, with oceanic influences, with very cold winters, mild summers, and abundant precipitation.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is a city of 165,000 inhabitants, the capital of the Kamchatka Krai (Territory), located in Russia, in the Siberian Far East, in the southeastern part of the
, in Avacha Bay, located near the Pacific coast, and at 53 degrees north latitude.
, the closest of which are Avachinsky, 2,741 meters (8,993 ft) high, and Koryaksky, 3,456 meters (11,339 ft) high.
Due to its location on a peninsula and a low latitude, the climate in winter is less cold than in the rest of Siberia. In fact, we are in one of the few areas of Siberia with an average coldest month above -10 °C or 14 °F (along with the mildest part of the Primorsky Krai, the south of Sakhalin Island and the Kuril Islands). However, the maritime influence also makes the climate rainy and windy.
in winter, due to the clashes between the cold air masses coming from the Siberian hinterland (which are loaded with moisture as they pass over the Sea of Okhotsk) and the milder ones coming up from the Pacific.
blows often, and can be strong, especially from October to March, with gusts that can exceed 100 kph (62 mph).
is quite abundant, 1,150 millimeters (45 inches) per year. In fact, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is located in one of the rainiest (and snowiest) areas in all of Siberia, surpassed only by the Kuril Islands, which are located south of Kamchatka.
The rainiest season is autumn. It usually snows from November to early May. Compared to much of Siberia, winter is not dry, so
can occur. In fact, from February to April, the snow normally reaches a meter (39 inches) in height, and can sometimes exceed two meters.
Unlike what usually happens in Siberia, summer is not the rainiest season, in fact, May and June are the driest months.
is very cold, snowy and windy. However, with an average of around -6 °C (21 °F) in January and February, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is one of the mildest (or rather, less cold) cities in all of Siberia in winter.
The coldest record is -26.6 °C (-15.9 °F), set in January 1931. Since then, it has only dropped below -25 °C (-13 °F) in February 2001, with -25.3 °C (-13.5 °F).
, from June to mid-September, is mild, with frequent rain, wind and fog. Sometimes it can get cold even in this season, especially in June. Due to the delay in warming the sea, the temperature rises slowly, and the mildest month is August, with an average of 14 °C (57 °F).
, during which the temperature can reach and exceed 25 °C (77 °F). The highest record is 30 °C (86 °F), set in July 2012.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-6.4 °C, with a minimum of
-8.8 °C and a maximum of
-3.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-17.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-24.8 °C in January 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
2.5 °C. However, it reached
5.1 °C in January 1991.
Precipitation amounts to
117.3 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
1.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-6.2 °C, with a minimum of
-8.9 °C and a maximum of
-3.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-16 °C. However, it dropped to
-25.3 °C in February 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
2 °C. However, it reached
6.2 °C in February 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
67.4 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
18.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
0.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-3.5 °C, with a minimum of
-6.2 °C and a maximum of
-0.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-19.5 °C in March 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
3.5 °C. However, it reached
5.1 °C in March 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
98.3 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
17.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
0.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
0.6 °C, with a minimum of
-2.1 °C and a maximum of
3.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-7 °C. However, it dropped to
-11.3 °C in April 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8 °C. However, it reached
15.1 °C in April 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
95.4 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
0.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.1 °C, with a minimum of
1.9 °C and a maximum of
8.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.4 °C in May 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17 °C. However, it reached
20.5 °C in May 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
59.9 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.1 °C, with a minimum of
6.6 °C and a maximum of
13.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
0.6 °C in June 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22 °C. However, it reached
26.9 °C in June 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
55.5 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 55 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 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
July is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.4 °C, with a minimum of
10.1 °C and a maximum of
16.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7 °C. However, it dropped to
2.9 °C in July 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
30 °C in July 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
62.2 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
10 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14.1 °C, with a minimum of
11 °C and a maximum of
17.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8 °C. However, it dropped to
5 °C in August 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
27.7 °C in August 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
81 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
11.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11 °C, with a minimum of
7.6 °C and a maximum of
14.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
0.4 °C in September 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C. However, it reached
24.1 °C in September 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
105.4 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
10.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.6 °C, with a minimum of
2.9 °C and a maximum of
8.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.7 °C in October 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
13.5 °C. However, it reached
15.2 °C in October 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
148.7 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
7.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-0.4 °C, with a minimum of
-2.7 °C and a maximum of
1.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-14.8 °C in November 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
6.5 °C. However, it reached
10.3 °C in November 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
151.6 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
19.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
4.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-4.9 °C, with a minimum of
-7.1 °C and a maximum of
-2.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-17.2 °C in December 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
2.5 °C. However, it reached
7.4 °C in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
105.8 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are short. 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 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.