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Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
The climate of Elista is
semi-arid continental (according to the Köppen classification, humid continental climate with hot summers - Dfa), with cold winters and hot summers.
Elista, formerly Stepnoy, is a city of 103,000 inhabitants, the capital of Kalmykia, located in southern European Russia, at 46 degrees north latitude and 270 km (165 mi) away from the coast of the Caspian Sea.
Precipitation is quite scarce, amounting to less than 400 millimeters (15.5 inches) per year. Winter is the driest season, while the rainiest months are May and June, due to thunderstorms, which then gradually decrease during the rest of the summer.
Winter, from December to February, is cold: the average temperature in January is around -4 °C (25 °F).
Fog can form during periods of stable weather.
There are quite mild periods, when it can rain instead of snow, and colder periods, characterized by snow and frost.
During
cold waves, the temperature can drop to -20 °C (-4 °F) or even below. Occasionally it has also dropped below -30 °C (-22 °F). The record is -34 °C (-29.2 °F), set in January 1935.
Summer, from June to August, is hot and sunny, with some rain and thunderstorms. The average in July is around 25.5 °C (78 °F). During the day it is often very hot, although the humidity is not high and the wind often blows.
Sometimes there can be
heat waves, during which the temperature can reach, and more rarely exceed, 40 °C (104 °F). The record is 43.3 °C (109.9 °F), set in August 2011. In 2010, the average maximum temperature was 35.7 °C (96.3 °F) in July and 35.2 °C (95.4 °F) in August.
In summer, this is
the hottest area in all of Russia. Elista is located at an altitude of 100 to 200 meters (330 to 660 feet), which is not much, but it is enough to make the summer a little less hot than the areas further east, which are even below sea level. In the village of
Yashkul, located 80 km (50 mi) to the east, 10 meters (33 ft) below sea level, the average maximum temperature in July is 33.7 °C (92.7 °F), and the record heat is 44.4 °C (111.9 °F), set in August 2011.
Elista - Climate data
In Elista, the
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -3.8 °C (25.2 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 25.6 °C (78 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Elista - Average temperatures (1991-2013) |
| Month | Min | Max | Mean |
|---|
| January | -6.4 | -1.1 | -3.8 |
|---|
| February | -6.6 | -0.2 | -3.4 |
|---|
| March | -1.5 | 7 | 2.7 |
|---|
| April | 5.4 | 16.2 | 10.8 |
|---|
| May | 11.3 | 23 | 17.2 |
|---|
| June | 16.2 | 28.7 | 22.5 |
|---|
| July | 19 | 32.1 | 25.6 |
|---|
| August | 17.9 | 31.2 | 24.6 |
|---|
| September | 11.9 | 23.9 | 17.9 |
|---|
| October | 6.4 | 15.6 | 11 |
|---|
| November | -0.2 | 6 | 2.9 |
|---|
| December | -4.9 | 0.4 | -2.2 |
|---|
| Year | 5.8 | 15.3 | 10.5 |
|---|
amounts to 390 millimeters (15.4 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 21.2 mm (0.8 in) in the driest month (February) to 45.6 mm (1.8 in) in the wettest one (May). Here is the average precipitation.
Elista - Average precipitation| Month | Days |
|---|
| January | 24 | 6 |
|---|
| February | 21 | 5 |
|---|
| March | 33 | 7 |
|---|
| April | 34 | 5 |
|---|
| May | 46 | 6 |
|---|
| June | 44 | 6 |
|---|
| July | 34 | 4 |
|---|
| August | 26 | 4 |
|---|
| September | 33 | 5 |
|---|
| October | 38 | 6 |
|---|
| November | 28 | 6 |
|---|
| December | 28 | 7 |
|---|
| Year | 390 | 68 |
|---|
There are on average around 2210
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Elista - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
| January | 2.5 | 70 |
|---|
| February | 3 | 90 |
|---|
| March | 4 | 130 |
|---|
| April | 6.5 | 200 |
|---|
| May | 9 | 275 |
|---|
| June | 10 | 300 |
|---|
| July | 10.5 | 325 |
|---|
| August | 9.5 | 300 |
|---|
| September | 8 | 235 |
|---|
| October | 5.5 | 165 |
|---|
| November | 2.5 | 70 |
|---|
| December | 1.5 | 40 |
|---|
| Year | 6.1 | 2210 |
|---|
Elista - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2013
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-3.8 °C, with a minimum of
-6.4 °C and a maximum of
-1.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-18 °C. However, it dropped to
-31 °C in January 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
7.5 °C. However, it reached
14.5 °C in January 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
24.5 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 88%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
21.5 kph.
February is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -3.4 °C, with a minimum of -6.6 °C and a maximum of -0.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -17.5 °C. However, it dropped to -29.2 °C in February 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 8.5 °C. However, it reached 16 °C in February 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 21.2 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 22.8 kph.
March is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.7 °C, with a minimum of -1.5 °C and a maximum of 7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10 °C. However, it dropped to -16.9 °C in March 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C. However, it reached 22.6 °C in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 33 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 24 kph.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.8 °C, with a minimum of 5.4 °C and a maximum of 16.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C. However, it dropped to -7.3 °C in April 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C. However, it reached 29 °C in April 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 34 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is of 23.3 kph.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.2 °C, with a minimum of 11.3 °C and a maximum of 23 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C. However, it dropped to 0 °C in May 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C. However, it reached 37.2 °C in May 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 45.6 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is of 21.9 kph.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 22.5 °C, with a minimum of 16.2 °C and a maximum of 28.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C. However, it dropped to 4 °C in June 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C. However, it reached 39.8 °C in June 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 44.5 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 40 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 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is of 21 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 25.6 °C, with a minimum of 19 °C and a maximum of 32.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C. However, it dropped to 9.3 °C in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C. However, it reached 43.3 °C in July 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 34.4 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is of 19.7 kph.
August is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 24.6 °C, with a minimum of 17.9 °C and a maximum of 31.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C. However, it dropped to 8.5 °C in August 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C. However, it reached 40.9 °C in August 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 26.5 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.
The average wind speed is of 19.2 kph.
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.9 °C, with a minimum of 11.9 °C and a maximum of 23.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C. However, it dropped to -0.4 °C in September 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C. However, it reached 38.7 °C in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 33.4 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is of 20.2 kph.
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11 °C, with a minimum of 6.4 °C and a maximum of 15.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C. However, it dropped to -7.3 °C in October 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C. However, it reached 32.7 °C in October 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 38.3 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of 20.4 kph.
November is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.9 °C, with a minimum of -0.2 °C and a maximum of 6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8.5 °C. However, it dropped to -21.2 °C in November 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C. However, it reached 20.1 °C in November 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 27.8 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 20.8 kph.
December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -2.2 °C, with a minimum of -4.9 °C and a maximum of 0.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -16 °C. However, it dropped to -28.4 °C in December 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9 °C. However, it reached 14.5 °C in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 28.3 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 40 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 16% of the time.
The average humidity is 89%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 21 kph.