Climate - Qiqihar (Heilongjiang)

The climate of Qiqihar is semi-arid continental, influenced by the Asian monsoon, with freezing, dry winters and hot, rainy summers.
The city is located in northeastern China, in the Heilongjiang province, at 47 degrees north latitude and 150 meters (500 feet) above sea level, on the banks of the Nen River. The provincial capital, Harbin, is 260 km (160 mi) to the southeast.
The winter is very cold because cold air masses of Siberian origin prevail. The sun often shines 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. During the most intense cold spells, the temperature can drop to around -35 °C (-31 °F).
In summer, the heat is not constant as in central-southern China. Rainy periods can be quite cool, with highs around 20/25 °C (68/77 °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 Qiqihar is from mid-May to mid-September, since in the rest of the year it can get cold. It must be said that from June to August, it can sometimes get very hot, plus the summer is the rainiest season, especially in July and August.

Qiqihar - Climate data

In Qiqihar, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -17.9 °C (-0.1 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 23.6 °C (74.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Qiqihar, precipitation amounts to 445 millimeters (17.5 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 2 mm (0.1 in) in the driest months (January, February) to 145 mm (5.7 in) in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.
In Qiqihar, there are on average around 2840 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Qiqihar - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Qiqihar is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -17.9 °C (0 °F), with a minimum of -23.6 °C (-10.5 °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 -36.7 °C (-34.1 °F) in January 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it reached 2.2 °C (36 °F) in January 1995.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In February, the weather in Qiqihar is usually freezing cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -12.8 °C (9 °F), with a minimum of -19.5 °C (-3 °F) and a maximum of -6.2 °C (20.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -26 °C (-14.5 °F). However, it dropped to -34.4 °C (-29.9 °F) in February 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2.5 °C (36 °F). However, it reached 10.5 °C (50.9 °F) in February 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In March, the weather in Qiqihar is usually very cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -3.7 °C (25 °F), with a minimum of -10.3 °C (13.5 °F) and a maximum of 2.8 °C (37.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -19 °C (-2.5 °F). However, it dropped to -24.4 °C (-11.9 °F) in March 2010.
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 22.7 °C (72.9 °F) in March 1994.
Precipitation amounts to only 7 mm (0.3 in), distributed over 3 days.
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 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In April, the weather in Qiqihar is usually quite mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 6.7 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of 0 °C (32.1 °F) and a maximum of 13.3 °C (55.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7.5 °C (18.5 °F). However, it dropped to -15.6 °C (3.9 °F) in April 2012.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 32.1 °C (89.8 °F) in April 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In May, the weather in Qiqihar is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 14.8 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 8.4 °C (47.1 °F) and a maximum of 21.2 °C (70.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (34.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.5 °C (22.1 °F) in May 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (89.5 °F). However, it reached 36.3 °C (97.3 °F) in May 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In June, the weather in Qiqihar is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.9 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F) and a maximum of 26.4 °C (79.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it dropped to 1.9 °C (35.4 °F) in June 1992.
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 40.8 °C (105.4 °F) in June 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 55 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 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Qiqihar is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 23.6 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 18.8 °C (65.9 °F) and a maximum of 28.3 °C (82.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58 °F). However, it dropped to 9.9 °C (49.8 °F) in July 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) in July 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 145 mm (5.7 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In August, the weather in Qiqihar is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.5 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 16.7 °C (62 °F) and a maximum of 26.3 °C (79.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (53 °F). However, it dropped to 5.4 °C (41.7 °F) in August 2017.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (88.5 °F). However, it reached 35 °C (95 °F) in August 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In September, the weather in Qiqihar is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 14.9 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 9.2 °C (48.5 °F) and a maximum of 20.7 °C (69.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.7 °C (27.1 °F) in September 2001.
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 33.3 °C (91.9 °F) in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In October, the weather in Qiqihar is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.7 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of -0.1 °C (31.8 °F) and a maximum of 11.5 °C (52.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19.5 °F). However, it dropped to -12.6 °C (9.3 °F) in October 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 26.8 °C (80.2 °F) in October 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In November, the weather in Qiqihar is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -6.4 °C (20 °F), with a minimum of -11.5 °C (11.3 °F) and a maximum of -1.3 °C (29.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -20.5 °C (-4.5 °F). However, it dropped to -26.7 °C (-16.1 °F) in November 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it reached 15.5 °C (59.9 °F) in November 2018.
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In December, the weather in Qiqihar is usually freezing cold. The average temperature is of -15.9 °C (3 °F), with a minimum of -21.1 °C (-5.9 °F) and a maximum of -10.6 °C (12.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -27 °C (-16.5 °F). However, it dropped to -35 °C (-31 °F) in December 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around -1.5 °C (29.5 °F). However, it reached 7.5 °C (45.5 °F) in December 2018.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 30 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 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).