Select units of measurement for the temperature and rainfall tables (metric or imperial).
Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
The climate of Ashgabat is
arid continental, with quite mild winters and very hot, sunny summers.
Ashgabat (or Aşgabat) is a city of 1,000,000 inhabitants, the capital of Turkmenistan, located in the south of the country, at 240 meters (785 feet) above sea level and 38 degrees north latitude.
To the north is the
Karakum Desert, which occupies most of Turkmenistan, while just south of the city is the
Kopet Dag range, which marks the border with Iran (which is about 25 kilometers or 15 miles from Ashgabat) and exceeds 3,000 meters (9,800 ft). In fact, the highest neighborhoods of the city are located at 400 meters (1,300 ft) above sea level, at the foot of the mountains.
From these mountains, intense
hot winds similar to the föhn can blow all year round.
In the
Köppen classification, the average annual temperature of Ashgabat, 17.5 °C (63.5 °F), is close to the threshold (18 °C or 64.5 °F) between the cold desert climate (BWk) and the hot desert climate (BWh).
Precipitation is decidedly scarce, amounting to 220 millimeters (8.6 inches) per year. Most of the rain falls from November to May, with a maximum from February to April, due to the clash of air masses in spring, while in summer it almost never rains.
Winter, from December to February, is quite mild during the day, though with cold nights, during which the temperature often drops below freezing. The average temperature in January is around 4 °C (39 °F).
During periods of stable weather,
fog can form.
Due to the arid climate, both rain and snow are quite rare, and in any case generally not abundant.
In winter, the city is subject to very different air masses.
There are quite mild periods, during which the temperature can reach or exceed 15 °C (59 °F). When the wind blows from the mountains, the temperature can reach, and sometimes exceed, 25 °C (77 °F) even in the middle of winter.
On the other hand, there can be
cold waves, during which the temperature drops once every few years to -10 °C (14 °F), more rarely to -15 °C (5 °F). The record is -24.1 °C (-11 °F), set in January 1969. In that winter, the daily average was -5.2 °C (22.6 °F) in January and -6.75 °C (19.9 °F) in February. Since then, the temperature has not dropped below -20 °C (-4 °F).
The
summer, from June to August, is very hot and sunny. The average in July is 31.5 °C (88.5 °F), with a maximum of 38.5 °C (101 °F).
On the hottest days of the year, the temperature usually reaches 44/45 °C (111/113 °F). The record is 47.2 °C (117 °F), set at the end of June 2015.
Ashgabat - Climate data
In Ashgabat, the
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 4.4 °C (40 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 31.4 °C (88.6 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Ashgabat - Average temperatures (1991-2020) |
| Month | Min | Max | Mean |
|---|
| January | -0.1 | 9 | 4.4 |
|---|
| February | 1.3 | 11.1 | 6.2 |
|---|
| March | 6 | 17 | 11.5 |
|---|
| April | 11.8 | 23.9 | 17.8 |
|---|
| May | 17.5 | 30.5 | 24 |
|---|
| June | 22.3 | 36.2 | 29.2 |
|---|
| July | 24.5 | 38.4 | 31.4 |
|---|
| August | 22.4 | 37.2 | 29.8 |
|---|
| September | 17.1 | 31.8 | 24.5 |
|---|
| October | 10.8 | 24.4 | 17.6 |
|---|
| November | 5 | 15.7 | 10.4 |
|---|
| December | 1.1 | 9.8 | 5.4 |
|---|
| Year | 11.7 | 23.8 | 17.7 |
|---|
amounts to 220 millimeters (8.7 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 2 mm (0.1 in) in the driest month (August) to 42 mm (1.7 in) in the wettest one (March). Here is the average precipitation.
Ashgabat - Average precipitation| Month | Days |
|---|
| January | 21 | 7 |
|---|
| February | 33 | 7 |
|---|
| March | 42 | 8 |
|---|
| April | 33 | 7 |
|---|
| May | 23 | 4 |
|---|
| June | 8 | 2 |
|---|
| July | 3 | 1 |
|---|
| August | 2 | 1 |
|---|
| September | 3 | 1 |
|---|
| October | 12 | 3 |
|---|
| November | 23 | 4 |
|---|
| December | 18 | 7 |
|---|
| Year | 220 | 52 |
|---|
There are on average around 2655
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Ashgabat - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
| January | 3.5 | 115 |
|---|
| February | 4 | 120 |
|---|
| March | 4.5 | 145 |
|---|
| April | 6.5 | 195 |
|---|
| May | 9 | 275 |
|---|
| June | 11 | 335 |
|---|
| July | 11.5 | 355 |
|---|
| August | 11 | 350 |
|---|
| September | 9.5 | 290 |
|---|
| October | 7 | 215 |
|---|
| November | 5 | 155 |
|---|
| December | 3.5 | 105 |
|---|
| Year | 7.3 | 2655 |
|---|
Ashgabat - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4.4 °C, with a minimum of
-0.1 °C and a maximum of
9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-15.6 °C in January 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C. However, it reached
25.5 °C in January 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
21 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.4 kph.
February is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 6.2 °C, with a minimum of 1.3 °C and a maximum of 11.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C. However, it dropped to -17.8 °C in February 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C. However, it reached 32.6 °C in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 33 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 10.6 kph.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.5 °C, with a minimum of 6 °C and a maximum of 17 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C. However, it dropped to -5.4 °C in March 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C. However, it reached 38.6 °C in March 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 42 mm, distributed over 8 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 63%.
The average wind speed is of 11.5 kph.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.8 °C, with a minimum of 11.8 °C and a maximum of 23.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C. However, it dropped to -0.3 °C in April 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C. However, it reached 39.6 °C in April 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 33 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is of 12.4 kph.
May is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 24 °C, with a minimum of 17.5 °C and a maximum of 30.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C. However, it dropped to 4.2 °C in May 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C. However, it reached 42.5 °C in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 23 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.
The average wind speed is of 12.8 kph.
June is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 29.2 °C, with a minimum of 22.3 °C and a maximum of 36.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16.5 °C. However, it dropped to 9.4 °C in June 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 41.5 °C. However, it reached 47.2 °C in June 2015.
Precipitation amounts to only 8 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 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 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 30%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of 13.5 kph.
July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 31.4 °C, with a minimum of 24.5 °C and a maximum of 38.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 19 °C. However, it dropped to 15.5 °C in July 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 42.5 °C. However, it reached 46 °C in July 2015.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 28%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of 13.5 kph.
August is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 29.8 °C, with a minimum of 22.4 °C and a maximum of 37.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16.5 °C. However, it dropped to 9.5 °C in August 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 42 °C. However, it reached 45.7 °C in August 2011.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 26%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of 12.2 kph.
September is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 24.5 °C, with a minimum of 17.1 °C and a maximum of 31.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C. However, it dropped to 7.3 °C in September 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C. However, it reached 42.2 °C in September 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 33%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of 11.2 kph.
October is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.6 °C, with a minimum of 10.8 °C and a maximum of 24.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C. However, it dropped to -2.3 °C in October 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C. However, it reached 39.5 °C in October 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 12 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 47%.
The average wind speed is of 10 kph.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.4 °C, with a minimum of 5 °C and a maximum of 15.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C. However, it dropped to -11.1 °C in November 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C. However, it reached 37 °C in November 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 23 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of 9.1 kph.
December is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.4 °C, with a minimum of 1.1 °C and a maximum of 9.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C. However, it dropped to -13.2 °C in December 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C. However, it reached 33.1 °C in December 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 18 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 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 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 9.1 kph.