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Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
The climate of Yakutsk is
cold continental (according to the Köppen classification, subarctic climate - Dfc), with extremely cold winters and relatively warm summers.
Yakutsk is a city of 310,000 inhabitants, the capital of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), located in eastern Siberia, on the banks of the Lena River, and at 62 degrees north latitude.
Precipitation is scarce, amounting to about 240 millimeters (9.5 inches) per year. As often happens in cold climates, the rainiest season is summer.
However, in winter, the little humidity in the air tends to condense due to the cold, so that
light snow often falls, or tiny needles of ice, which are not statistically significant because they do not accumulate more than a millimeter per day.
The ground is normally covered in snow from approximately the second ten days of October to the end of April.
Winter is long and cold. The daily average temperature is below freezing from October to April. Fog often forms from December to February. The average in January is about -37 °C (-35 °F). Actually, Yakutsk is the coldest city of any significance in the world. In the Köppen classification, we are close to the threshold of the subarctic climate with extremely cold winter (Dfd), which starts with an average of the coldest month of -38 °C (-36.4 °F), and which is found in other areas of Yakutia.
In the past, Yakutsk was also included. In fact, over the past hundred years, the temperature has risen a lot, especially in winter. From 1891 to 1920, the daily average in January was -46.2 °C (-51.1 °F), while from 1951 to 1980, it was -42 °C (-43.6 °F).
During
cold waves, the temperature drops to -45 °C (-49 °F) or below every year, and it sometimes drops below -50 °C (-58 °F).
The record is -64.4 °C (-83.9 °F), set in February 1891. After 1930, it dropped to -61.8 °C (-79.2 °F) in February 1931. The last time it dropped below -60 °C (-76 °F) was in January 1951, with -60.3 °C (-76.5 °F). In January 1979, this value was almost reached, with -59.3 °C (-74.7 °F).
In January 1931, the monthly daily average was -51.5 °C (-60.5 °F).
Summer, from June to August, is very mild to pleasantly warm, and is also quite sunny. Although it is the rainiest season, rain and thunderstorms are usually not very frequent.
While it is true that in June it can still get cold, and in August the temperature already begins to drop,
July, with an average of 19.5 °C (67 °F), stands out as the mildest month, so much so that there are several warm days. However, it depends on the year, in fact sometimes it can get cool even in July.
Especially from mid-June to early August, there can also be
heatwaves, during which the temperature can reach, and more rarely exceed, 35 °C (95 °F). The record is 38.4 °C (101.1 °F), set in July 2011.
In July 2001, the average maximum temperature was 29.3 °C (84.7 °F).
Yakutsk - Climate data
In Yakutsk, the
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -37.3 °C (-35.2 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 19.5 °C (67.1 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Yakutsk - Average temperatures (1991-2013) |
| Month | Min | Max | Mean |
|---|
| January | -40.3 | -34.4 | -37.3 |
|---|
| February | -37.8 | -28.4 | -33.1 |
|---|
| March | -27.1 | -12.6 | -19.8 |
|---|
| April | -11.2 | 2.1 | -4.5 |
|---|
| May | 1.4 | 13.6 | 7.5 |
|---|
| June | 9.7 | 23 | 16.4 |
|---|
| July | 13.1 | 25.9 | 19.5 |
|---|
| August | 9.2 | 21.6 | 15.4 |
|---|
| September | 1.4 | 11.5 | 6.4 |
|---|
| October | -11.3 | -3 | -7.1 |
|---|
| November | -30.2 | -22.6 | -26.4 |
|---|
| December | -39.6 | -34.3 | -36.9 |
|---|
| Year | -13.4 | -3 | -8.2 |
|---|
amounts to 235 millimeters (9.3 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 6.3 mm (0.2 in) in the driest month (March) to 40.1 mm (1.6 in) in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.
