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Climate - Iran


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Iran

Map - Iran

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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
  • The plateau - Tabriz, Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz
  • Mountains
  • The south - Ahwaz, Bandar-e-Abbas, Chabahar, Iranshahr
  • Cyclones

The Caspian Sea



Climate of the Caspian coast

Along the coast overlooking the Caspian Sea, the climate is mild, almost Mediterranean, with fairly mild, rainy winters and hot, humid summers. Daily averages in July and August are around 25 °C/27 °C (77 °C/81 °F), with some chance of thunderstorms. The Caspian Sea is actually a huge salt lake, and the coast is situated about 20 meters below sea level. In the western part, winter is a bit colder than in the eastern part: the January average temperature ranges from 5 (41 °C) in the west to 7 °C (44.5 °F) in the east.

Rasht

In Rasht, a city located a short distance from the western part of the coast, the climate is mild. In winter, the temperature can reach 28/29 °C (82/84 °F) when the winds blow from the mountains. There can rarely be cold spells, with snow and frosts. In January 2008, the temperature dropped to -12.4 °C (9.7 °F).
The temperature can reach 37/38 °C (99/100 °C) in summer, but sometimes also in spring and autumn, when the wind blows from the mountains.
Here are the average temperatures.
Rasht - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January3117.3385245.2
February4117.4385245.2
March61510.4435850.7
April101814.1506557.5
May162420.1617668.1
June202824.1688375.3
July223025.9718678.7
August213026718778.8
September192722.9668073.2
October142218.2587264.7
November91712.8486255
December5139.1415548.4
Year12.520.716.5554.469.362

The annual precipitation amounts to 800/1,200 millimeters (32/47 inches), with a maximum in autumn and a minimum in summer. Here is the average precipitation in Rasht.
Rasht - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1505.912
February1204.711
March1104.312
April602.49
May552.28
June401.64
July401.64
August7537
September1455.710
October1305.112
November1706.711
December1656.511
Year125549.4109

In Rasht, the sun rarely shines from October to April, but even in summer, it is not seen so often: on average, it shines just 7 hours a day in June and July. In fact, the summer is not always sunny: some days are cloudy, and as mentioned, some thunderstorms may occur.
Rasht - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January390
February380
March2.570
April4115
May5160
June7205
July7210
August5.5165
September4.5140
October3.5110
November395
December385
Year4.21525

The southern Caspian Sea is warm enough for swimming from June to October, as you can see in the following table.
Rasht - Lake temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January1253
February1051
March1051
April1355
May1865
June2475
July2680
August2781
September2578
October2272
November1865
December1458
Year18.565.3

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.

Rudkhan Castle

In the area to the east of the Caspian Sea, occupied by plains and hills (Golestan), 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



Climate of the plateau

Much of Iran is covered by high plateaus and mountain ranges. The plateaus experience high temperature variations between winter and summer, and have a continental climate in the north, with cold winters and hot summers, while the climate is 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.

Tabriz

In Tabriz, located in the north-west, at 1,350 meters (4,400 feet) above sea level, winter is definitely cold: the average January temperature is -1 °C (30 °F). From November to March, it often snows, and frosts can be intense: the temperature at night can drop to -20 °C (-4 °F). Summer is hot and sunny, though not as hot as in south-central Iran: the daily average in July and August is 27 °C (80.5 °F), however, there can be scorching days, with peaks of 38/40 °C (100/104 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Tabriz - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-53-0.8233830.5
February-361.5264334.6
March1126.6345343.8
April61811.9436453.5
May112317.4527463.2
June173023.2628573.8
July203326.8699280.3
August203326.8699280.3
September152922598471.5
October92115487059.1
November2126.8355344.3
December-351.2274234.2
Year7.618.913.2545.76656

Annual precipitation in Tabriz is typical of a semi-arid climate, about 310 mm (12 in) per year. There's a maximum in spring and a minimum in summer, with some rain also in May, and occasional showers in June and September. Here is the average precipitation.
Tabriz - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January2516
February2516
March451.88
April552.210
May401.67
June200.84
July30.11
August40.21
September90.41
October301.26
November301.25
December2516
Year31012.260

In Tabriz, the sun regularly shines in summer, while in winter, there is an alternation between cloudy and sunny days.
Tabriz - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January4125
February5145
March6180
April6.5200
May8.5270
June11335
July11.5350
August11340
September10300
October7.5230
November6180
December4.5135
Year7.72795

In Lake Urmia, west of the city, the climate is similar to that of Tabriz.

