Why are droughts common in Libya’s steppe and desert regions?

Droughts are common in Libya’s steppe and desert regions primarily due to the country’s arid climate, which is dominated by the Sahara.

Inland from the Mediterranean coast, annual precipitation declines significantly and becomes increasingly variable. While the northern coastal regions receive some moisture from winter cyclonic storms, the steppe and Saharan zones receive very little rainfall—often less than 4 inches (100 mm) and 1 inch (25 mm) annually, respectively. This inherent aridity is further exacerbated by the ghibli, a hot, dry wind that blows from the south, causing rapid drops in relative humidity and increasing heat stress across the landscape.1

Because these regions rely on limited and highly irregular rainfall, the lack of consistent moisture leads to periodic droughts that can persist for several years.1