Weather and climate in Harbin (Heilongjiang)

The climate of Harbin is continental, influenced by the Asian monsoon, with freezing, dry winters and hot, rainy summers.
The city is the capital of the Heilongjiang province and is located in the north-east of China, at almost 46 degrees north latitude, on the banks of the Songhua River (or Haixi), a tributary of the Amur.
The winter is very cold because cold air masses of Siberian origin prevail. The sun shines quite often and snowfalls are rare. However, given the low temperatures, the low amount of snow that falls doesn't melt, so the winter landscape is usually covered with snow. Owing to the cold, the sculptures of the "Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival", which is held every year in January, are preserved for weeks.
In summer, the heat is not constant as in central-southern China. Rainy periods can be quite cool, with highs around 22/25 °C (72/77 °F). However, in good weather it can get very hot. Generally, the temperature begins to decrease already in the second half of August.

Best Time

The best time to visit Harbin is from mid-May to mid-September, since in the rest of the year it can get cold. It must be said that from late May to August, it can sometimes get very hot, plus the summer is the rainiest season, especially in July and August.

Harbin - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -17.2 °C (1.1 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 23.8 °C (74.9 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 585 millimeters (23 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 4 mm (0.2 in) in the driest month (January) to 165 mm (6.5 in) in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2570 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Harbin - Weather by month

Based on the period 2000-2020

---

January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -17.2 °C (1 °F), with a minimum of -22.2 °C (-8 °F) and a maximum of -12.1 °C (10.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -29 °C (-20.5 °F). However, it dropped to -36.2 °C (-33.2 °F) in January 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around -3.5 °C (26 °F). However, it reached 3.3 °C (37.9 °F) in January 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

---

February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -12.3 °C (10 °F), with a minimum of -18 °C (-0.4 °F) and a maximum of -6.6 °C (20.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -27 °C (-17 °F). However, it dropped to -37.3 °C (-35.1 °F) in February 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it reached 10.6 °C (51.1 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only 6 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

---

March is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -2.4 °C (28 °F), with a minimum of -7.8 °C (18 °F) and a maximum of 3.1 °C (37.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -19 °C (-1.5 °F). However, it dropped to -27.2 °C (-17 °F) in March 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57 °F). However, it reached 22.6 °C (72.7 °F) in March 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 17 mm (0.7 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

---

April is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 8.0 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 2.2 °C (36 °F) and a maximum of 13.7 °C (56.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22 °F). However, it dropped to -9.5 °C (14.9 °F) in April 2012.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (78 °F). However, it reached 32.5 °C (90.5 °F) in April 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 47%.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (10 mph).

---

May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.9 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) and a maximum of 21.7 °C (71.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to 0.4 °C (32.7 °F) in May 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 36.2 °C (97.2 °F) in May 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

---

June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.6 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 16.4 °C (61.5 °F) and a maximum of 26.8 °C (80.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (50.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.5 °C (43.7 °F) in June 2017.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93.5 °F). However, it reached 39.2 °C (102.6 °F) in June 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 40 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 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

---

July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 23.8 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 19.5 °C (67.1 °F) and a maximum of 28.2 °C (82.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9.8 °C (49.6 °F) in July 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 36.5 °C (97.7 °F) in July 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 165 mm (6.5 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

---

August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 22.4 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 17.9 °C (64.2 °F) and a maximum of 26.8 °C (80.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.5 °C (41.9 °F) in August 2017.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 34.3 °C (93.7 °F) in August 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

---

September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.4 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 10.8 °C (51.4 °F) and a maximum of 22 °C (71.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to -1.7 °C (28.9 °F) in September 2014.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 31.4 °C (88.5 °F) in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

---

October is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.4 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 2.1 °C (35.8 °F) and a maximum of 12.7 °C (54.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -10.4 °C (13.3 °F) in October 2016.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 28.6 °C (83.5 °F) in October 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

---

November is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -4.4 °C (24 °F), with a minimum of -8.7 °C (16.3 °F) and a maximum of 0 °C (32 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -19 °C (-2.5 °F). However, it dropped to -24.7 °C (-12.5 °F) in November 2016.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it reached 17.6 °C (63.7 °F) in November 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

---

December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -14.8 °C (5 °F), with a minimum of -19.1 °C (-2.4 °F) and a maximum of -10.4 °C (13.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -27 °C (-16.5 °F). However, it dropped to -33 °C (-27.4 °F) in December 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 0.5 °C (32.5 °F). However, it reached 8.2 °C (46.8 °F) in December 2018.
Precipitation amounts to only 8 mm (0.3 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 40 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).