, with very cold winters and very mild to relatively warm summers.
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is a city of 200,000 inhabitants, the capital of Sakhalin Oblast, located in Russia, in the Far East of Siberia, in the southern part of
, 15 kilometers (9 miles) away from the coast and at almost 47 degrees north latitude.
South of this island, and about 165 km (100 mi) from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, lies the Japanese island of Hokkaido. In winter, a cold current in the Sea of Okhotsk carries
Although it is located on an island and a short distance from the coast, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is surrounded by mountains that partly isolate it from the sea, so the
is moderate, almost 900 millimeters (35.5 inches) per year. In fact, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is one of the rainiest (and snowiest) cities in all of Siberia, surpassed only by Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands.
It usually snows from November to April. Compared to what happens in much of Siberia, the winter is not very dry, so heavy snowfalls can occur.
However, the rainiest period is from July to October. In summer, the area is affected by the
is long and cold. The daily average temperature is around or below freezing from October to April. The average in January is about -15.5 °C (4 °F). Typically, on colder periods the sun comes out, while during the relatively mild periods, when the temperature still remains below freezing, the sky is cloudy and light snow falls.
are from the northwest, from the Siberian hinterland, which are originally freezing but dry, but which pass over the sea and are loaded with humidity, bringing frequent
, which are usually light, but can sometimes be abundant. On the western coast of Sakhalin Island (see Kholmsk), snowfall is more abundant (although not as abundant as in Hokkaido and the northern part of Honshu, because the winds cross a longer stretch of sea before reaching them).
, the temperature drops to -20 °C (-4 °F) or below every year, and once every few years it drops below -30 °C (-22 °F).
The coldest record is -36.2 °C (-33.2 °F), set in January 1961. Since then, however, it has never dropped below -35 °C (-31 °F).
, from June to mid-September, is very mild to pleasantly warm, 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 warmest month is August, with an average of 18 °C (64.5 °F).
, during which the temperature can reach 30/31 °C (86/88 °F), and more rarely exceed them. The highest record is 34.7 °C (94.5 °F), set in August 1999.
Occasionally, in August and September or early October, the south of Sakhalin Island, along with the territory of the Siberian Littoral (Primorsky Krai), can be affected by
, the tropical cyclones of Southeast Asia, although they arrive weakened compared to when they hit China and Japan. In August 2014, Typhoon Halong brought wind gusts of 150 kph (93 mph) to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-11.2 °C, with a minimum of
-16.4 °C and a maximum of
-6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-28 °C. However, it dropped to
-32.8 °C in January 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
1 °C. However, it reached
4.3 °C in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
57.4 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.5 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
-11.2 °C, with a minimum of
-17.4 °C and a maximum of
-5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-27.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-34.8 °C in February 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
2 °C. However, it reached
6.4 °C in February 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
39.1 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
0.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-5.5 °C, with a minimum of
-10.9 °C and a maximum of
-0.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-22.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-27.6 °C in March 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
6.5 °C. However, it reached
11.1 °C in March 1992.
Precipitation amounts to
52.7 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
1.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.1 °C, with a minimum of
-2.6 °C and a maximum of
6.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-11 °C. However, it dropped to
-19.5 °C in April 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15.5 °C. However, it reached
22.9 °C in April 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
60.3 mm, distributed over 8 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 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
2.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
8 °C, with a minimum of
2.6 °C and a maximum of
13.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3 °C. However, it dropped to
-5 °C in May 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23 °C. However, it reached
27.8 °C in May 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
65.1 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
5.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.9 °C, with a minimum of
7.8 °C and a maximum of
18 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.9 °C in June 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26.5 °C. However, it reached
30.8 °C in June 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
55.3 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 50 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 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
12 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
July is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.6 °C, with a minimum of
12.2 °C and a maximum of
20.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
1.5 °C in July 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28 °C. However, it reached
30.8 °C in July 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
88.3 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 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 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
18 °C, with a minimum of
13.6 °C and a maximum of
22.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7 °C. However, it dropped to
3.7 °C in August 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C. However, it reached
34.7 °C in August 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
114.4 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14.1 °C, with a minimum of
8.8 °C and a maximum of
19.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.2 °C in September 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
29 °C in September 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
111.2 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
October is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7.3 °C, with a minimum of
2 °C and a maximum of
12.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5 °C. However, it dropped to
-8 °C in October 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
22.8 °C in October 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
99.3 mm, distributed over 11 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 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
11.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-0.7 °C, with a minimum of
-5.1 °C and a maximum of
3.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-15 °C. However, it dropped to
-20.7 °C in November 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
12.5 °C. However, it reached
17.5 °C in November 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
79.2 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
6.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-8.4 °C, with a minimum of
-13.1 °C and a maximum of
-3.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-22.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-26.9 °C in December 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
3.5 °C. However, it reached
7.4 °C in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
74.8 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 35 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 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.