Weather and climate in Zhengzhou (Henan)

The climate of Zhengzhou (formerly Zhengxian) is continental, with cold, dry winters and hot, muggy and rainy summers.
The city is the capital of the Henan province and is located in the east of China, at 34 degrees north latitude, on the south bank of the Yellow River (or Huang He). To the southwest is Mount Song, 1,512 meters (4,961 feet) high, one of the five sacred mountains of China, while to the east is the North China Plain (or Yellow Plain), considered as the cradle of Chinese civilization.
Winter is dry and quite sunny. Sometimes fog can form. Given the low temperatures, precipitation, even though it is not abundant, can occur in the form of snow.
Sometimes there can be cold spells, during which the temperature drops to -10 °C (14 °F) or even below. In January 1990, it dropped to -18 °C (-0.5 °F).
Summer is the only season when the rains are quite abundant. Sometimes there can be particularly heavy rains, which can cause flooding, as happened in July 2021.
In periods of good weather, there can be heat waves, during which the temperature can reach or exceed 40 °C (104 °F). In June 2022, the temperature reached 42.3 °C (108.1 °F), and the average maximum was 37.7 °C (99.9 °F).

Best Time

To visit Zhengzhou you can choose spring, in particular the month of April, and autumn, in particular from late October to mid-November. In May it can already be very hot.

Zhengzhou - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 0.9 °C (33.6 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 27.6 °C (81.6 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 640 millimeters (25.2 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 9 mm (0.4 in) in the driest month (December) to 145 mm (5.7 in) in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2185 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Zhengzhou - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 0.9 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -4.2 °C (24.5 °F) and a maximum of 5.9 °C (42.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9 °C (16 °F). However, it dropped to -14.3 °C (6.3 °F) in January 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59.5 °F). However, it reached 19.9 °C (67.8 °F) in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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February is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.2 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of -1.4 °C (29.5 °F) and a maximum of 9.7 °C (49.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19.5 °F). However, it dropped to -10.9 °C (12.4 °F) in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66 °F). However, it reached 25.2 °C (77.4 °F) in February 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 12 mm (0.5 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.6 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 3.7 °C (38.7 °F) and a maximum of 15.5 °C (59.9 °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 -7.5 °C (18.5 °F) in March 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 33 °C (91.4 °F) in March 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.9 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 9.6 °C (49.3 °F) and a maximum of 22.1 °C (71.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to -1.4 °C (29.5 °F) in April 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) in April 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.5 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 15.3 °C (59.5 °F) and a maximum of 27.7 °C (81.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 5.7 °C (42.3 °F) in May 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (96 °F). However, it reached 40.8 °C (105.4 °F) in May 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 26.1 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 20.3 °C (68.6 °F) and a maximum of 31.9 °C (89.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it dropped to 14 °C (57.2 °F) in June 2017.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C (101 °F). However, it reached 42.5 °C (108.5 °F) in June 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 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 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 27.6 °C (82 °F), with a minimum of 23 °C (73.4 °F) and a maximum of 32.2 °C (89.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it dropped to 17.4 °C (63.3 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (100 °F). However, it reached 41.6 °C (106.9 °F) in July 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 145 mm (5.7 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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August is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 26.2 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 21.8 °C (71.2 °F) and a maximum of 30.6 °C (87.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it dropped to 12 °C (53.6 °F) in August 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (96.5 °F). However, it reached 39 °C (102.2 °F) in August 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 140 mm (5.5 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.6 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 16.4 °C (61.4 °F) and a maximum of 26.9 °C (80.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) in September 1995.
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 37.9 °C (100.2 °F) in September 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 8 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 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.8 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 10 °C (50 °F) and a maximum of 21.7 °C (71 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to -0.5 °C (31.1 °F) in October 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in October 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 8.6 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 2.9 °C (37.2 °F) and a maximum of 14.2 °C (57.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (26 °F). However, it dropped to -13.1 °C (8.4 °F) in November 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). However, it reached 28.1 °C (82.6 °F) in November 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.9 °C (37 °F), with a minimum of -2.3 °C (27.8 °F) and a maximum of 8.1 °C (46.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19 °F). However, it dropped to -11 °C (12.2 °F) in December 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 21.8 °C (71.2 °F) in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 9 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).