Climate - Azerbaijan

Index

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• Introduction
• The coast - Baku, Lenkoran
• Inland areas - Ganja
• Nakhchivan
• Best Time
• What to pack

Introduction

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In Azerbaijan, the climate is slightly continental, with relatively cold winters and hot summers; it is also arid in most of the low-lying areas, while it is colder and generally rainier in the mountains. The coast on the Caspian Sea is semi-arid in the northern part and arid in the center (see Baku), while it is rainy in the southernmost stretch, which is therefore an exception to the rule that the plains of Azerbaijan are arid.
Winter in Azerbaijan is cold but not freezing, at least in the plains. The Caucasus Mountain Range partially protects the interior of the country from outbreaks of cold air from Russia, in fact, the north wind descending from the mountains is warm and dry, similar to the Foehn or Chinook, while along the coast, the cold wind blows intensely but it's tempered by the Caspian Sea. In winter, however, there may be some light snowfalls and frosts on the coast, but especially in inland areas, where cold air stagnates with more ease, after the wind has ceased.
Summer is hot and sunny, with some afternoon thunderstorms in inland areas.
The mountainous areas are usually green and full of forests and streams; the highest peak is Bazardüzü, 4,466 meters (14,652 feet) high, located in the northern Caucasus Range, on the border with the Russian Republic of Dagestan. There are also some natural parks located in the plain and along the coast, to protect the species of birds that come to nest in these area, or marine animals such as seals.

The coast

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Baku

The capital, Baku, lies on the coast, 28 meters (92 feet) below sea level (in fact, the Caspian Sea is a large lake located in a depression). Here, the daily average temperature ranges from 4 °C (39.5 °F) in February to 26.5 °C (79.5 °F) in July. Here are the average temperatures.

Summer is hot and sunny, with highs around 30 °C (86 °F). In the cold months, cold air masses of polar origin can bring strong winds. Baku is actually a windy city: the Khazri (cold northern wind) alternates with the Gilavar (warm wind from the south), in addition to the summer breeze.
The rains are scarce, at a semi-desert level, in fact, they amount to just 210 millimeters (8.5 inches) per year, with a maximum between autumn and winter, when they are light but relatively frequent, and a minimum in summer. Here is the average precipitation.

In Baku, the sun does not shine very often in winter, while in summer, from June to August, it shines regularly. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea temperature is warm enough for swimming from July to September, when it exceeds 23 °C (73 °F), while it's still cool in June.

Lenkoran

In the southern part of the coast, Lenkoran (or Lankaran) has more or less the same temperature as Baku, but it's much more rainy because it's located at the foothills of the Talysh Range, which forces air masses to rise and condense in clouds. In fact, rainfall amounts to 1,150 mm (45 in) per year, with a maximum between September and November. The rains are still quite abundant until March, and at times, even snowfalls can be heavy in winter. Here is the average precipitation.

Inland areas

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Ganja

In the interior of the country, we find Ganja, which is located at 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level, and whose climate is a bit more continental, in fact, the daily average temperature ranges from 2 °C (35 °F) in January to 26 °C (79 °F) in July. In summer, the temperature can reach 40 °C (104 °F), while in winter, it can drop to -15 °C (5 °F).

Rainfall in Ganja is not abundant, since it amounts to 300 millimeters (12 inches) per year, but it is slightly more abundant than in Baku. Here is the average precipitation.

Nakhchivan

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Outside the borders of the country, between Armenia and Iran, there is a small exclave of Azerbaijan, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The climate is arid here as well, but it becomes definitely continental because of the distance from the sea. Hence, in Nakhchivan, the capital of the republic, 900 meters (2,950 feet) above sea level, the average temperature ranges from -3 °C (26.5 °F) in January to 27 °C (80.5 °F) in July. In winter, the temperature easily drops to -20 °C (-4 °F), while in summer, it easily reaches 40 °C (104 °F).

The amount of precipitation is low, around 265 mm (10.5 in) per year, with a maximum in spring and a minimum in summer. In winter, a snow layer, though usually not thick, often lies on the ground. Here is the average precipitation.

Best Time

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The best times to travel to Azerbaijan are spring and autumn, and in particular, the months of May and October, although in October, it rains a lot in the southern city of Lenkoran. September is usually a good month as well, in Baku and the main territory, while the exclave of Nakhchivan can still be hot in this month.

What to pack

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In winter: in Baku, in the plains and on the coast, bring warm clothes, such as a sweater, a jacket, a hat, and a raincoat or umbrella. In high mountains, bring mountain clothes, hiking shoes. In Nakhchivan, bring very warm clothes, a fleece, a down jacket, gloves, and a hat.
In summer: in Baku, in the plains and on the coast, bring light clothes for the day, a sun hat, a light sweatshirt for the evening, and a scarf for the breeze. In the mountains, bring spring/autumn clothes, a sun hat, a sweater and a jacket, hiking shoes, and possibly a raincoat or umbrella; bring mountain outfit for the highest peaks.
For the Nakhchivan: in the capital and the valley, bring lightweight clothes for the day, a light sweatshirt for the evening; at higher altitudes, add a jacket and a sweater for the evening.

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