Monterrey, Nuevo León: Semi-Arid Climate in the Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion

Monterrey lies in northern Mexico, foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, within the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion. Climate is semi-arid: hot summers, mild winters, average 20°C (68°F), ~500 mm annual rain. Vegetation: scrublands, grasslands, desert plants (creosote bush, ocotillo, Texas madrone, sotol, candelilla, prickly pear). Fauna: coyote, white-tailed deer, bobcat, Mexican gray wolf, jackrabbit; birds (cardinal, cactus wren, roadrunner, golden eagle); reptiles (horned lizard, Gila monster, rattlesnakes).