Skip to main content

 Climates to travel
 World climate guide
 
 Open menu
 Home

 Africa

 N.America

 S.America

 Antarctica

 Asia

 Caribbean

 Europe

 M.East

 Oceania

 All the countries
Open menu
 Home

 Africa

 N.America

 S.America

 Antarctica

 Asia

 Caribbean

 Europe

 M.East

 Oceania

 All the countries
Select units of measurement for the temperature and rainfall tables (metric or imperial).

Climate in Iran


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Iran

Map - Iran

You are here: Home --> Middle East --> Iran


Share this page:
Facebook LinkedIn Whatsapp Email




Iran, a large country in western Asia, has different types of climate: mild and quite wet on the coast of the Caspian Sea, continental and arid in the plateau, cold in high mountains, desert and hot on the southern coast and in the southeast.
Generally speaking, Iran is an arid country; however, in the west and the north, the rains are a bit more abundant than in the east and the south. The only rainy area is the Caspian Sea coast. Summer is sunny everywhere (except on the shores of the Caspian Sea).

Index


  • The Caspian Sea - Rasht, Gorgan
  • The plateau - Tabriz, Mashhad, Isfahan, Tehran
  • Mountains
  • The south - Bushehr, Chabahar, Bandar-e-Abbas
  • Cyclones
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

The Caspian Sea


Iran, map showing the coasts of the Caspian Sea
Iran, coasts of the Caspian Sea
In the thin flat strip between the Caspian Sea and the Alborz Mountains, the climate is mild, almost Mediterranean. Winters are quite mild and rainy, with January averages of around 7 °C (44.5 °F). Summers are hot and humid, with daily averages in July and August around 25 °C/27 °C (77 °C/81 °F), and with some chance of thunderstorms.
Precipitation is more abundant than in the rest of Iran, which generally has an arid climate, and ranges from 800 to 1,400 millimeters (31.5 to 55 in) per year, with a maximum in autumn and a minimum in summer.
Although the climate is mild, in winter, cold air from the north, loading with moisture over the Caspian Sea, can bring snowfall.
On the other hand, the southerly winds, which descend from the mountains, can bring sudden increases in temperature.
The summer is not always sunny: some days are cloudy, and as mentioned, some thunderstorms may occur.
In Rasht, a city located a short distance from the western part of the coast, the average temperature ranges from 7 °C (44.5 °F) in January to 26 °C (79 °F) in July and August. On average, almost 1,400 mm (55 in) of rain fall per year.

The Caspian Sea is actually a huge salt lake, and the coast is situated about 20 meters (65 feet) below sea level. Its waters are warm enough for swimming from June to October.

On the slopes at the foot of the Alborz Mountains, the landscape is particularly green, and covered with forests. This is the wettest area of Iran.

Image of Rudkhan Castle

In the area to the east of the Caspian Sea, occupied by plains and hills (in the part of Golestan north of Gorgan), the climate is arid, almost desert, with hot summers.
Since autumn, though mild, is rainy, if you want to visit this area, the best time is spring, especially the month of May.

The Plateau


Iran, map showing the plateau
Iran, the plateau
Much of Iran is covered by high plateaus and mountain ranges. The plateau is bordered to the west by the Zagros mountains, and to the north by the aforementioned Alborz mountains. Several cities, including the capital, are found here, at an altitude between 900 and 2,000 metres (3,000 and 6,500 feet). The climate in this area varies with altitude as well as latitude. The plateau experiences high temperature variations between winter and summer.
There is generally a continental climate in the north, with cold winters and hot summers, and sub-tropical in the central-southern part, where winters are a bit milder, and summers are scorching and sunny.
In the northernmost part, winter is very cold because of the influence of cold air masses coming from Russia. In summer, the Iranian plateau heats up a lot, so much so that a thermal low pressure forms, but because of the low humidity, the heat is usually bearable, at least when the temperature is not too high.

Image of Tehran

The average temperatures in January drop slightly below freezing in the coldest cities, those of the northwest (see Tabriz, Urmia) as well as those located at the highest altitudes (see Shahrekord).
In Tehran, the capital, quite mild because it is protected by the Alborz mountains, the January average is 5 °C (41 °F).
Instead, in the milder areas of the center-south (see Shiraz, Yazd), the January average reaches 6/7 °C (43/45 °F).
In winter, the plateau can experience cold waves, with snowfall and frost, during which temperatures can drop to -10 °C (14 °F) in the mildest areas, and to -30 °C (-22 °F) in the coldest ones.

