Weather and climate in Yining (Xinjiang)

The climate of Yining (or Ghulja, formerly Ningyuan) is arid continental, with freezing winters and hot summers.
The city is located in northwest China, in the autonomous province of Xinjiang, at almost 44 degrees north latitude, in a valley 650 meters above sea level and 60 km from the border with Kazakhstan. To the north-east we find the Borohoro mountains, while to the north-west is the Dzungarian Alatau, a mountain range belonging to the Tian Shan, where there are mountains covered by perennial snow that exceed 4,500 meters (14,765 feet). At the base of the mountains, at 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level, is Lake Sayram (or Santai Haizi).
The winter is very cold because cold air masses of Siberian origin prevail. There are sunny periods, but also periods in which snowfalls occur, usually light.
The summer is hot and sunny, however, there may be periods when there is some rain, and some cool days, especially in June and August, with highs below 20 °C (68 °F). In good weather, however, it can be very hot.

Best Time

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

Yining - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -7.7 °C (18.2 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 23.7 °C (74.6 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 270 millimeters (10.6 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 14 mm (0.6 in) in the driest month (August) to 30 mm (1.2 in) in the wettest ones (April, June, November) Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2835 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Yining - 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 -7.7 °C (18 °F), with a minimum of -14.1 °C (6.7 °F) and a maximum of -1.3 °C (29.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -23 °C (-9.5 °F). However, it dropped to -28.9 °C (-20 °F) in January 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 6 °C (43 °F). However, it reached 11.4 °C (52.5 °F) in January 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (2 mph).

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February is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -3.8 °C (25 °F), with a minimum of -9.5 °C (14.8 °F) and a maximum of 1.9 °C (35.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -18.5 °C (-1.5 °F). However, it dropped to -31.5 °C (-24.7 °F) in February 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it reached 16.3 °C (61.3 °F) in February 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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March is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.3 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of -0.8 °C (30.6 °F) and a maximum of 11.3 °C (52.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9 °C (16 °F). However, it dropped to -21.1 °C (-6 °F) in March 1994.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 30.3 °C (86.5 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 8 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 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 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 13.1 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) and a maximum of 20 °C (68.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.3 °C (18.9 °F) in April 2015.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in April 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 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 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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May is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.8 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 10.8 °C (51.4 °F) and a maximum of 24.9 °C (76.8 °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 -2.3 °C (27.9 °F) in May 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in May 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 49%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 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 21.8 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 15 °C (58.9 °F) and a maximum of 28.7 °C (83.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) in June 2014.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 36.7 °C (98.1 °F) in June 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 9 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 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 23.7 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 16.6 °C (61.9 °F) and a maximum of 30.8 °C (87.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54 °F). However, it dropped to 8.6 °C (47.5 °F) in July 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 39.2 °C (102.6 °F) in July 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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August 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 14.9 °C (58.8 °F) and a maximum of 30.1 °C (86.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.6 °C (36.7 °F) in August 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (96.5 °F). However, it reached 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) in August 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 14 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 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 17.6 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 9.6 °C (49.3 °F) and a maximum of 25.6 °C (78 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38 °F). However, it dropped to -0.5 °C (31.1 °F) in September 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 37.3 °C (99.1 °F) in September 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (3 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 10.6 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 3.1 °C (37.5 °F) and a maximum of 18.2 °C (64.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6.8 °C (19.8 °F) in October 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80.5 °F). However, it reached 31.1 °C (88 °F) in October 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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November is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 3.0 °C (37 °F), with a minimum of -2.8 °C (27 °F) and a maximum of 8.8 °C (47.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (15 °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 19.5 °C (67.5 °F). However, it reached 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) in November 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -4.7 °C (24 °F), with a minimum of -10.3 °C (13.5 °F) and a maximum of 0.9 °C (33.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -19.5 °C (-3.5 °F). However, it dropped to -29.9 °C (-21.8 °F) in December 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it reached 15.1 °C (59.2 °F) in December 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 8 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 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 4 kph (3 mph).