Shymkent (also transliterated as Chimkent or Şymkent) is a city located in southern Kazakhstan, at 500 meters above sea level and 42 degrees north latitude. With 1,250,000 inhabitants, it is the third largest city in the country. Shymkent has the status of a city, but is surrounded by the Turkistan oblys (region).
The city is located on the ancient Silk Road. About 60 km (37 mi) to the southeast is the border with
, belonging to the western part of the Tian Shan, and which are protected in the Sayram-Ugam National Park.
is not abundant, amounting to 615 millimeters (24 inches) per year, most of which fall from November to April. Summer is the driest season.
, from December to February, is cold, with an average January temperature of around 0 °C (32 °F).
Cold weather, however, is not constant. In fact, unlike in northern Kazakhstan, winds from the south can bring mild periods, during which the temperature can reach, and sometimes exceed, 15 °C (59 °F).
In the Köppen classification, for this type of climate, the average of 0 °C (32 °F) in the coldest month represents the threshold between the continental climate with hot and dry summer (Dsa) and the Mediterranean climate with hot summer (Csa).
If you look closely, Shymkent is one of the mildest cities in Kazakhstan. In fact, in Kazakhstan, there are only two areas, this and the southwest, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, where the January average is around freezing.
Due to the location west of the mountains, winters are rainier (and snowier) than in other cities in Kazakhstan (even compared to Almaty, which receives the same amount of precipitation but more in other seasons). This means that there can sometimes be
, the temperature can drop to -15 °C (5 °F) or below. Occasionally it can even drop below -20 °C (-4 °F). The coldest record is -31.1 °C (-24 °F), set in January 1969.
, from June to August, is very hot and sunny, although the altitude tempers the heat a bit compared to the lowland cities in the area such as Turkistan. The average in July is 27 °C (80.5 °F). Humidity, however, is low.
The hottest record is 44 °C (111 °F), set in August 1944. In July 2023, the average maximum was 37.3 °C (99.1 °F).
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
0.4 °C, with a minimum of
-4.1 °C and a maximum of
4.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-14 °C. However, it dropped to
-23.3 °C in January 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14.5 °C. However, it reached
22.2 °C in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
77.5 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.8 kph.
February is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.6 °C, with a minimum of
-2.2 °C and a maximum of
7.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-24.4 °C in February 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18 °C. However, it reached
25.2 °C in February 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
90.2 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9 kph.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
8.7 °C, with a minimum of
3.2 °C and a maximum of
14.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6 °C. However, it dropped to
-14.6 °C in March 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
29.9 °C in March 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
81.1 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
10.1 kph.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14.5 °C, with a minimum of
8.5 °C and a maximum of
20.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.7 °C in April 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
33.7 °C in April 2014.
Precipitation amounts to
73.6 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is of
10.7 kph.
May is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
19.8 °C, with a minimum of
13.1 °C and a maximum of
26.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.2 °C in May 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
39 °C in May 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
56.3 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 49%.
The average wind speed is of
10.9 kph.
June is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
24.1 °C, with a minimum of
16.6 °C and a maximum of
31.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10 °C. However, it dropped to
5.5 °C in June 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37.5 °C. However, it reached
41 °C in June 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
23.6 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 37%.
The average wind speed is of
10.7 kph.
July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
26.3 °C, with a minimum of
18.5 °C and a maximum of
34 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9.1 °C in July 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
39 °C. However, it reached
42.6 °C in July 2008.
Precipitation amounts to only
9.9 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 32%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
10.2 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
18 °C and a maximum of
33.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
7 °C in August 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
39 °C. However, it reached
41.6 °C in August 2011.
Precipitation amounts to only
3.5 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
The average humidity is 30%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
10.8 kph.
September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
20.5 °C, with a minimum of
12.9 °C and a maximum of
28.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
1.5 °C in September 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
38.4 °C in September 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only
8.9 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 34%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
9.8 kph.
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.5 °C, with a minimum of
7 °C and a maximum of
20 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-5 °C in October 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
36 °C in October 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
38.7 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is of
8.2 kph.
November is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
6.6 °C, with a minimum of
1.7 °C and a maximum of
11.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-15.4 °C in November 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
30.5 °C in November 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
74.1 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
7.6 kph.
December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
1.5 °C, with a minimum of
-2.9 °C and a maximum of
5.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-21.6 °C in December 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17 °C. However, it reached
21 °C in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
76.8 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.6 kph.