In summer, the average July temperature ranges from 23 °C (73.5 °F) in the north-western cities, to 28 °C (83 °F) in Mashhad, to 29.5 °C (85 °F) in Isfahan, to 31 °C (88 °F) in Tehran, to 32/33 °C (90/91 °F) in the hottest cities (see Qom).
In much of the plateau, the temperature can exceed 40 °C (104 °F) on the hottest days, with peaks of 45 °C (113 °F) in the hottest cities.

Precipitation is generally scarce, from 200 to 350 millimeters (8 to 14 inches) per year (locally more near the western mountains), so much so that the landscape is semi-arid. In the central-eastern areas, where precipitation drops even below 100 mm (4 in) per year, there are also deserts.

Image of the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan

The Kavir desert (Dasht-e-Kavir, "Great Salt Desert") is a large, arid and inhospitable area, located south-east of Tehran (see the green area in the map). There are sand dunes, but also salt lakes fed by rivers flowing down from the mountains, which are dried for much of the year, partly because of the strong evaporation. The desert is located at an altitude of about 700 meters (2,300 feet). Here, winter is quite cold, while summer is scorchingly hot.

If you want to visit Tehran and the cities of the plateau, the best times are spring and autumn, especially the months of April and October.
In the colder northern cities such as Tabriz, you can move the date by two weeks towards summer (so, mid-April to mid-May and mid-September to mid-October), while in warmer cities like Qom, you can move it by two weeks towards winter (ie mid-March to mid-April and mid-October to mid-November).

The mountains


Iran, map showing the mountains
Iran, the mountains
Iran is a particularly mountainous country. This map only gives an indication of the distribution of the main mountain ranges.
The major ranges are the aforementioned Alborz, whose highest point is Mount Damavand, 5,610 meters (18,405 feet) high and is located south of the Caspian Sea, and Zagros, a long chain located on a northwest-southeast axis, whose highest peaks are around 4,200 meters (13,800 ft), and which shelters the Iranian plateau from the mild southerly currents.
In winter, high mountains experience snowfalls, frosts and strong winds. On the summits, snow cover lasts for many months, but it melts almost everywhere in summer because this season is hot even at high altitudes. Only in the north, on the peaks of Alborz, there are glaciers above 3,500 meters (11,500 ft), for example, on Damavand and Alam Kuh.

The south


Map showing southern Iran
Southern Iran
The southern part of Iran, compared with the rest of the country is really a world apart, in fact, it is warm to hot for most of the year, semi-desert and with virtually no winter.
The winter is mild in the west, at the border with Iraq, in the plain of the Shatt-al-Arab (Khuzistan province), where cities like Dezful, Ahvaz and Abadan are found, and where the average in January is about 12/13 °C (53/55 °F), while summer is scorchingly hot, with highs around 46/47 °C (115/117 °F) in July and August, and peaks of 52 °C (125.5 °F). In winter, cold air masses can sometimes lower the temperature, and there may be some frosts at night.
Only the northern part is relatively rainy: in Dezful, 385 mm (15 in) of rain fall per year, with moderate rainfall from December to February, while in Ahvaz, rainfall drops to 230 mm (9 in), and in Abadan, in drops to 150 mm (6 in) per year.

Along the coast of the Persian Gulf, winter is even milder, with January averages ranging from 15.5 °C (60 °F) in Bushehr to 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) in Bandar-e-Abbas (the latter is located in the Strait of Hormuz).
The Persian Gulf is a bit cool for swimming in winter, while it gets very warm in summer, since it exceeds 30 °C (86 °F) for a few months.
In summer, the temperatures in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are high during the day, with highs around 38 °C (100 °F), and even the night temperatures remain very high, around 30 °C (86 °F); the humidity coming from the sea makes the heat sweltering and hard to bear.
The amount of rainfall is low, typical of a semi-desert climate: 230 mm (9 in) per year in Bushehr and 170 mm (6.7 in) in Bandar-e-Abbas.
In winter, the Strait of Hormuz is a bit warmer than the Persian Gulf, and it's still warm enough for swimming, in fact it does not drop below 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) in February.

Image of Bandar-e-Abbas

Continuing along the coast, east of the Strait of Hormuz, on the Gulf of Oman (see Jask, Chabahar), the climate is practically tropical, since the average temperature of January reaches 20 °C (68 °F). The summer, on the other hand, is less hot, since this area is partially affected by the Indian monsoon circulation.
In Chabahar (or Chah-Bahar, formerly Bandar Beheshti), the hottest months are May and June, with highs of almost 34 °C (93 °F), while in July and August, they drop to 31/32 °C (88/90 °F), and there may be overcast and muggy days, though with very little rainfall.
In Chabahar, there is a certain decrease in the sunshine hours in summer, which is even more evident than in Bandar-e-Abbas.
The Gulf of Oman is warm enough for swimming even in winter, while it becomes very warm in summer, but a little less than in the Strait of Hormuz.

