Climate - Yanan (Shaanxi)

The climate of Yan'an (or Yenan) is semi-arid continental, with very cold, dry winters and hot, rainy summers.
The city is located in central-eastern China, in northern Shaanxi, at 36 degrees north latitude and 960 meters (3,150 feet) above sea level. We are in the Loess plateau, while further north we find the Ordos plateau, which is more arid.
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).
The summer is the only season to experience significant rains. In periods of good weather, the temperature can reach 35 °C (95 °F), and sometimes as high as 38/39 °C (100/102 °F).

Best Time

To visit Yan'an, you can choose the months of May and September. In summer, temperatures are generally acceptable, but it can sometimes be very hot, and it is also the wettest season.

Yanan - Climate data

In Yanan, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -4.4 °C (24.0 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 23.8 °C (74.8 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Yanan, precipitation amounts to 510 millimeters (20.1 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 3 mm (0.1 in) in the driest months (January, December) to 120 mm (4.7 in) in the wettest one (August). Here is the average precipitation.
In Yanan, there are on average around 2450 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Yanan - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Yanan is usually very cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -4.4 °C (24 °F), with a minimum of -11.1 °C (12.1 °F) and a maximum of 2.2 °C (35.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -17.5 °C (0.5 °F). However, it dropped to -21.4 °C (-6.5 °F) in January 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10.5 °C (50.5 °F). However, it reached 17.3 °C (63.1 °F) in January 2014.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In February, the weather in Yanan is usually very cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -0.1 °C (32 °F), with a minimum of -6.9 °C (19.6 °F) and a maximum of 6.7 °C (44.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -14 °C (7 °F). However, it dropped to -19.5 °C (-3.1 °F) in February 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 23.8 °C (74.8 °F) in February 1996.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 47%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In March, the weather in Yanan is usually quite cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 6.2 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of -0.8 °C (30.6 °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 -8 °C (17 °F). However, it dropped to -12 °C (10.4 °F) in March 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75.5 °F). However, it reached 29.2 °C (84.6 °F) in March 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 5 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 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In April, the weather in Yanan is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 12.8 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 5.2 °C (41.4 °F) and a maximum of 20.4 °C (68.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.4 °C (22.3 °F) in April 2007.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86.5 °F). However, it reached 36.7 °C (98.1 °F) in April 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 6 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 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In May, the weather in Yanan is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.5 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 9.9 °C (49.9 °F) and a maximum of 25 °C (77 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.1 °C (31.8 °F) in May 2014.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90.5 °F). However, it reached 35.5 °C (95.9 °F) in May 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 8 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 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In June, the weather in Yanan is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.8 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 14.8 °C (58.6 °F) and a maximum of 28.8 °C (83.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.8 °C (40.6 °F) in June 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 39.3 °C (102.7 °F) in June 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 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 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Yanan is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 23.8 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 17.8 °C (64.1 °F) and a maximum of 29.7 °C (85.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it dropped to 7.7 °C (45.9 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (95.5 °F). However, it reached 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) in July 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In August, the weather in Yanan is usually warm. The average temperature is of 22.3 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 16.7 °C (62 °F) and a maximum of 27.8 °C (82.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it dropped to 8.3 °C (46.9 °F) in August 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 36.2 °C (97.2 °F) in August 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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In September, the weather in Yanan is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.2 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 11.3 °C (52.4 °F) and a maximum of 23 °C (73.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.6 °C (33.1 °F) in September 1995.
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 37.5 °C (99.5 °F) in September 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 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 5 kph (3 mph).

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In October, the weather in Yanan is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 10.8 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 4.2 °C (39.6 °F) and a maximum of 17.4 °C (63.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -7.6 °C (18.3 °F) in October 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 30 °C (86 °F) in October 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In November, the weather in Yanan is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.0 °C (39 °F), with a minimum of -2.5 °C (27.5 °F) and a maximum of 10.4 °C (50.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9 °C (16 °F). However, it dropped to -16.4 °C (2.5 °F) in November 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) in November 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 14 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In December, the weather in Yanan is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -2.6 °C (27 °F), with a minimum of -9.1 °C (15.6 °F) and a maximum of 3.8 °C (38.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -16 °C (3.5 °F). However, it dropped to -23 °C (-9.4 °F) in December 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it reached 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 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 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).