Desert regions, for the most part, are areas characterized by long, hot summers, with daytime temperatures oftentimes exceeding 100 degrees F. Normally, desert regions are located in areas of the world that experience strong high pressure systems that block cooler, wetter weather from occurring.
Desert regions, due to their high overall temperature profiles and lack of meaningful cold weather systems, generally exhibit low humidity levels, or dry air, on a consistent basis throughout the year. Dry air contributes to the overall lack of vegetation and tree cover that exists in desert regions.
Generally, desert regions throughout the world receive paltry rainfall amounts, amounts rarely above 3 to 4 inches per year. This lack of rainfall is influenced by many climactic and topographic factors, including land masses, proximity to large bodies of water and the prevalence of high pressure systems.
Thunderstorm activity, including flash floods and frequent lightning strikes, are common weather patterns in desert regions due to the rapid heating of the land and the subsequent rising of hot air into the atmosphere, a process that can produce large, powerful cumulonimbus clouds. These clouds are associated with powerful, violent thunderstorm activity.
Due to the rapid heating of the land during the day and the rapid cooling of the land at night, a process that creates large air pressure differences, desert regions generally experience high winds on a consistent basis. Large air pressure differences create high winds, as winds flow rapidly from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure.
