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Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
The climate of Taraz is
arid continental (according to the Köppen classification, cold semi-arid or steppe climate - BSk), with cold winters and hot summers.
Taraz (or Talas, formerly Dzhambul, Džambul, Zhambyl, Jambyl) is a city of 430,000 inhabitants located in southern Kazakhstan, in the region (oblys) of Zhambyl, of which it is the capital, on the banks of the Talas River, 630 meters (2,060 feet) above sea level and at almost 43 degrees north latitude.
The city is located on the ancient Silk Road. Just south of the city is the border with
Kyrgyzstan, and 260 km (160 mi) to the east is its capital, Bishkek.
Near the border are
mountains, belonging to the western part of the Tian Shan, which reach 3,700 meters (12,000 ft).
Precipitation is quite scarce, amounting to about 350 millimeters (13.8 inches) per year, however, it is more abundant than in the lowland areas of central-southern Kazakhstan. The driest period is from July to September.
Winter, from December to February, is cold, with an average January temperature of around -2.5 °C (27.5 °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).
This means that there are times when it can rain, and times when it can snow.
Fog can form during periods of stable weather.
During
cold spells, the temperature drops every year to around or below -20 °C (-4 °F), and can sometimes drop below -30 °C (-22 °F). The record is -41 °C (-41.8 °F), set in January 1956. In January 1969, the daily average was -15.2 °C (4.6 °F).
Spring, from March to May, is characterized by clashes of air masses and temperature changes, and is also the rainiest season. It can sometimes snow in April, and occasionally even in May.
Summer, from June to August, is very hot and sunny, although the altitude tempers the heat a bit compared to the lowland cities of southern Kazakhstan. The average in July is 27 °C (80.5 °F).
On the hottest days, the temperature usually reaches 38/40 °C (100/104 °F).
The record is 43.7 °C (110.7 °F), set in July 1983. In July 2023, the average maximum was 36.4 °C (97.5 °F).
Taraz - Climate data
In Taraz, the
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -2.4 °C (27.6 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 25.3 °C (77.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Taraz - Average temperatures (1991-2020) |
| Month | Min | Max | Mean |
|---|
| January | -7.3 | 2.4 | -2.4 |
|---|
| February | -5.7 | 4.5 | -0.6 |
|---|
| March | 0.3 | 11.5 | 5.9 |
|---|
| April | 6.3 | 18.9 | 12.6 |
|---|
| May | 11 | 24.9 | 18 |
|---|
| June | 15.6 | 30.7 | 23.2 |
|---|
| July | 17.6 | 33 | 25.3 |
|---|
| August | 15.6 | 31.8 | 23.7 |
|---|
| September | 10.3 | 25.8 | 18 |
|---|
| October | 4.8 | 18.2 | 11.5 |
|---|
| November | -0.9 | 9.7 | 4.4 |
|---|
| December | -5.8 | 4 | -0.9 |
|---|
| Year | 5.2 | 18 | 11.6 |
|---|
amounts to 355 millimeters (14 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 8.6 mm (0.3 in) in the driest month (August) to 49.2 mm (1.9 in) in the wettest one (April). Here is the average precipitation.
Taraz - Average precipitation| Month | Days |
|---|
| January | 30 | 6 |
|---|
| February | 36 | 6 |
|---|
| March | 38 | 7 |
|---|
| April | 49 | 7 |
|---|
| May | 40 | 6 |
|---|
| June | 28 | 5 |
|---|
| July | 18 | 3 |
|---|
| August | 9 | 2 |
|---|
| September | 10 | 2 |
|---|
| October | 30 | 4 |
|---|
| November | 36 | 6 |
|---|
| December | 32 | 6 |
|---|
| Year | 355 | 60 |
|---|
Taraz - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-2.4 °C, with a minimum of
-7.3 °C and a maximum of
2.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-19 °C. However, it dropped to
-28 °C in January 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
13.5 °C. However, it reached
22.1 °C in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
29.7 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
February is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.6 °C, with a minimum of -5.7 °C and a maximum of 4.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -17 °C. However, it dropped to -28.2 °C in February 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C. However, it reached 24.6 °C in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 36.5 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
March is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.9 °C, with a minimum of 0.3 °C and a maximum of 11.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9 °C. However, it dropped to -23.3 °C in March 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C. However, it reached 30.3 °C in March 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 38.3 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.6 °C, with a minimum of 6.3 °C and a maximum of 18.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C. However, it dropped to -7.4 °C in April 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C. However, it reached 33.2 °C in April 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 49.2 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 67%.
May is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 18 °C, with a minimum of 11 °C and a maximum of 24.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C. However, it dropped to -2 °C in May 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C. However, it reached 38.6 °C in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 40.4 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 58%.
June is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 23.2 °C, with a minimum of 15.6 °C and a maximum of 30.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C. However, it dropped to 6 °C in June 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C. However, it reached 42.3 °C in June 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 28.3 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 15 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.
The average humidity is 51%.
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 25.3 °C, with a minimum of 17.6 °C and a maximum of 33 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C. However, it dropped to 9 °C in July 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39 °C. However, it reached 42.9 °C in July 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 18.2 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 46%.
August is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 23.7 °C, with a minimum of 15.6 °C and a maximum of 31.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C. However, it dropped to 3.3 °C in August 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C. However, it reached 43.5 °C in August 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only 8.6 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 46%.
September is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 18 °C, with a minimum of 10.3 °C and a maximum of 25.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C. However, it dropped to -0.8 °C in September 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C. However, it reached 40.6 °C in September 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only 9.9 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 50%.
October is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 11.5 °C, with a minimum of 4.8 °C and a maximum of 18.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C. However, it dropped to -7.6 °C in October 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C. However, it reached 34.6 °C in October 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 30.1 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 62%.
November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.4 °C, with a minimum of -0.9 °C and a maximum of 9.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10 °C. However, it dropped to -29.9 °C in November 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C. However, it reached 29 °C in November 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 35.6 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.9 °C, with a minimum of -5.8 °C and a maximum of 4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -18 °C. However, it dropped to -31 °C in December 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C. However, it reached 20.3 °C in December 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 32.1 mm, distributed over 6 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 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.