the eastern and southern deserts On these days—which are called by the names of the winds, hamsin, sirocco, or sharav—the temperature often rises 25ºF above normal, and the relative humidity can drop by as much as 40 percent. Hamsin conditions can be very enervating to both humans and beasts, and they completely dry up the beautiful flowers and grasses that covered the landscape during the winter months (Isa 40:7–8). The positive effect of these winds, however, is that the hot, dry weather aids