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Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
The climate of Bishkek is
continental, with cold winters and hot summers (according to the Köppen classification, humid continental climate with hot summers - Dfa).
Bishkek (formerly Frunze) is a city of 1,100,000 inhabitants, located in the north of Kyrgyzstan (of which it is the capital), in the valley of the Chuy river, near the border with Kazakhstan, and almost 43 degrees north latitude. The altitude ranges between 650 and 950 meters (2,100 and 3,100 feet). The center is at 750 meters (2,450 meters).
In fact, the city is located at the foot of the
Kyrgyz Ala-Too (or Kyrgyz Alatau), a mountain range belonging to the Tian Shan, covered with perennial snow at high altitudes and whose highest peak is the Semenov-Tian-Shansky peak, at 4,895 meters (16,060 ft). The area is protected in the
Ala Archa National Park.
About 140 kilometers (85 miles) to the east, in a valley between high mountains, is the
Ysyk-Köl (or Issyk-Kul), a 178-kilometer-long (110 miles) lake, deep and salty, which rarely freezes in winter and mitigates the local climate, in fact its name means "warm lake". In fact, even though the shores of the lake are located at 1,600 meters (5,250 ft) above sea level, the winter temperatures are similar to those of Bishkek.
Precipitation in Bishkek is not abundant, amounting to about 450 millimeters (17.5 inches) per year.
The rainiest season is spring, due to the clash of air masses typical of this season. Sometimes there can be snowfall in April, and occasionally, as in 1993, even in May. Summer, on the other hand, is the driest season.
Winter, from December to February, is cold: the average temperature in January is about -2 °C (28.5 °F).
However, southerly winds can bring mild air, so much so that temperatures can reach, and sometimes exceed, 10 °C (50 °F). The
Föhn type wind that descends from the mountains can also make an additional contribution. In 2021, the temperature reached 20 °C (68 °F) in January and 23.7 °C (74.5 °F) in December.
Fog can form during periods of stable weather.
Precipitation is not abundant, however, snow can occur, as well as rain when the temperature rises above freezing.
During
cold waves, the temperature drops almost every year to -15 °C (5 °F), and sometimes below. Occasionally it can even drop below -30 °C (-22 °F), although this has not happened again since 1969. The record is -34 °C (-29.2 °F), set in February 1951. In December 1984, the daily average was -13 °C (8.5 °F).
Summer, from June to August, is hot and sunny, although with some rain and thunderstorms, more likely in June. The average for July is 25.5 °C (78 °F).
The altitude moderate the summer temperatures a bit compared to the plains of Central Asia, which are even hotter, but this also happens in the other cities of Kyrgyzstan, which is a mountainous country.
However, there may be
heat waves, during which the temperature can reach 38/40 °C (100/104 °F).
The record is 42.8 °C (109 °F), set in July 1983.
In July 2019, the average maximum was 36 °C (96.8 °F).
Bishkek - Climate data
In Bishkek, the
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -2.1 °C (28.2 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 25.4 °C (77.7 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Bishkek - Average temperatures (1991-2020) |
| Month | Min | Max | Mean |
|---|
| January | -7.1 | 2.9 | -2.1 |
|---|
| February | -4.9 | 5.1 | 0.1 |
|---|
| March | 1 | 12.1 | 6.6 |
|---|
| April | 6.9 | 18.7 | 12.8 |
|---|
| May | 11.2 | 24.1 | 17.6 |
|---|
| June | 16.1 | 29.5 | 22.8 |
|---|
| July | 18.4 | 32.4 | 25.4 |
|---|
| August | 16.9 | 31.4 | 24.2 |
|---|
| September | 11.7 | 25.6 | 18.6 |
|---|
| October | 5.6 | 18.5 | 12 |
|---|
| November | -0.5 | 10.3 | 4.9 |
|---|
| December | -5.2 | 4.6 | -0.3 |
|---|
| Year | 5.9 | 18 | 11.9 |
|---|
amounts to 435 millimeters (17.1 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 12 mm (0.5 in) in the driest month (August) to 75 mm (3 in) in the wettest one (April). Here is the average precipitation.
Bishkek - Average precipitation| Month | Days |
|---|
| January | 25 | 6 |
|---|
| February | 31 | 6 |
|---|
| March | 49 | 9 |
|---|
| April | 75 | 9 |
|---|
| May | 63 | 8 |
|---|
| June | 34 | 4 |
|---|
| July | 18 | 3 |
|---|
| August | 12 | 2 |
|---|
| September | 17 | 3 |
|---|
| October | 43 | 6 |
|---|
| November | 43 | 7 |
|---|
| December | 27 | 6 |
|---|
| Year | 435 | 68 |
|---|
There are on average around 2545
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Bishkek - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
| January | 4.5 | 135 |
|---|
| February | 4.5 | 130 |
|---|
| March | 5 | 155 |
|---|
| April | 6.5 | 195 |
|---|
| May | 8.5 | 260 |
|---|
| June | 10 | 305 |
|---|
| July | 10.5 | 330 |
|---|
| August | 10 | 315 |
|---|
| September | 9 | 265 |
|---|
| October | 6.5 | 195 |
|---|
| November | 5 | 145 |
|---|
| December | 3.5 | 115 |
|---|
| Year | 7 | 2545 |
|---|
Bishkek - 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
-2.1 °C, with a minimum of
-7.1 °C and a maximum of
2.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-17 °C. However, it dropped to
-25 °C in January 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
13 °C. However, it reached
19.2 °C in January 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
25 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
February is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 0.1 °C, with a minimum of -4.9 °C and a maximum of 5.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -14.5 °C. However, it dropped to -23.2 °C in February 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C. However, it reached 25.4 °C in February 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 31 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
March is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 6.6 °C, with a minimum of 1 °C and a maximum of 12.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8.5 °C. However, it dropped to -14.2 °C in March 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C. However, it reached 29.5 °C in March 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 49 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.8 °C, with a minimum of 6.9 °C and a maximum of 18.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C. However, it dropped to -6.5 °C in April 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C. However, it reached 33 °C in April 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.6 °C, with a minimum of 11.2 °C and a maximum of 24.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C. However, it dropped to -1.9 °C in May 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C. However, it reached 36.7 °C in May 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 63 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
June is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 22.8 °C, with a minimum of 16.1 °C and a maximum of 29.5 °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 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C. However, it reached 40.9 °C in June 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 34 mm, distributed over 4 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.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.
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 25.4 °C, with a minimum of 18.4 °C and a maximum of 32.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C. However, it dropped to 10 °C in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C. However, it reached 42.1 °C in July 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 18 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
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 24.2 °C, with a minimum of 16.9 °C and a maximum of 31.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C. However, it dropped to 7.2 °C in August 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C. However, it reached 39.7 °C in August 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 12 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 18.6 °C, with a minimum of 11.7 °C and a maximum of 25.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C. However, it dropped to 0.3 °C in September 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C. However, it reached 37.1 °C in September 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 17 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12 °C, with a minimum of 5.6 °C and a maximum of 18.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C. However, it dropped to -5.8 °C in October 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C. However, it reached 34.2 °C in October 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 43 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.9 °C, with a minimum of -0.5 °C and a maximum of 10.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8.5 °C. However, it dropped to -15.4 °C in November 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C. However, it reached 29.8 °C in November 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 43 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.3 °C, with a minimum of -5.2 °C and a maximum of 4.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -15.5 °C. However, it dropped to -23.6 °C in December 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15.5 °C. However, it reached 20.3 °C in December 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 27 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.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.