Between December and February, nighttime temperatures in the Sahara can
drop below freezing.

The Sahara is not always hot. The northern African desert can reach below
freezing temperatures from December through February due to the desert’s
lack of humidity. The desert’s sand dunes also accumulate snow, similar
to a mountaintop. Freezing temperatures are not the norm, as the Sahara is
typically one of the hottest places on Earth. It is home to the record for
highest temperature of all time, when the desert in Azizia, Libya reached
136 degrees Fahrenheit (57.78 degrees Celsius) in 1922. In addition to its
harsh temperatures, the Sahara is prone to hurricane level wind speeds that
can cause sandstorms. While the desert only receives from half an inch
(1.27 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm) of rain per year, it often occurs as
torrential downpours.