(according to the Köppen classification, cold semi-arid or steppe climate - BSk), with relatively cold winters and hot, sunny summers. Precipitation, which is decidedly scarce, occurs mostly from December to April.
Birjand is a city of 203,000 inhabitants located in eastern Iran, in the middle of the desert, in the province of South Khorasan, at almost 33 degrees north latitude and at 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) above sea level. About 130 kilometers (80 miles) to the east is the border with Afghanistan.
There can be mild periods, with highs of 15 °C (59 °F) or more, but also cold periods, during which snowfalls can occur, generally not abundant given the low level of precipitation. During cold spells, the temperature can drop to -15 °C (5 °F) or below. In January 2008 it dropped to -20 °C (-4 °F).
, from June to August, is very hot, but it is also windy, and the humidity is very low. On the hottest days the temperature can exceed 40 °C (104 °F). In 2024, it reached 43.4 °C (110.1 °F) in July and 44.1 °C (114 °F) in August.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
4.4 °C, with a minimum of
-2.6 °C and a maximum of
11.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-12 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
26.2 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is of
7.7 kph.
February is generally a quite mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
7.1 °C, with a minimum of
0.2 °C and a maximum of
14 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-8 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
30.8 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is of
9.1 kph.
March is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
11.8 °C, with a minimum of
4.6 °C and a maximum of
18.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
35.5 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is of
10.2 kph.
April is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
17.6 °C, with a minimum of
10 °C and a maximum of
25.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
20.6 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 32%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
10.3 kph.
May is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
22.4 °C, with a minimum of
14.2 °C and a maximum of
30.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
7 mm, and all occurs in one day.
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 24%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
11.3 kph.
June is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
26.6 °C, with a minimum of
18.2 °C and a maximum of
35.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
39.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.5 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 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 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 81% of the time.
The average humidity is 17%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
12.9 kph.
July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
27.8 °C, with a minimum of
19.9 °C and a maximum of
35.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
40 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 85% of the time.
The average humidity is 19%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
15.1 kph.
August is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
25.8 °C, with a minimum of
17.1 °C and a maximum of
34.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
38.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 88% of the time.
The average humidity is 18%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
12.9 kph.
September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
22.1 °C, with a minimum of
12.4 °C and a maximum of
31.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.5 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 87% of the time.
The average humidity is 18%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
9.6 kph.
October is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
17 °C, with a minimum of
7.5 °C and a maximum of
26.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
2.9 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 25%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
7.9 kph.
November is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
10.9 °C, with a minimum of
2.6 °C and a maximum of
19.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5.5 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C.
Precipitation amounts to only
7.7 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 36%.
The average wind speed is of
7.2 kph.
December is generally a quite cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
6.4 °C, with a minimum of
-1.3 °C and a maximum of
14.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-9 °C.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C.
Precipitation amounts to
17.4 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is of
7.3 kph.