Weather and climate in Taiyuan (Shanxi)

The climate of Taiyuan is continental semi-arid, with very cold, dry winters and hot, rainy summers.
The city is the capital of the Shanxi province and is located at almost 38 degrees north latitude, in a valley at 800 meters (2,600 feet) above sea level, on the banks of the Fen River, a tributary of the Yellow River. In the past, it was the capital under several Chinese dynasties.
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).
Spring is an unstable season, with temperature changes and strong winds, which can trigger sandstorms.
The summer is the only season to experience significant rains. Despite the altitude, in periods of good weather there can be heat waves, in which the temperature can reach or exceed 35 °C (95 °F).

Best Time

It is difficult to find the best time to visit Taiyuan, as there are often sudden changes in temperature. However, you can choose the periods from mid-April to mid-May and from mid-September to mid-October.

Taiyuan - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -4.7 °C (23.6 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 24.5 °C (76.1 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 425 millimeters (16.7 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 3 mm (0.1 in) in the driest months (January, December) to 100 mm (3.9 in) in the wettest one (August). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2505 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Taiyuan - 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. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -4.7 °C (24 °F), with a minimum of -11.8 °C (10.8 °F) and a maximum of 2.4 °C (36.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -17.5 °C (0 °F). However, it dropped to -22.1 °C (-7.8 °F) in January 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9 °C (48.5 °F). However, it reached 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) in January 1999.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 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 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 47%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 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 -0.6 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -7.9 °C (17.8 °F) and a maximum of 6.8 °C (44.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -14.5 °C (6 °F). However, it dropped to -17.8 °C (0 °F) in February 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15.5 °C (60 °F). However, it reached 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 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 5.7 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of -1.8 °C (28.7 °F) and a maximum of 13.2 °C (55.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8.5 °C (16.5 °F). However, it dropped to -12.5 °C (9.5 °F) in March 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in March 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 12 mm (0.5 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 38%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 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 12.6 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 4.7 °C (40.5 °F) and a maximum of 20.5 °C (68.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -7 °C (19.4 °F) in April 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87 °F). However, it reached 37.5 °C (99.5 °F) in April 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 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 18.3 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 10.4 °C (50.7 °F) and a maximum of 26.3 °C (79.3 °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 -0.7 °C (30.7 °F) in May 2014.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in May 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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June is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 22.5 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 15.2 °C (59.4 °F) and a maximum of 29.7 °C (85.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.5 °C (41.9 °F) in June 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (96 °F). However, it reached 39 °C (102.2 °F) in June 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 9 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 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 24.5 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 18.4 °C (65.1 °F) and a maximum of 30.6 °C (87.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in July 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (96 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in July 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
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 22.9 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 17 °C (62.5 °F) and a maximum of 28.8 °C (83.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (53 °F). However, it dropped to 8.7 °C (47.7 °F) in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93.5 °F). However, it reached 37 °C (98.6 °F) in August 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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September 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 °C (51.8 °F) and a maximum of 24.4 °C (75.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.7 °C (28.9 °F) in September 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87 °F). However, it reached 35 °C (95 °F) in September 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
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 11.0 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 3.6 °C (38.5 °F) and a maximum of 18.3 °C (64.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (26.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6.2 °C (20.8 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 30 °C (86 °F) in October 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 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 3.3 °C (38 °F), with a minimum of -3.5 °C (25.8 °F) and a maximum of 10.2 °C (50.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10.5 °C (13.5 °F). However, it dropped to -20.7 °C (-5.3 °F) in November 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66 °F). However, it reached 23 °C (73.4 °F) in November 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 12 mm (0.5 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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December is generally a very cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -3.0 °C (27 °F), with a minimum of -9.7 °C (14.6 °F) and a maximum of 3.6 °C (38.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -16 °C (3 °F). However, it dropped to -23.3 °C (-9.9 °F) in December 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it reached 15 °C (59 °F) in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).