Yakutsk - Average precipitation| Month | Days |
|---|
| January | 10 | 3 |
|---|
| February | 8 | 3 |
|---|
| March | 6 | 2 |
|---|
| April | 8 | 2 |
|---|
| May | 20 | 5 |
|---|
| June | 30 | 5 |
|---|
| July | 40 | 7 |
|---|
| August | 37 | 6 |
|---|
| September | 30 | 6 |
|---|
| October | 19 | 6 |
|---|
| November | 17 | 5 |
|---|
| December | 8 | 2 |
|---|
| Year | 235 | 52 |
|---|
There are on average around 2250
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Yakutsk - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
| January | 0.5 | 20 |
|---|
| February | 3.5 | 105 |
|---|
| March | 8 | 255 |
|---|
| April | 10 | 295 |
|---|
| May | 9.5 | 290 |
|---|
| June | 11.5 | 350 |
|---|
| July | 11 | 335 |
|---|
| August | 8.5 | 265 |
|---|
| September | 5.5 | 170 |
|---|
| October | 3 | 95 |
|---|
| November | 2 | 65 |
|---|
| December | 0.5 | 10 |
|---|
| Year | 6.2 | 2250 |
|---|
Yakutsk - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2013
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-37.3 °C, with a minimum of
-40.3 °C and a maximum of
-34.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-48 °C. However, it dropped to
-53.6 °C in January 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-22.5 °C. However, it reached
-11.5 °C in January 2012.
Precipitation amounts to only
9.7 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 6 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 11% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
2.9 kph.
February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -33.1 °C, with a minimum of -37.8 °C and a maximum of -28.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -44.5 °C. However, it dropped to -50.5 °C in February 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around -16 °C. However, it reached -2.2 °C in February 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only 8.5 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 3.2 kph.
March is generally a freezing cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -19.8 °C, with a minimum of -27.1 °C and a maximum of -12.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -39 °C. However, it dropped to -45.1 °C in March 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around -0.5 °C. However, it reached 8 °C in March 2011.
Precipitation amounts to only 6.3 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of 5.4 kph.
April is generally a very cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of -4.5 °C, with a minimum of -11.2 °C and a maximum of 2.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -25 °C. However, it dropped to -31.5 °C in April 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11.5 °C. However, it reached 17.3 °C in April 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only 7.9 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is of 7.6 kph.
May is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.5 °C, with a minimum of 1.4 °C and a maximum of 13.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C. However, it dropped to -10.5 °C in May 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C. However, it reached 29.5 °C in May 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 20.1 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is of 9.4 kph.
June is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 16.4 °C, with a minimum of 9.7 °C and a maximum of 23 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C. However, it dropped to -2.7 °C in June 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C. However, it reached 35.1 °C in June 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 29.5 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 19 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are very long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is of 9 kph.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.5 °C, with a minimum of 13.1 °C and a maximum of 25.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C. However, it dropped to -0.3 °C in July 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C. However, it reached 38.4 °C in July 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 40.1 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 18 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is of 7.9 kph.
August is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.4 °C, with a minimum of 9.2 °C and a maximum of 21.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C. However, it dropped to -4.6 °C in August 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C. However, it reached 34.5 °C in August 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 37.1 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of 7.6 kph.
September is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 6.4 °C, with a minimum of 1.4 °C and a maximum of 11.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7.5 °C. However, it dropped to -13.5 °C in September 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C. However, it reached 26.9 °C in September 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 29.6 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 7.6 kph.
October is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -7.1 °C, with a minimum of -11.3 °C and a maximum of -3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -25.5 °C. However, it dropped to -34.5 °C in October 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 7.5 °C. However, it reached 12.2 °C in October 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 18.6 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 6.5 kph.
November is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -26.4 °C, with a minimum of -30.2 °C and a maximum of -22.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -41 °C. However, it dropped to -46 °C in November 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around -7 °C. However, it reached 3.9 °C in November 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 16.9 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 4.7 kph.
December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -36.9 °C, with a minimum of -39.6 °C and a maximum of -34.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -46 °C. However, it dropped to -53.1 °C in December 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around -21.5 °C. However, it reached -11 °C in December 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only 8.5 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 5 hours and 20 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 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 7% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 3.2 kph.