Does the Sahara Desert's climate stay consistent?
The Sahara's climate was determined over 5 million years ago during the Pliocene Epoch. The Sahara is said to have short-to medium-length dry and humid conditions. The Desert's climate consists of a dry subtropical climate in the north and a dry tropical climate in the south.
Dry, Subtropical Climate:
This climate is caused by constant high-pressure cells over the tropic of Cancer. For desert conditions, the winters are cool with an average temperature of 55°F (13°C). The summers are extremely hot with the highest ever recorded temperature at 136°F (58°C). The average rainfall is about 3 inches per year. In the Sahara Desert, precipitation falls between March and December, with the maximum of rain falling in August and almost no rain during May and June. The August storms tend to create flash floods that bring water to parts of the desert that don't get any precipitation. The infrequent rain is usually torrential.
Dry, Tropical Climate:
The Southern tropical region of the Sahara's climate is dictated by a stable continental air mass and an unstable marine air mass. The average temperautre for this region is 86°F (30°C). The average annual precipitation is about 5 inches per year which includes some snow in the higher elevations. The cold Canary Current in the western part of the tropical region reduces the amount of rainfall, lowers the average temperature, and increases the possibility of fog and humidity.
This climate is caused by constant high-pressure cells over the tropic of Cancer. For desert conditions, the winters are cool with an average temperature of 55°F (13°C). The summers are extremely hot with the highest ever recorded temperature at 136°F (58°C). The average rainfall is about 3 inches per year. In the Sahara Desert, precipitation falls between March and December, with the maximum of rain falling in August and almost no rain during May and June. The August storms tend to create flash floods that bring water to parts of the desert that don't get any precipitation. The infrequent rain is usually torrential.
Dry, Tropical Climate:
The Southern tropical region of the Sahara's climate is dictated by a stable continental air mass and an unstable marine air mass. The average temperautre for this region is 86°F (30°C). The average annual precipitation is about 5 inches per year which includes some snow in the higher elevations. The cold Canary Current in the western part of the tropical region reduces the amount of rainfall, lowers the average temperature, and increases the possibility of fog and humidity.
Seasons:
The northern part of the desert is subtropical and has cold winters and two rainy seasons. The dry southern desert has a rainy season and a mild, dry winter. Rainfall in either half is never very significant, numbering less than 5 inches for an entire year. When the rain does come, though, it comes sometimes with a ferocity. Amazingly, some people have been known to drown in the Sahara because of the sweeping floods that often accompany a freak rainstorm that showers a sandy plain.