Climate Zones of Southwest Asia

Southwest Asia spans diverse climates:

• Hot Desert – Arabian Peninsula (Rub' al Khali, Nafud): >50°C summers, minimal rain.
• Mediterranean – Levant, Black Sea coast: hot dry summers, cool wet winters.
• Semi-Arid – Parts of Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan: hot summers, cool wet winters.
• Continental – Interior Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan: hot summers, cold snowy winters.
• Highland – Mountain zones: cool wet summers, cold snowy winters.

Topography and latitude create sharp microclimatic contrasts.