Qatar / Climate

The average winter temperatures are from 20 -30 C, while during the hot, humid summers the thermometer frequently registers over 40C.

The winter months are generally October through April, with the remaining period suffering from blistering heat and high humidity.

These climactic conditions give rise to sparse vegetation throughout the country and poor soil conditions, capable of sustaining a bare minimum of plant life. Those with a serious interest in desert flora will be pleasantly surprised by the variety to be found in Qatar. To the layman, however, the place looks dry and brown most of the time, while the infrequent rain showers cause the almost instantaneous growth of greenery - the desert literally seems to bloom for a few days. The little agriculture that is practiced in the country survives only through irrigation, and even the date palms that are liberally scattered throughout the towns and in "farming" areas owe their existence to frequent watering. There are a few underground wells providing limited water for irrigation in the central part of the peninsula, but most of the water comes from desalination plants.