Climate - Xining (Qinghai)

The climate of Xining (or Sining), is semi-arid continental, with very cold, dry winters and quite warm, rainy summers.
The city is the capital of the province of Qinghai and is located at 36 degrees north latitude, at 2,250 meters (7,400 feet) above sea level, in the north of the Tibetan plateau, of which it is the most populous city. To the west is Lake Qinghai (Blue Lake, or Koko Nor), at an altitude of 3,200 meters (10,500 feet).
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 -20 °C (-4 °F). The cold record of the last decades is -25 °C (-13 °F), set in December 1975.
The summer is the only season to experience significant rains. Rainy days can be cool, with temperatures below 20 °C (68 °F). In periods of good weather, the temperature can reach 28/30 °C (82/86 °F). Sometimes there can even be heat waves, with highs of 35 °C (95 °F), even if the temperature drops a lot at night.

Best Time

The best time to visit Xining goes from May to September, as it is the mildest of the year. However, sometimes it can get cold at night, especially in May and September. July and August are the wettest months, but it is less likely for it to get cold at night.

Xining - Climate data

In Xining, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -6.5 °C (20.3 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 17.7 °C (63.9 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Xining, precipitation amounts to 400 millimeters (15.7 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 2 mm (0.1 in) in the driest months (January, February, December) to 80 mm (3.1 in) in the wettest ones (July, August) Here is the average precipitation.
In Xining, there are on average around 2680 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Xining - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Xining is usually freezing cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -6.5 °C (20 °F), with a minimum of -14.9 °C (5.2 °F) and a maximum of 1.9 °C (35.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -20 °C (-4 °F). However, it dropped to -23.8 °C (-10.8 °F) in January 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it reached 15.7 °C (60.3 °F) in January 2014.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is 3 kph (2 mph).

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In February, the weather in Xining is usually very cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -2.6 °C (27 °F), with a minimum of -10.8 °C (12.5 °F) and a maximum of 5.6 °C (42.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -16.5 °C (2.5 °F). However, it dropped to -20.7 °C (-5.3 °F) in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it reached 20.8 °C (69.4 °F) in February 2009.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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In March, the weather in Xining is usually cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 2.9 °C (37 °F), with a minimum of -4.8 °C (23.4 °F) and a maximum of 10.7 °C (51.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11.5 °C (11.5 °F). However, it dropped to -16.9 °C (1.6 °F) in March 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 26.7 °C (80.1 °F) in March 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only 8 mm (0.3 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In April, the weather in Xining is usually quite mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 8.5 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 0.8 °C (33.4 °F) and a maximum of 16.2 °C (61.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (23.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8.8 °C (16.2 °F) in April 2001.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 31.8 °C (89.2 °F) in April 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In May, the weather in Xining is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 12.2 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 4.9 °C (40.8 °F) and a maximum of 19.5 °C (67.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -3.9 °C (25 °F) in May 2015.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 31 °C (87.8 °F) in May 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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In June, the weather in Xining is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 15.6 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 8.6 °C (47.4 °F) and a maximum of 22.6 °C (72.7 °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 0.6 °C (33.1 °F) in June 2013.
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 31.4 °C (88.5 °F) in June 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 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 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Xining is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.7 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 10.9 °C (51.7 °F) and a maximum of 24.5 °C (76.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44 °F). However, it dropped to 4.6 °C (40.3 °F) in July 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 36.5 °C (97.7 °F) in July 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (2 mph).

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In August, the weather in Xining is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.2 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 10.6 °C (51 °F) and a maximum of 23.8 °C (74.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3.2 °C (37.8 °F) in August 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in August 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (3 mph).

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In September, the weather in Xining is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.9 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) and a maximum of 19.1 °C (66.4 °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 -1.7 °C (28.9 °F) in September 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (79 °F). However, it reached 29.2 °C (84.6 °F) in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (2 mph).

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In October, the weather in Xining is usually quite mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 7.2 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 0.3 °C (32.5 °F) and a maximum of 14.1 °C (57.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22 °F). However, it dropped to -12.1 °C (10.2 °F) in October 2002.
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 26.3 °C (79.3 °F) in October 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 7 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 61%.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (2 mph).

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In November, the weather in Xining is usually cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 0.9 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -6.9 °C (19.6 °F) and a maximum of 8.6 °C (47.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -12.5 °C (10 °F). However, it dropped to -18.2 °C (-0.8 °F) in November 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it reached 19.3 °C (66.7 °F) in November 1993.
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 3 kph (2 mph).

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In December, the weather in Xining is usually very cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -4.9 °C (23 °F), with a minimum of -13 °C (8.6 °F) and a maximum of 3.2 °C (37.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -18 °C (-0.5 °F). However, it dropped to -23.8 °C (-10.8 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it reached 13.9 °C (57 °F) in December 2016.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 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 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is 3 kph (2 mph).