Qatar's climate is characterized by mild winters and very hot summers with temperatures reaching over 40 degrees (elsius, 104 Fahrenheit. Many residents choose to leave the country during the months of July and August as these are the hottest months of the year as well as the most humid. A piece of advice is if you're coming to Qatar any time soon, try to avoid these two months as much as possible. If you are planning to reside here for some time then it is advisable to plan your annual vacation between the months of July and August. In recent years the government has been trying to encourage people to stay in the country during the hot summer season by organizing summer festivals that include shopping promotions and entertainment for families.

During the summer the humidity sometimes reaches over 80%, however, this Gulf emirate doesn't really experience the continuous oppressive high humidity found in some of the other Gulf countries.

Doha's winter from late October until late March is extremely pleasant both during the day and evening. Rainfall is scarce, averaging 70mm per year, and falling on isolated days in the winter season. According to Qatar's Tourism Authority, the temperatures during the summer range from 38°( (100.4 F) to 42°( (107.6 F) during the day and fall to 18°( (64.4 F) at night. Winter temperatures can reach 34°( (93.2 F) during the day, dropping to 100( (50 F) at night.

As you would expect in a country with such an arid climate the variety of flora and fauna in Qatar is somewhat limited. Much of the country consists of sand dunes, rocky hills, gravel plains and expanses of sabkha (salt flats) with little or no vegetation. Qatar has no rivers or lakes, although after heavy rainfall water may gather in wadis. There are some greener areas with plants, grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees (mostly acacia trees and Iycium bushes) though, and after a spell of rain a previously barren stretch of desert can spring to life. There are also coastal wetland areas, with extensive mangrove woodlands.

Creatures that may be encountered in the wild include the Ethiopian Hedgehog, the Arabian Red Fox, jirds, jerboas, and various species of reptiles including snakes, geckos, and the Spiny-tailed Lizard (or Dhab). Qatar also has a number of resident and migratory bird species, including gulls, cormorants, herons, flamingos, egrets and terns. A number of uninhabited offshore islands act as important breeding grounds for birds.

The warm waters of the Arabian Gulf are home to a rich variety of marine life. Studies have recorded around 150 species of fish, in addition to dolphins, whales, and porpoises. The region is home to Green and Hawksbill turtles and a significant population of the endangered Dugong, or sea-cow.

The Supreme Council for the Environment & Natural Reserves (SCENR, www.qatarenv.org) was set up in 2000 with the purpose of protecting the environment, conserving endangered species of wildlife, and protecting their natural habitats. With the continuing population growth and the country's massive investment in hydrocarbon industries, Qatar's environment is clearly under threat. These threats include spillage of oil, gas and hazardous chemicals, and production facilities damaging the marine environment. However, while Qatar currently has no national parks or protected areas officially designated for nature conservation, the SCENR and the gas and oil companies do have programmers in place to monitor the local environment and minimize their impact on it. Qatar gas achieved ISO 14001 certification (for environmental protection and management) in 2000, and Qatar Petroleum has initiated schemes to conserve Qatar's mangroves and protect the sea turtle population.

Qatar is a signatory to a number of environmental conventions, including the Bio-diversity Convention and the 1969 Kuwait and 1971 Brussels conventions.