Climate in Hotan (Xinjiang)

The climate of Hotan (or Gosthana) is desert continental, with very cold winters and hot summers, and rare and sporadic rains, more likely in summer.
The city is located at 1,380 meters (4,525 feet) above sea level, in the southwest of Xinjiang, the autonomous region of northwest China, on the southwestern edge of the Taklimakan Desert. To the south are the Kunlun Mountains, whose highest peak is Liushi Shan, 7,167 meters (23,514 feet) high.
Two seasonal rivers flow down from these mountains: the Yorungqash (or White Jade River), which flows through the city, and to the north joins the Karakash River (or Black Jade River), which passes further west. The two rivers join together giving life to the Hotan River, which then flows into the Tarim, the river that gets lost in the desert without being able to flow into the sea.
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 -20 °C (-4 °F).
In January-February 2008, there were 10 days in a row with lows of -18/-20 °C (0/-4 °F) and highs of -8/-11 °C (12/17.5 °F). In that period, the Taklimakan Desert was covered entirely by a thin layer of snow for the first time.
In summer, the humidity rises slightly, but the summer monsoon cannot reach here. Sometimes there can be heat waves, with highs of around 40 °C (104 °F); fortunately, however, the humidity in these periods is low.

Best Time

The best times to visit Hotan are spring and autumn, especially the month of April, and from mid-September to mid-October.

Hotan - Climate data

In Hotan, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -3.6 °C (25.6 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 26.4 °C (79.5 °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 0.5 mm (0 in) in the driest month (November) to 8.9 mm (0.4 in) in the wettest one (June). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2590 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Hotan - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -3.6 °C (26 °F), with a minimum of -8.1 °C (17.4 °F) and a maximum of 1 °C (33.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -13 °C (8 °F). However, it dropped to -21 °C (-5.8 °F) in January 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10.5 °C (51 °F). However, it reached 20.5 °C (68.9 °F) in January 2000.
Precipitation amounts to only 1.9 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (3 mph).

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February is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.1 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -2.9 °C (26.8 °F) and a maximum of 7 °C (44.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8.5 °C (17 °F). However, it dropped to -19.3 °C (-2.7 °F) in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15.5 °C (60 °F). However, it reached 22 °C (71.6 °F) in February 1992.
Precipitation amounts to only 1.9 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.6 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 4.9 °C (40.9 °F) and a maximum of 16.2 °C (61.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.6 °C (23.7 °F) in March 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 30.6 °C (87.1 °F) in March 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 2.5 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 28%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.5 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 11.5 °C (52.6 °F) and a maximum of 23.5 °C (74.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (40.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.4 °C (31.3 °F) in April 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (88.5 °F). However, it reached 35.4 °C (95.7 °F) in April 2011.
Precipitation amounts to only 2.9 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 26%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.4 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 15.4 °C (59.8 °F) and a maximum of 27.5 °C (81.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.1 °C (41.2 °F) in May 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 37.6 °C (99.7 °F) in May 2000.
Precipitation amounts to only 7.2 mm (0.3 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 31%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 24.8 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 19 °C (66.3 °F) and a maximum of 30.6 °C (87.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10.6 °C (51.1 °F) in June 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 39.5 °C (103.1 °F) in June 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only 8.9 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 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 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 35%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 26.4 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 20.7 °C (69.2 °F) and a maximum of 32.1 °C (89.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15.5 °C (60 °F). However, it dropped to 12.2 °C (54 °F) in July 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C (101.5 °F). However, it reached 41.4 °C (106.5 °F) in July 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only 7.2 mm (0.3 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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August is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 25.3 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 19.7 °C (67.5 °F) and a maximum of 30.9 °C (87.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (57.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10.2 °C (50.4 °F) in August 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 40.2 °C (104.4 °F) in August 2011.
Precipitation amounts to only 4.6 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.2 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 15.2 °C (59.4 °F) and a maximum of 27.2 °C (80.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end 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 September 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 35.9 °C (96.6 °F) in September 2005.
Precipitation amounts to only 3.6 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 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 14.3 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 7.8 °C (46 °F) and a maximum of 20.9 °C (69.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36 °F). However, it dropped to -1.2 °C (29.8 °F) in October 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80 °F). However, it reached 30.9 °C (87.6 °F) in October 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only 1.5 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 35%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 6.2 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 0.4 °C (32.8 °F) and a maximum of 12 °C (53.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -8.4 °C (16.9 °F) in November 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) in November 2016.
Precipitation amounts to only 0.5 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 38%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -1.3 °C (30 °F), with a minimum of -5.9 °C (21.3 °F) and a maximum of 3.2 °C (37.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10.5 °C (13 °F). However, it dropped to -14.6 °C (5.7 °F) in December 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it reached 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) in December 1999.
Precipitation amounts to only 1.4 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (3 mph).