Tehran

Since the Alborz Mountains partially protect it from the north wind, the capital city, Tehran, has a milder winter compared to other northern cities such as Tabriz. Of course, in winter it can snow and freeze here as well, although less often, and with less intense frosts: the lowest records are around -8/-10 °C (14/18 °F).
Tehran is a vast city, close to the mountains, so the northern suburbs, located at an altitude of up to 1,700 meters (5,600 feet) above sea level, are colder than the central and southern areas, which are located around 1,000/1,200 meters (3,300/4,000 feet). Summer in Tehran is hot, with scorching days, usually around 35/37 °C (95/99 °F) in July and August, but the humidity is low and the wind blows frequently. Here are the average temperatures at Mehrabad airport.
Tehran - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January194.9344840.8
February3117375244.7
March71611.7446253
April122217.3547263.1
May172822.8638373.1
June223428.2729482.8
July253731779887.7
August253630.2769786.3
September213226.1698979
October152519.7587767.4
November81611.7466153.1
December3106.7375144.1
Year13.223.218.1555.773.764.5

In Tehran, only 230 mm (9 in) of rain fall per year, most of which occurring from November to April: the desert is not far from here. However, in the northern districts, close to the mountains, rainfall exceeds 400 mm (15.5 in) per year. Here is the average precipitation.
Tehran - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January351.46
February351.45
March351.46
April301.25
May150.64
June30.11
July30.11
August100
September100
October150.63
November200.83
December351.46
Year2309.141

In Mashhad, in the north-east of the country, at an altitude of 1,000 meters (3,300 feet), the daily average ranges from 3 °C (37.5 °F) in January to 28 °C (82.5 °F) in July. In winter, snowfalls and severe frosts are possible, and the temperature can drop to around -20 °C (-4 °F), while in summer, the heat is often scorching, with peaks of 40/42 °C (104/108 °F). In a typical year, 250 mm (10 in) of rain fall.
In the south-central and the eastern parts of the plateau, the climate is a bit milder in winter, although the temperature varies with altitude, and frosts are generally possible at night, especially at high altitudes.

Isfahan

In Isfahan, located in the center of the country and at 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) above sea level, the daily average temperature ranges from 3.5 °C (38.5 °F) in January to 30 °C (86 °F) in July. Here are the average temperatures.
Isfahan - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-2103.7285038.7
February-1146.2305643.2
March41811396551.9
April102316.4497461.6
May142921.6588471
June193527.2679581.1
July223829.87210085.6
August203627.9679782.2
September153223.4589074.1
October92617.2487863
November3179.8376249.6
December-1125.5315341.9
Year9.324.216.748.775.562

Precipitation in Isfahan is very scarce and desert-like: only 110 mm (4.4 in) per year.
Isfahan - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January150.64
February150.63
March200.84
April200.84
May100.42
June100
July100
August000
September000
October50.21
November100.42
December200.84
Year1104.424

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

Qom is located at 900 meters (3,000 feet) above sea level, south of Tehran, at the edge of the Kavir desert. In a typical year, only 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain fall. The average January temperature is 4 °C (39 °F), while summer is particularly hot, so much so that the average in July is 32 °C (89.5 °F), with highs generally around 40 °C (104 °F).

Shiraz

Shiraz is located in the south, at an altitude of 1,500 meters (5,000 feet); at this latitude, the winter is quite mild even at an altitude so high. The average temperature ranges from 6.5 °C (43.5 °F) in January to 30 °C (86 °F) in July.
Shiraz - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January0136.5335543.7
February2158.9366048
March52012.5426754.4
April102517.4507663.4
May153123.1598873.6
June193727.9679882.2
July223830.27110186.3
August213729.1699984.3
September163425.1619377.2
October112819.6528367.2
November52012.6416854.7
December2158.2355946.8
Year10.826.118.4551.57965

Precipitation in Shiraz amounts to 305 mm (12 in) per year, as usual, with a minimum in summer.
Shiraz - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January803.17
February5026
March5026
April301.24
May50.21
June000
July100
August000
September000
October50.21
November200.83
December652.66
Year3051233

In addition to the temperature, the southern location of Shiraz is evident also in the fact that the sun shines very often even in winter.
Shiraz - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January7215
February7.5220
March7.5235
April8.5250
May10.5325
June12360
July11345
August10.5330
September10.5320
October9.5300
November8240
December7215
Year9.23345

Persepolis is located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Shiraz, at 1,600 meters (5,250 feet) above sea level, and therefore has a climate similar to that of Shiraz.

