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
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.
, it can sometimes rain, while in dry periods there can be heat waves, with highs up to 38/40 °C (100/104 °F).
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).
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-14 °C, with a minimum of
-17.9 °C and a maximum of
-10.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-24.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-30 °C in January 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-1 °C. However, it reached
8 °C in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
10.4 mm, 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 of
4 kph.
February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-9.7 °C, with a minimum of
-13.7 °C and a maximum of
-5.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-20.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-28 °C in February 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
2.5 °C. However, it reached
7 °C in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
10 mm, 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 of
4.5 kph.
March is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
1.2 °C, with a minimum of
-2.8 °C and a maximum of
5.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-20 °C in March 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
27 °C in March 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
20 mm, 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 of
6.5 kph.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.1 °C, with a minimum of
7.8 °C and a maximum of
18.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-8 °C in April 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
36 °C in April 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, 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 of
9.8 kph.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.2 °C, with a minimum of
13.9 °C and a maximum of
24.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
1 °C in May 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
38 °C in May 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, 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 of
10.4 kph.
June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24.5 °C, with a minimum of
19.5 °C and a maximum of
29.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C. However, it dropped to
9 °C in June 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36.5 °C. However, it reached
41 °C in June 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, 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 of
10 kph.
July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
26.2 °C, with a minimum of
21.3 °C and a maximum of
31.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15 °C. However, it dropped to
10 °C in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
38.5 °C. However, it reached
44 °C in July 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, 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 of
9.9 kph.
August is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24.6 °C, with a minimum of
19.4 °C and a maximum of
29.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C. However, it dropped to
7 °C in August 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37.5 °C. However, it reached
40 °C in August 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
25 mm, 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 of
9.6 kph.
September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.9 °C, with a minimum of
13.5 °C and a maximum of
24.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
1 °C in September 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
38 °C in September 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
25 mm, 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 of
9 kph.
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.2 °C, with a minimum of
5.3 °C and a maximum of
15 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-7 °C in October 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
31 °C in October 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
25 mm, 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 of
7.4 kph.
November is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-0.4 °C, with a minimum of
-4 °C and a maximum of
3.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-20 °C in November 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14.5 °C. However, it reached
22 °C in November 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
20 mm, 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 of
5.6 kph.
December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-10.6 °C, with a minimum of
-14.2 °C and a maximum of
-7.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-21.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-30 °C in December 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
2.5 °C. However, it reached
8 °C in December 1996.
Precipitation amounts to
14.6 mm, 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 of
4.3 kph.