Weather and climate in Kunming (Yunnan)

The climate of Kunming (or Yunnan-Fu) is subtropical, with mild, sunny winters and pleasantly warm but cloudy and rainy summers.
The climate is milder than in other parts of China, being neither as cold as in the north nor as hot as in the southern lowlands. Indeed, Kunming is considered the "city of eternal spring".
The city is the capital of the Yunnan province and is located in southern China, at 25 degrees north latitude, in the Yunnan – Guizhou plateau (or Yungui plateau), at 1,900 meters (6,235 feet) above sea level. In addition to Lake Dian (or Dianchi), on whose shores Kunming is located, there are other lakes in the area, including Lake Fuxian.
Even though the winter is mild, there can sometimes be cold spells, in which the temperature can drop below freezing, and it can even snow. In January 2016, there was a day with a minimum of -8 ° C (17.5 °F) and a maximum of -3 °C (26.5 °F).
In addition, fog can sometimes form in winter.
In summer, the rains are very frequent. There can be cool and humid days, with haze and maximum temperatures below 20 °C (68 °F). On the hottest days, when it is not raining, the temperature usually reaches 30/31 °C (86/88 °F).
From late April to November, this area can be affected by the remains of both typhoons from the South China Sea and tropical cyclones from the Bay of Bengal. The abundant rains they produce can cause landslides and floods.

Best Time

The best time to visit Kunming are the months of March and April, as the temperatures are pleasant and the sun often shines.

Kunming - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 9.5 °C (49.1 °F), that of the warmest month (June) is of 20.9 °C (69.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 1015 millimeters (40 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 15 mm (0.6 in) in the driest months (February, December) to 225 mm (8.9 in) in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2200 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Kunming - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

---

January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 9.5 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 2.8 °C (37 °F) and a maximum of 16.2 °C (61.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8 °C (17.6 °F) in January 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (69 °F). However, it reached 23.9 °C (75 °F) in January 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

---

February is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 11.5 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 4.6 °C (40.2 °F) and a maximum of 18.4 °C (65.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33 °F). However, it dropped to -4 °C (24.8 °F) in February 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 26.4 °C (79.5 °F) in February 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

---

March is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.7 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 7.8 °C (46.1 °F) and a maximum of 21.7 °C (71 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.8 °C (33.4 °F) in March 2011.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (79 °F). However, it reached 29 °C (84.2 °F) in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 49%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

---

April is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.7 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 11.1 °C (51.9 °F) and a maximum of 24.3 °C (75.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (43 °F). However, it dropped to 3 °C (37.4 °F) in April 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83.5 °F). However, it reached 31 °C (87.8 °F) in April 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

---

May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.6 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 14 °C (57.3 °F) and a maximum of 25.1 °C (77.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5 °C (41 °F) in May 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 32.8 °C (91 °F) in May 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

---

June, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.9 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 16.5 °C (61.7 °F) and a maximum of 25.2 °C (77.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it dropped to 8.9 °C (48 °F) in June 2013.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 32.6 °C (90.7 °F) in June 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 175 mm (6.9 in), distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

---

July is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.7 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 16.8 °C (62.2 °F) and a maximum of 24.7 °C (76.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it dropped to 12 °C (53.6 °F) in July 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 30.3 °C (86.5 °F) in July 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 225 mm (8.9 in), distributed over 22 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

---

August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.5 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 16.2 °C (61.2 °F) and a maximum of 24.8 °C (76.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83.5 °F). However, it reached 31.9 °C (89.4 °F) in August 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 185 mm (7.3 in), distributed over 21 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

---

September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.0 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 14.6 °C (58.3 °F) and a maximum of 23.3 °C (73.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (51.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) in September 1997.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 30.4 °C (86.7 °F) in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

---

October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.4 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 11.8 °C (53.2 °F) and a maximum of 21 °C (69.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2 °C (35.6 °F) in October 2017.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (78 °F). However, it reached 27.4 °C (81.3 °F) in October 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

---

November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.7 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 7 °C (44.5 °F) and a maximum of 18.5 °C (65.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to -0.7 °C (30.7 °F) in November 1992.
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 27.8 °C (82 °F) in November 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

---

December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.6 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 3.4 °C (38.2 °F) and a maximum of 15.8 °C (60.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6 °C (21.2 °F) in December 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (69 °F). However, it reached 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) in December 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).