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 coldest 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



Mountain zones in Iran

Iran is a particularly mountainous country. This map only gives an indication of the distribution of the main mountain ranges. The major ranges are Alborz, whose highest point is Mount Damavand, 5,610 meters (18,405 feet) high and located south of the Caspian Sea, and Zagros, a long chain located in the west, whose highest peaks are around 4,200 meters (13,800 ft), and which shelter the Iranian plateau from the mild currents of Mediterranean origin. 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



Climate of 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, where cities like Dezful, Ahwaz 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 44/46 °C (111/115 °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.

Ahwaz

Here are the average temperatures of Ahwaz, which in summer is one of the hottest cities in the world.
Ahwaz - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January81813476455.4
February102115.4507059.7
March142619.8567967.6
April193225.6669078
May254032.27710390.1
June284536.58311397.7
July304638.487116101
August304637.985115100.3
September2543347810993.1
October203627.9689782.2
November142620577967.9
December92014.4496758
Year19.333.326.2566.891.979.5

In Ahvaz, the sun shines for a good number of hours in winter, while in summer, the sky is normally clear.
Ahwaz - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January5.5175
February7195
March7215
April8235
May9285
June11325
July11335
August10.5330
September10300
October8.5265
November7210
December5.5175
Year8.33045

Along the coast of the Persian Gulf, winter is even milder, with January averages ranging from 15.5 °C (60 °F) in Busher to 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) in Bandar-e-Abbas (the latter is located in the Strait of Hormuz). Here are the average temperatures in Bushehr.
Bushehr - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January111915.4536759.7
February132116.8556962.2
March162520.3607768.5
April213025.1698677.2
May253429.8789485.6
June283632829789.5
July303833.78510092.6
August303834.18610193.4
September273732819889.7
October233328739182.4
November182622647971.5
December132117567062.6
Year21.229.925.570.285.878

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.
Bushehr - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2067
February1865
March1967
April2272
May2679
June2985
July3189
August3391
September3290
October3085
November2680
December2373
Year25.978.6

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.

Bandar-e-Abbas

Here are the average temperatures of Bandar-e-Abbas.
Bandar-e-Abbas - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January122317.5537463.5
February142519.4577767
March172822.4638272.3
April213226.9709080.3
May253731789887.9
June283933.58310192.3
July313834.48710193.9
August303733.8869992.9
September283732.2829890
October243529.2749584.6
November183023.9648675
December132619.3557866.8
Year21.832.226.9571.39080.5

In Bandar-e-Abbas, the sun often shines all the year round, but there is a certain increase in cloudiness in summer, due to the effects of the summer monsoon, which however, in this area are still poor.
Bandar-e-Abbas - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January7220
February7.5210
March7.5230
April8240
May10315
June10300
July8.5265
August8.5270
September9270
October9285
November8.5250
December7.5230
Year8.53090

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.
Bandar-e-Abbas - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2374
February2272
March2374
April2578
May2883
June3188
July3290
August3290
September3289
October3086
November2882
December2577
Year27.882

East of the Strait of Hormuz, on the Gulf of Oman, the climate is practically tropical, since the average temperature of January reaches 20 °C (68 °F). Summer becomes progressively less hot as you move to the east because this area begins to be affected by the Indian monsoon circulation.

Chabahar

In Chabahar (or Chah-Bahar, formerly Bandar Beheshti), the hottest months are May and June, with highs of 35/35.5 °C (95/96 °F), while in July and August, they drop to 32/33 °C (90/91 °F), and there may be overcast and muggy days, though with very little rainfall.
Chabahar - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January162420607667.9
February172521627769.9
March202823.9688275
April233227.4748981.4
May273531809687.8
June293532849589.5
July293331.1849287.9
August273229.6818985.4
September263229.5809085.1
October243228759082.4
November202924.6688576.3
December172621.5627970.8
Year22.930.426.673.286.880

In Chabahar, there is a certain decrease in the sunshine hours in summer, which is even more evident than in Bandar-e-Abbas.
Chabahar - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January7.5240
February8.5235
March8.5265
April9.5280
May10.5330
June9.5285
July8245
August8240
September8.5260
October9.5295
November9270
December8250
Year8.83195

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.
Chabahar - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2475
February2374
March2476
April2680
May2985
June3188
July3188
August3086
September2985
October2984
November2781
December2577
Year27.581.5

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.

Iranshahr

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.
Iranshahr - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January82114.9477058.8
February112417.6527563.6
March152922608471.6
April213527.8699582
May264133.57910592.3
June304437.28611299
July314437.889111100
August294336.38511097.3
September264033.27910591.8
October213528699682.3
November142821.4588370.5
December102316.5497461.6
Year20.434.127.1568.693.381

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).

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