North of this area, and south-east of the Kavir desert, we find another desert, even more inhospitable, the Lut Desert (Dasht-e-Lut, the area circled in orange in the map). The Lut, generally sandy, is mild in winter during the day, but nights are cold, while it's very hot in summer, especially in the southern part, where the altitude drops to 200 meters (650 feet) above sea level. The peaks of summer heat, around 55 °C (131 °F), make it one of the hottest deserts in the world.

Further south, the region of Sistan and Baluchistan, at least in the part where altitude is below 1,000 meters (3,300 feet), has a similar climate.
In Iranshahr, at 550 meters (1,800 feet) of altitude, the average ranges from 15 °C (59 °F) in January to 38 °C (100 °F) in July: this is also one of the hottest cities in the world.

In this southern region of Iran, the best months are March and November in the area of the Persian Gulf, while in the eastern part, from the Strait of Hormuz to the east, and also in Sistan and Baluchistan, the best period runs from December to February.

Tropical cyclones



The southeastern part of Iran, overlooking the Gulf of Oman, in the provinces of Hormozgan and Sistan and Baluchestan, may be affected by tropical cyclones.
Cyclones typically do not directly affect Iran, but pass to the south, towards the Arabian Peninsula, or to the east, towards Pakistan, bringing nonetheless rain and wind in the southeastern tip of Iran (as happened with Cyclone Phet in early June 2010).
More rarely, it can happen that they can reach the coast, and maybe penetrate a bit inland, before dissipating, as happened twice in June 2007, at the beginning of the month with Cyclone Gonu, and at the end of the month with Cyclone Yemyin.
Cyclones form from May to November, and are more frequent at the beginning of the period (May-June), and a little less at the end (October-November).

When to go



Given the vastness of Iran and its different climates, it is difficult to find a period that is best for all the country, however, you can choose spring and autumn to avoid the winter cold (present especially in the north and at high altitudes) as well as the summer heat (present almost everywhere).
You can choose spring, in particular the month of April, which, however, can still be a bit cold in the north and in the mountains, and can already be hot in the south, in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and even more so in Sistan and Baluchistan.
Autumn can be nice as well, especially the month of October, but in the south, it's even hotter than in April, while it may be rainy on the Caspian Sea.

What to pack



In winter: on the coast of the Caspian Sea, bring warm clothes, such as a sweater, a jacket, and a raincoat or umbrella. In Tabriz, the northern plateau and high mountains, very warm clothes, such as a down jacket, a hat, a scarf, and gloves. In Tehran and Isfahan, warm clothes, such as a sweater, a coat, and a hat. In the Lut Desert, spring/autumn clothes (light for the day), a sweater, a jacket, and a scarf for the sand. On the coast of the Persian Gulf and in Bandar-e-Abbas, spring/autumn clothes, a jacket and a sweater; for the Gulf of Oman, spring/autumn clothes (light for the day), a light jacket and a sweater.

In summer: on the coast of the Caspian Sea, bring light clothes, a light sweatshirt for the evening, a scarf for the breeze, and possibly a light raincoat or umbrella. In Tehran and the major cities of the plateau, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, light and long shirts and pants of natural fibers (cotton, linen), a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, comfortable and breathable shoes, a desert turban, and a sweatshirt for the evening. Above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), you can add a jacket for the evening.
On high mountains, bring warmer clothes depending on the altitude. On the shores of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, bring tropics-friendly, lightweight clothes, a desert turban, a sweatshirt and a scarf for air conditioned.
When visiting mosques, you must cover your shoulders and knees, and take off your shoes. Women should avoid low-cut dresses.

