, with mild winters, warm to hot summers, and abundant rainfall well distributed throughout the year.
Sochi is a city of 460,000 inhabitants located in southern European Russia, at 43 degrees north latitude, on a narrow coastal stretch between the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains.
, a winter sports resort, where the average temperature ranges from 1 °C (34 °F) in January to 21 °C (70 °F) in August. The mountains nearby reach 3,000 meters (10,000 ft) in height.
About 30 km (18 mi) to the southeast is the border with Georgia, in the Republic of Abkhazia.
, from December to February, is mild: the average in January and February is about 6.5 °C (44 °F).
Due to its southern location, on the coast and protected by the mountains, Sochi has a decidedly milder climate than the rest of Russia, and in particular, in winter it is the mildest city in the whole country. Rainfall, however, is abundant, especially in autumn and winter.
, during which it can also snow. On the coldest nights, the temperature drops below freezing, usually by a few degrees, every year. Once every few years it drops to about -5 °C (23 °F), while more rarely it can drop lower.
The coldest record is -13.1 °C (8.4 °F), set in January 1964. However, the last time it dropped to -10 °C (14 °F) was in February 1971.
, from June to September, is warm to hot and quite sunny, though rainy. July and August are the hottest months, with an average of about 24 °C (75 °F).
Rainfall reaches or exceeds 100 mm (4 in) per month even in this season.
Generally, temperatures are not very high, furthermore, the sea breeze blows, however, there can be periods that are a bit muggy.
Rarely, when the wind blows from the interior, the temperature can exceed 35 °C (95 °F), perhaps only for a day. The hottest records are around 38/39 °C (100/102 °F).
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
6.7 °C, with a minimum of
3.6 °C and a maximum of
9.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3 °C. However, it dropped to
-8.9 °C in January 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16 °C. However, it reached
19.9 °C in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
170.5 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
10 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
6.6 °C, with a minimum of
3.3 °C and a maximum of
9.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-8.2 °C in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17.5 °C. However, it reached
21.8 °C in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
145.2 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 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
11.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
8.7 °C, with a minimum of
5.3 °C and a maximum of
12.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.5 °C in March 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
28.6 °C in March 2008.
Precipitation amounts to
136 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13 °C, with a minimum of
9 °C and a maximum of
16.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
-5 °C in April 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
31.7 °C in April 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
114.1 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
11 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17 °C, with a minimum of
13 °C and a maximum of
21 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8 °C. However, it dropped to
4.2 °C in May 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
34.7 °C in May 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
111.8 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.1 °C, with a minimum of
17.1 °C and a maximum of
25 °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 June 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
35.2 °C in June 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
99.3 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 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 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
July is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
23.9 °C, with a minimum of
20 °C and a maximum of
27.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
13.2 °C in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
38.1 °C in July 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
117.3 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 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
24.4 °C, with a minimum of
20.4 °C and a maximum of
28.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16 °C. However, it dropped to
13.5 °C in August 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32 °C. However, it reached
36.3 °C in August 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
124.8 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.7 °C, with a minimum of
16.5 °C and a maximum of
24.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
8.6 °C in September 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
34.8 °C in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
133.8 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.9 °C, with a minimum of
13 °C and a maximum of
20.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.4 °C in October 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
32.1 °C in October 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
190.3 mm, distributed over 10 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 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.9 °C, with a minimum of
8.3 °C and a maximum of
15.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.7 °C in November 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
26.1 °C in November 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
182.6 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
8.6 °C, with a minimum of
5.4 °C and a maximum of
11.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.1 °C in December 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19 °C. However, it reached
23.5 °C in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
169.5 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
11 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.