Weather and climate in Hami (Xinjiang)

The climate of Hami (or Kumul) is desert continental, with very cold winters and very hot summers. The sun shines very often.
The city is located in the eastern part of Xinjiang, the autonomous region of northwest China, at 43 degrees north latitude and in a valley at 750 meters (2,460 feet) above sea level. To the north is the easternmost part of the Tian Shan range, with perpetually snow-capped peaks that exceed 4,500 meters (14,750 feet).
The winter is dry and sunny. Even though the temperatures are low, snowfalls are rare. During the most intense cold spells, the temperature can drop to around -25 °C (-13 °F).
The summer is very hot, in fact the daytime temperatures are higher than those of the so-called "furnaces" of China, such as Wuhan and Chongqing. However, the humidity is lower and the temperature drops more at night.
However, this area of northwest China, where the altitude is lower than 1,000 meters (3,300 feet), is very hot. The hottest spot, the Turfan Depression, is 300 km (185 mi) to the west.

Best Time

It is difficult to find the best time to visit Hami, as there are often sudden changes in temperature. However, you can choose the months of May and September.

Hami - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -9.8 °C (14.4 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 26.7 °C (80.0 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 45 millimeters (1.8 inches) per year: it is therefore at a desert level. It ranges from 1 mm (0 in) in the driest months (January, February) to 9 mm (0.4 in) in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 3285 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Hami - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -9.8 °C (14 °F), with a minimum of -16.4 °C (2.4 °F) and a maximum of -3.1 °C (26.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -21.5 °C (-6.5 °F). However, it dropped to -27.2 °C (-17 °F) in January 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it reached 9.5 °C (49.1 °F) in January 1993.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (3 mph).

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February is generally a very cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -2.7 °C (27 °F), with a minimum of -10.1 °C (13.8 °F) and a maximum of 4.8 °C (40.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -17 °C (1 °F). However, it dropped to -22.2 °C (-8 °F) in February 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it reached 16.8 °C (62.2 °F) in February 2007.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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March is generally a quite cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 6.0 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of -1.8 °C (28.7 °F) and a maximum of 13.9 °C (56.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10 °C (14.5 °F). However, it dropped to -18.9 °C (-2 °F) in March 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). However, it reached 26.6 °C (79.9 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 28%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.4 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 6.4 °C (43.4 °F) and a maximum of 22.4 °C (72.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.4 °C (18.7 °F) in April 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 36.5 °C (97.7 °F) in April 2020.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 24%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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May is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.8 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 11.5 °C (52.7 °F) and a maximum of 28.2 °C (82.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2 °C (28.4 °F) in May 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95 °F). However, it reached 38.8 °C (101.8 °F) in May 1996.
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 28%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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June is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 24.8 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 16.7 °C (62 °F) and a maximum of 33 °C (91.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (51 °F). However, it dropped to 7.7 °C (45.9 °F) in June 2015.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C (101 °F). However, it reached 42.7 °C (108.9 °F) in June 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 6 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 34%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 26.7 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 18.6 °C (65.6 °F) and a maximum of 34.7 °C (94.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9.4 °C (48.9 °F) in July 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 40.5 °C (104.5 °F). However, it reached 42.7 °C (108.9 °F) in July 2011.
Precipitation amounts to only 9 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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August is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.1 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 16.5 °C (61.8 °F) and a maximum of 33.6 °C (92.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it dropped to 5.4 °C (41.7 °F) in August 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39.5 °C (103 °F). However, it reached 42.3 °C (108.1 °F) in August 2006.
Precipitation amounts to only 6 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.0 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 9.8 °C (49.7 °F) and a maximum of 28.1 °C (82.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38 °F). However, it dropped to -0.2 °C (31.6 °F) in September 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) in September 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 80% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (3 mph).

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October is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 10.7 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 1.9 °C (35.5 °F) and a maximum of 19.4 °C (66.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8 °C (17.6 °F) in October 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C (81.5 °F). However, it reached 31.6 °C (88.9 °F) in October 2008.
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (3 mph).

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November is generally a cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 1.5 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -5.3 °C (22.4 °F) and a maximum of 8.3 °C (46.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11.5 °C (11.5 °F). However, it dropped to -16.3 °C (2.7 °F) in November 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 20.9 °C (69.6 °F) in November 2006.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (3 mph).

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December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -7.5 °C (19 °F), with a minimum of -13.7 °C (7.3 °F) and a maximum of -1.2 °C (29.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -19.5 °C (-3.5 °F). However, it dropped to -28.9 °C (-20 °F) in December 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 4.5 °C (40 °F). However, it reached 10 °C (50 °F) in December 1994.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (2 mph).