Climate data - Iran


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Abadan
Abadan, location on the map
Abadan, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.8101420252829282520149
Max temp.182127334045474743372720
Precip.3515201550000102540
Prec. days433210000134
Humidity67%54%44%37%27%20%22%25%27%38%53%66%
Day length101112131414141312111110
Sun hours67881011111110976

Ahvaz
Ahvaz, location on the map
Ahvaz, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.81014192528303025201410
Max temp.182126334045474743362620
Precip.4525301550000104050
Prec. days534300000134
Humidity68%56%46%37%25%19%21%24%26%36%53%69%
Day length101112131414141312111110
Sun hours67881011111110976

Arak (1,720 meters)
Arak, location on the map
Arak, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-5-227111620181482-2
Max temp.591420263236353123148
Precip.35355555255000204040
Prec. days657751000356
Humidity68%59%48%45%38%24%23%23%24%38%57%67%
Day length101112131414141312111010
Sun hours5678911111110865

Bandar Abbas
Bandar Abbas, location on the map
Bandar Abbas, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.121417212528313028241813
Max temp.232528333739383837353026
Precip.45304550000051025
Prec. days333100000112
Humidity64%65%65%59%56%60%66%68%66%63%59%58%
Day length111112131414141312121110
Sun hours78791010999988
Sea temp232223252831323232302825

Birjand (1,490 meters)
Birjand, location on the map
Birjand, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-30510141820171283-1
Max temp.111419253135363432261914
Precip.253035205000051015
Prec. days455410000123
Humidity53%48%39%32%24%17%19%18%18%25%36%46%
Day length101112131414141312111010
Sun hours77781012121211987

Bushehr
Bushehr, location on the map
Bushehr, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.121316212629303128241814
Max temp.202124303436373836332722
Precip.80252050000056060
Prec. days533200000144
Humidity65%64%58%53%51%54%57%61%59%58%59%67%
Day length101112131414141312121110
Sun hours77781011101010987
Sea temp201819222629313332302623

Chabahar
Chabahar, location on the map
Chabahar, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.171820242729292827242118
Max temp.242527303334323131312926
Precip.35520001050051025
Prec. days212000000011
Sun hours8889108678998
Sea temp242324262931313029292725

Gorgan
Gorgan, location on the map
Gorgan, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.2361015202323191384
Max temp.131317212832343431261914
Precip.555565453025152040556545
Prec. days678753334466
Humidity80%80%79%79%69%63%66%67%69%71%77%81%
Day length101112131415141412111010
Sun hours555678887755

Hamadan (1,750 meters)
Hamadan, location on the map
Hamadan, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-7-5048111514950-4
Max temp.471318243135343022137
Precip.30405550255500254540
Prec. days667741100366
Sun hours56781012111110865

Iranshahr (550 meters)
Iranshahr, location on the map
Iranshahr, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.81115212630312926201410
Max temp.212429354144444341362924
Precip.2020205055505515
Prec. days223101110001
Humidity41%35%32%23%17%17%21%18%17%20%27%35%
Day length111112131414141312121110
Sun hours888910101010101098

Isfahan (1,500 meters)
Isfahan, location on the map
Isfahan, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-305101419222015103-1
Max temp.101418232935383632261712
Precip.2015252010000052020
Prec. days434420000133
Day length101112131414141312111010
Sun hours78891012111211976

Jask
Jask, location on the map
Jask, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.181921242830313028262219
Max temp.242527303435343333322926
Precip.30102550500001020
Prec. days212100000012
Humidity63%65%69%68%68%74%80%80%77%71%63%59%
Day length111112131414141312121110
Sun hours8889109789998

Kermanshah (1,300 meters)
Kermanshah, location on the map
Kermanshah, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-3-226101418171283-1
Max temp.91116212835393934261712
Precip.55557060250005356050
Prec. days878740000367
Humidity66%58%51%49%38%21%17%17%19%33%53%63%
Day length101112131414141312111010
Sun hours5667911111110865

Kermun (1,750 meters)
Kermun, location on the map
Kermun, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-3049131718151171-2
Max temp.131620253135363532272016
Precip.202525201000005520
Prec. days445320000113
Humidity46%41%34%30%22%16%16%17%18%25%35%43%
Day length101112131414141312111110
Sun hours778910111111111087

Mashhad (990 meters)
Mashhad, location on the map
Mashhad, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-204101419211914840
Max temp.81116222833353430231611
Precip.30355540305005101520
Prec. days567651000233
Humidity68%66%62%54%43%30%26%25%30%41%59%68%
Day length101112131415141412111010
Sun hours5567912121210865

Omidiyeh
Omidiyeh, location on the map
Omidiyeh, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.8101319242629282419139
Max temp.182227344146474743372720
Precip.6035352050000105060
Prec. days644210000146
Humidity66%54%40%33%21%16%19%23%24%30%49%67%
Day length101112131414141312111110
Sun hours6778911111110976

Qom (930 meters)
Qom, location on the map
Qom, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-2151015202321161040
Max temp.101419263238403935281912
Precip.2520302010000051520
Prec. days444420000233
Sun hours67781012111110876

