Weather and climate in Urumqi (Xinjiang)

The climate of Ürümqi (or Urumchi) is arid continental, with freezing winters and hot summers.
The city is located in northwest China, at nearly 44 degrees north latitude, at an altitude between 600 and 1,000 meters (2,000 and 3,300 feet), and is the capital of the autonomous province of Xinjiang. We are in Dzungaria, the northern part of the province, which is separated from the Tarim Basin and the Taklimakan Desert by the Tian Shan Mountains. Right in the vicinity of the city is the Bogda Feng, 5,445 meters (17,864 feet) high. Ürümqi is the large city in the world farthest from the sea, which lies 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) away.
Although we are in an arid area, the proximity of the mountains makes precipitation more frequent than in other locations in the area, and in winter there are frequent snowfalls, although generally light. During the most intense cold spells, the temperature can drop as low as -30 °C (-22 °F).
In spring, there can be severe changes in temperature. In early April it can still snow, but sometimes even at the end of the month. In April 2015, the temperature went from -7 °C (19.5 °F) at the beginning of the month to 36 °C (97 °F) at the end.
In summer, it can sometimes rain, while in dry periods there can be heat waves, with highs up to 38/40 °C (100/104 °F).

Best Time

It is difficult to find the best time to visit Ürümqi, as there are often sudden changes in temperature. However, you can choose the months of May and September.

The following temperatures are measured at the airport, which is located at 650 meters (2,100 feet) above sea level, therefore in the lower part of the city, where in summer it is a little hotter (while in winter it could be even colder due to thermal inversion).

Urumqi - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -14.0 °C (6.8 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 26.2 °C (79.2 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 285 millimeters (11.2 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 10 mm (0.4 in) in the driest months (January, February) to 40 mm (1.6 in) in the wettest one (May). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2525 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Urumqi - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -14.0 °C (7 °F), with a minimum of -17.9 °C (-0.3 °F) and a maximum of -10.1 °C (13.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -24.5 °C (-12 °F). However, it dropped to -30 °C (-22 °F) in January 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it reached 8 °C (46.4 °F) in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (2 mph).

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February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -9.7 °C (15 °F), with a minimum of -13.7 °C (7.4 °F) and a maximum of -5.7 °C (21.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -20.5 °C (-5 °F). However, it dropped to -28 °C (-18.4 °F) in February 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2.5 °C (37 °F). However, it reached 7 °C (44.6 °F) in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (3 mph).

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March is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 1.2 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -2.8 °C (27 °F) and a maximum of 5.2 °C (41.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -12.5 °C (10 °F). However, it dropped to -20 °C (-4 °F) in March 1994.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in March 2018.
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 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.1 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 7.8 °C (46.1 °F) and a maximum of 18.4 °C (65 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30 °F). However, it dropped to -8 °C (17.6 °F) in April 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in April 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.2 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 13.9 °C (57.1 °F) and a maximum of 24.5 °C (76.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1 °C (33.8 °F) in May 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in May 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 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 37%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 24.5 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 19.5 °C (67.1 °F) and a maximum of 29.5 °C (85.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it dropped to 9 °C (48.2 °F) in June 2005.
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 41 °C (105.8 °F) in June 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 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 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 37%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 26.2 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 21.3 °C (70.3 °F) and a maximum of 31.2 °C (88.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15 °C (59.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C (101 °F). However, it reached 44 °C (111.2 °F) in July 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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August is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 24.6 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 19.4 °C (66.8 °F) and a maximum of 29.9 °C (85.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it dropped to 7 °C (44.6 °F) in August 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99.5 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in August 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.9 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 13.5 °C (56.2 °F) and a maximum of 24.2 °C (75.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (43 °F). However, it dropped to 1 °C (33.8 °F) in September 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in September 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.2 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 5.3 °C (41.6 °F) and a maximum of 15 °C (59.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7 °C (19.4 °F) in October 2000.
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 31 °C (87.8 °F) in October 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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November is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.4 °C (31 °F), with a minimum of -4 °C (24.7 °F) and a maximum of 3.1 °C (37.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11.5 °C (11 °F). However, it dropped to -20 °C (-4 °F) in November 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (58 °F). However, it reached 22 °C (71.6 °F) in November 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (3 mph).

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December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -10.6 °C (13 °F), with a minimum of -14.2 °C (6.5 °F) and a maximum of -7.1 °C (19.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -21.5 °C (-6.5 °F). However, it dropped to -30 °C (-22 °F) in December 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 2.5 °C (36 °F). However, it reached 8 °C (46.4 °F) in December 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (3 mph).