Weatherwatch: Oman's hot, dry climate has rainy exceptions

Jebel Akhdar, a mountain range in the north of Oman, receives up to 500mm of rain a yearThe gulf state of Oman may be mostly desert, with an annual rainfall of less than 135mm (5in), but there is one exception to this. In the north, the mountain range of Jebel Akhdar, which rises to just over 3,000 metres (10,000ft), receives as much as 500mm (20in) of rainfall, spread fairly evenly throughout the year.Just over 20 degrees north of the equator, and bisected by the tropic of cancer, Oman's overall climate is mostly hot and dry in summer and warm in winter, with any rainfall in the lowland areas occurring between the months of October and April. The capital, Muscat, is fairly typical with summer temperatures usually between 36C and 38C, while in winter it is a more pleasant 20C to 25C. Continue reading...