Rasht
Rasht, location on the map
Rasht, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.4471016202222191596
Max temp.121215192428303127231713
Precip.1301301107540405070160200220155
Prec. days101010764469101110
Humidity84%84%82%81%78%75%75%77%83%87%87%85%
Day length101112131415141412111010
Sun hours333468875433

Shahrekord (2,080 meters)
Shahrekord, location on the map
Shahrekord, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-9-6-3258121162-2-7
Max temp.691419253134332923149
Precip.50456040150000104555
Prec. days656620000246
Humidity63%55%46%46%38%24%23%23%25%34%51%60%
Day length101112131414141312111010
Sun hours68881012111110976

Shiraz (1,500 meters)
Shiraz, location on the map
Shiraz, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.025914182119151051
Max temp.131620253137393834282015
Precip.805550255000054065
Prec. days655310000135
Humidity57%49%43%39%25%18%20%21%22%29%46%56%
Day length101112131414141312111110
Sun hours788911121111101087

Tabas (710 meters)
Tabas, location on the map
Tabas, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.461117232730272317105
Max temp.151824313642434238322316
Precip.15152015500000510
Prec. days333210000022
Humidity48%40%31%26%19%13%12%13%14%20%34%45%
Day length101112131414141312111010
Sun hours78891012121211987

Tabriz (1,350 meters)
Tabriz, location on the map
Tabriz, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-5-316111620201592-3
Max temp.461218243034342922126
Precip.202030504010555202525
Prec. days447772111345
Humidity71%64%54%51%45%35%32%31%35%46%62%70%
Day length101112131415141412111010
Sun hours5667911111110864

Tehran (1,200 meters)
Tehran, location on the map
Tehran, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.1371318222525211583
Max temp.81116222834373632251610
Precip.30354035150000153030
Prec. days556541000255
Humidity57%50%41%37%30%23%24%25%27%36%49%58%
Day length101112131414141312111010
Sun hours6678911111110865

Urmia (1,300 meters)
Urmia, location on the map
Urmia, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-6-50481216151060-4
Max temp.471218232832312720126
Precip.253045604010555254030
Prec. days546772111455
Humidity74%67%57%55%54%45%44%44%46%56%68%74%
Day length101112131415141412111010
Sun hours5678912121110864

Yazd (1,240 meters)
Yazd, location on the map
Yazd, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.1481419242624201473
Max temp.131722273338403835282015
Precip.105105500000510
Prec. days212210000012
Humidity47%36%28%26%19%13%13%13%14%22%36%45%
Day length101112131414141312111010
Sun hours78891012111211987

Zahedan (1,350 meters)
Zahedan, location on the map
Zahedan, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.1481318202118141051
Max temp.151822283336373633282217
Precip.15101510500005510
Prec. days322210000011
Humidity45%39%34%26%20%15%15%15%16%23%32%40%
Day length101112131414141312111110
Sun hours788910111111111097

Zanjan (1,665 meters)
Zanjan, location on the map
Zanjan, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-5-30581215141061-3
Max temp.681319243033332922138
Precip.2530405040101055203530
Prec. days566872211455
Humidity68%64%54%50%46%36%36%34%37%47%60%67%
Day length101112131415141412111010
Sun hours5667912111110854



See also the temperatures month by month

Back to top


© Copyright Climatestotravel.com. 

Back to Middle East

All the countries


Share this page:
Facebook LinkedIn Whatsapp Email



 See also (cities or regions):
 Abadan
 Ahvaz
 Arak
 Bandar Abbas
 Birjand
 Bushehr
 Chabahar
 Gorgan
 Hamadan
 Others (expand)
 Iranshahr
 Isfahan
 Jask
 Kermanshah
 Kermun
 Mashhad
 Omidiyeh
 Qom
 Rasht
 Shahrekord
 Shiraz
 Tabas
 Tabriz
 Tehran
 Urmia
 Yazd
 Zahedan
 Zanjan

 Weather by month:
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May
 June
 July
 August
 September
 October
 November
 December

 Nearby countries:
 Afghanistan
 Armenia
 Azerbaijan
 Iraq
 Kuwait
 Oman
 Oman
 Pakistan
 Qatar
 Turkmenistan
 United Arab Emirates

 Continents:
 Africa
 North America
 South America
 Antarctica
 Asia
 Caribbean
 Europe
 Middle East
 Oceania

 Search in the website:

Home About Contact Us Useful Links Policy
Home
About
Contact Us
Useful Links
Policy