As of 2014, the highest recorded temperature in the Sahara Desert is 136 degrees Fahrenheit. According to About.com, the average annual temperature is 86 degrees Fahrenheit, although temperatures can exceed 122 degrees Fahrenheit during the hottest months.
The Sahara Desert has one of the harshest environments on the Earth. Sand storms and dust devils happen frequently because of strong northeasterly winds. Rain occurs rarely and is usually torrential.
Contrary to the popular belief that it is extremely sandy, the Sahara Desert consists primarily of rocky plateaus. At 3.6 million square miles, it is the world's largest hot desert and the third-largest desert overall.
