Climate in Qonayev (Kazakhstan)

The climate of Qonayev is semi-arid continental (according to the Köppen classification, cold semi-arid or steppe climate - BSk), with cold winters and hot summers.
Qonayev (or Konayev, formerly Kapchagay or Kapshagay) is a city of 55,000 inhabitants located in southeastern Kazakhstan, at 490 meters (1,600 feet) above sea level and almost 44 degrees north latitude.
The city is the capital of the region (oblys) of Almaty, the main city of Kazakhstan, which is located about 60 km (37 mi) to the south.
Qonayev was built in the 1960s on the shores of Lake Kapchagay, an artificial reservoir formed by a dam on the Ili River. In summer, the lake attracts tourists from Almaty.
The river then continues north, crossing the Saryesik Atyrau desert, and then enter Lake Balqash.

Precipitation is quite scarce, amounting to about 305 millimeters (12 inches) per year. The relatively rainiest period is from April to July, due to the clashes of air masses typical of spring, and then to the afternoon thunderstorms typical of the first part of summer.

Winter, from December to February, is very cold: the average temperature in January is around -7 °C (19.5 °F).
Due to the arid climate, snowfall is usually light. However, there are periods when light snow often falls.
During cold waves, temperatures can drop significantly, sometimes to as low as -30 °C (-22 °F).

Summer, from June to August, is hot and sunny, although the altitude and the presence of the lake temper the heat a bit compared to the plain cities of southern Kazakhstan. The average in July is 25.5 °C (78 °F).
However, there can be heat waves, during which the temperature can reach 38/40 °C (100/104 °F).

Qonayev - Climate data

In Qonayev, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -6.9 °C (19.6 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 25.2 °C (77.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 305 millimeters (12 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 12.8 mm (0.5 in) in the driest month (September) to 39.1 mm (1.5 in) in the wettest one (May). Here is the average precipitation.