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How much precipitation does the northern Sahara Desert receive each year?

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sand dunes — Sahara Sand dunes in the Sahara, near Merzouga, Morocco.

The northern Sahara Desert receives an average of approximately 3 inches (76 mm) of precipitation per year.1

While this annual average is consistent, rainfall in the region is highly variable. Most of this precipitation occurs between December and March, with a secondary maximum in August characterized by thunderstorms that can occasionally trigger flash floods. Snowfall is also known to occur sporadically over the northern plateaus.1