valley. But when the weather turns cold during winter months in northern parts of the desert, its usually very harsh and can get as low as -36 to -52F (-33 C). By far the coldest continent, Antarctica has winter temperatures that range from 128.6 F (89.2 C), the world's lowest recorded temperature, measured at Vostok Station (Russia) on July 21, 1983, on the high inland ice sheet to 76 F (60 C . National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036. In arid deserts like the Sahara and the Atacama Desert in Chile, the humidity the amount of water vapor in the air is practically zero, and unlike sand, water has a huge capacity to store heat. There is almost no vegetation in Antarctica, so the animals that live there are mostly carnivores, such as penguins, albatrosses, whales, and seals. There are two variations of a desert climate according to the Kppen climate classification: a hot desert climate (BWh), and a cold desert climate (BWk). Average temperatures for the coldest months are essentially the same as they are for the subtropical zone to the north, but the diurnal range is more moderate. NASA Goddard Space In the 1980s industrialization in the Gobi intensified environmental pollution. Tan-Tan Moussem (Festival). RELATED CONTENT: All the different types of music you can look forward to on your next trip to Morocco. The northern parts of the desert experience cold winters, while central areas and warm to mild weather during wintertime. As the last month of spring, the weather starts getting warmer and sunnier in May. Earth Day Connections: NASA Study Predicts Less Saharan Dust in Future var cdn = window.StacklaGoConnectConfig ? A post shared by Visit Morocco (@visit_morocco_).