Climate in Astana (Kazakhstan)

The climate of Astana is semi-arid continental, with very cold winters and warm summers.
Astana (formerly Nur-Sultan, Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, and Akmola) is a city of 1,400,000 inhabitants, the capital of Kazakhstan, located in the north of the country, on the banks of the Ishim River, at 51 degrees north latitude and 350 meters (1,150 feet) above sea level.

The city is windy.

The precipitation is quite scarce, amounting to about 340 millimeters (13 inches) per year. The rainiest months are June and July, due to afternoon thunderstorms.
Precipitation is more abundant than in southern Kazakhstan, and since the winter is long and cold, total evaporation is not very high. For this reason, in the Köppen classification, the climate is regarded as humid continental with warm summers (Dfb).

Winter, from November to March, is very cold. With an average January temperature of around -14.5 °C (6 °F), Astana is one of the coldest capitals in the world (second only to Ulan Bator, in Mongolia). There are sunny periods, but also periods when the sky is cloudy, and light snow falls. Fog can sometimes form.
The ground is usually covered in snow. However, since precipitation is scarce, snowfall is generally not abundant.
During cold waves, the temperature drops to -30 °C (-22 °F) or below in most years, and occasionally even drops below -40 °C (-40 °F).
The record is -51.6 °C (-60.9 °F), but it dates back to a colder era, in January 1893. More recently, the temperature dropped to -44.9 °C (-48.8 °F) in January 1943.
January 1969 was the coldest month, with a monthly daily average of -29.65 °C (-21.4 °F).

Summer, from June to August, is quite warm and sunny, with often notable differences in temperature between night and day, and with possible rain and thunderstorms, usually not intense. The average in July is about 20.5 °C (69 °F).
Sometimes there can be heat waves, during which the temperature can reach and exceed 37/38 °C (99/100 °F). The record is 41.6 °C (106.9 °F), set in July 1936.

Astana - Climate data

In Astana, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -14.4 °C (6 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 20.8 °C (69.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 335 millimeters (13.2 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 16.7 mm (0.7 in) in the driest month (February) to 55.8 mm (2.2 in) in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2505 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Astana - 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 -14.4 °C (6 °F), with a minimum of -18.6 °C (-1.5 °F) and a maximum of -10.3 °C (13.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -31 °C (-23.5 °F). However, it dropped to -42 °C (-43.6 °F) in January 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it reached 3.8 °C (38.8 °F) in January 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 17.8 mm (0.7 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -13.4 °C (8 °F), with a minimum of -17.9 °C (-0.2 °F) and a maximum of -8.8 °C (16.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -29.5 °C (-21 °F). However, it dropped to -39.3 °C (-38.7 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 0.5 °C (32.5 °F). However, it reached 8.2 °C (46.8 °F) in February 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 16.7 mm (0.7 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 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 14 kph (9 mph).

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March is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -5.9 °C (21 °F), with a minimum of -10.3 °C (13.5 °F) and a maximum of -1.4 °C (29.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -22.5 °C (-9 °F). However, it dropped to -35.2 °C (-31.4 °F) in March 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 8 °C (46.5 °F). However, it reached 20.4 °C (68.7 °F) in March 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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April is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 6.8 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of 1.2 °C (34.2 °F) and a maximum of 12.3 °C (54.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9 °C (15.5 °F). However, it dropped to -17.4 °C (0.7 °F) in April 2015.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75 °F). However, it reached 30 °C (86 °F) in April 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 21.7 mm (0.9 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.6 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 8.3 °C (46.9 °F) and a maximum of 21 °C (69.8 °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 -6.4 °C (20.5 °F) in May 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87 °F). However, it reached 36.1 °C (97 °F) in May 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 33.4 mm (1.3 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.7 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 13.5 °C (56.3 °F) and a maximum of 25.9 °C (78.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to -1.2 °C (29.8 °F) in June 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 38.1 °C (100.6 °F) in June 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 16 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 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.8 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 15 °C (59 °F) and a maximum of 26.6 °C (79.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.6 °C (40.3 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 40.1 °C (104.2 °F) in July 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 55.8 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.3 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 13.1 °C (55.6 °F) and a maximum of 25.5 °C (77.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to 0.4 °C (32.7 °F) in August 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93.5 °F). However, it reached 38.2 °C (100.8 °F) in August 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 31.3 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) and a maximum of 19 °C (66.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30 °F). However, it dropped to -4.7 °C (23.5 °F) in September 1992.
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 36.1 °C (97 °F) in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 20.8 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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October is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.6 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 0.6 °C (33.1 °F) and a maximum of 10.5 °C (50.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8 °C (17.5 °F). However, it dropped to -14.5 °C (5.9 °F) in October 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 26.7 °C (80.1 °F) in October 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 26 mm (1 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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November is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -5 °C (23 °F), with a minimum of -8.6 °C (16.5 °F) and a maximum of -1.3 °C (29.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -22 °C (-7.5 °F). However, it dropped to -35.1 °C (-31.2 °F) in November 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it reached 14.8 °C (58.6 °F) in November 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 29 mm (1.1 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -12 °C (10 °F), with a minimum of -15.9 °C (3.4 °F) and a maximum of -8 °C (17.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -31.5 °C (-24.5 °F). However, it dropped to -37.6 °C (-35.7 °F) in December 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it reached 5.3 °C (41.5 °F) in December 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 24.8 mm (1 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).