The coolest months are December through March, when the mountains receive thunderstorms, rain, hailstorms and occasional snow, particularly at higher elevations.

[1] The natural vegetation types include shrubland and open woodland and the flora varies with elevation and underlying geology.

Ziziphus spina-christi, Prosopis cineraria, Vachellia tortilis and Ficus salicifolia and other species of fig are found in seasonal watercourses (wadis).

Between 1,800 and 2,000 metres elevation, Prunus arabica forms woodlands with Ephedra pachyclada and a dense ground layer of the shrub Artemisia sieberi.

[5] Endemic and near-endemic species include Herniaria maskatensis, Pteropyrum scoparium, Rumex limoniastrum, Dionysia mira, Tephrosia haussknechtii, Searsia aucheri, Polygala mascatensis, Convolvulus ulicinus, Teucrium mascatense, Verbascum akdarense, Iphiona horrida,[6] Schweinfurthia imbricata,[7] and Ziziphus hajarensis.

[8] Wider-ranging native species include Limonium axillare, Ochradiscus aucheri, Sideroxylon mascatense, Convolvulus virgatus, Salvia macilenta, Viola cinerea, Cometes surattensis, Capparis spinosa var.

Other large mammals occur in small numbers, including the Mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella), particularly in the Wadi Sareen Reserve, Arabian wolf (Canis lupus arabs), striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) and Arabian wildcat (Felis lybica lybica).

Resident birds include lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotus), Arabian partridge (Alectoris melanocephala), sand partridge (Ammoperdix heyi), pallid scops owl (Otus brucei), hooded wheatear (Oenanthe monacha) and Hume's wheatear (Oenanthe alboniger).