Select units of measurement for the temperature and rainfall tables (metric or imperial).
Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
The climate of Samarkand is
semi-arid continental (according to the Köppen classification, cold semi-arid or steppe climate - BSk), with quite cold winters and very hot, sunny summers.
Samarkand (or Samarqand) is a city of 515,000 inhabitants, located in southeastern Uzbekistan, near the border with Tajikistan, 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level and 39 degrees north latitude.
A legendary city, located on the ancient Silk Road, Samarkand is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Zarafshon River, a former tributary of the Amu Darya, which today disperses its waters in the desert before reaching it, passes just north of the city.
East of the city, in Tajikistan, there are
mountains, and in particular the Fan Mountains, the southwestern edge of the Pamir-Alaj system, whose highest peak, Mount Chimtarga, reaches 5,489 meters (18,008 ft).
Precipitation is not abundant, since it amounts to 380 millimeters (15 inches) per year, however, it is more abundant than in most other cities of Uzbekistan (excluding the capital, Tashkent, which is the rainiest of all), due to the proximity of the mountains. It occurs mostly from November to May, while in summer, it almost never rains.
The
winter, from December to February, is quite cold, with an average January temperature of around 3 °C (37.5 °F).
However, the city can be affected by very different air masses. This means that there are periods in which it can rain, and others in which it can snow.
The winds from the south can bring mild periods, in which the temperature can reach, and sometimes exceed, 15 °C (59 °F).
During periods of stable weather,
fog can form.
During
cold waves, the temperature can drop to -15 °C (5 °F) or even below, although this doesn't happen every year. The record is -25.4 °C (-13.7 °F), set in January 1969. That winter, the daily average was -5.9 °C (21.4 °F) in January and -5.5 °C (22.1 °F) in February. More recently, the temperature hit -20 °C (-4 °F) in January 2008 and in January 2023.
In spring, from
March to May, the clash of air masses makes wind, rain and temperature swings frequent.
Summer, from June to August, is very hot and sunny. The average in July is 28 °C (82.5 °F).
On the hottest days, the temperature reaches or exceeds 38/40 °C (100/104 °F).
The record is 42.4 °C (108.3 °F), set in July 1983. In 2021, the temperature reached 41.6 °C (106.9 °F) in early June and 42 °C (107.6 °F) in early July.
Samarkand - Climate data
In Samarkand, the
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 3.1 °C (37.5 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 27 °C (80.7 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Samarkand - Average temperatures (1991-2020) |
| Month | Min | Max | Mean |
|---|
| January | -1.3 | 7.4 | 3.1 |
|---|
| February | -0.1 | 9.6 | 4.8 |
|---|
| March | 4.7 | 15.3 | 10 |
|---|
| April | 9.8 | 21.5 | 15.6 |
|---|
| May | 14.2 | 27.1 | 20.6 |
|---|
| June | 18.1 | 32.5 | 25.3 |
|---|
| July | 19.6 | 34.5 | 27 |
|---|
| August | 18 | 33.3 | 25.6 |
|---|
| September | 13.5 | 28.7 | 21.1 |
|---|
| October | 7.8 | 22 | 14.9 |
|---|
| November | 3.3 | 14.5 | 8.9 |
|---|
| December | -0.1 | 9.2 | 4.6 |
|---|
| Year | 9 | 21.4 | 15.15 |
|---|
amounts to 380 millimeters (15 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 1.6 mm (0.1 in) in the driest months (July, August) to 73.2 mm (2.9 in) in the wettest one (March). Here is the average precipitation.
Samarkand - Average precipitation| Month | Days |
|---|
| January | 41 | 7 |
|---|
| February | 52 | 8 |
|---|
| March | 73 | 10 |
|---|
| April | 63 | 7 |
|---|
| May | 40 | 6 |
|---|
| June | 7 | 2 |
|---|
| July | 2 | 1 |
|---|
| August | 2 | 0 |
|---|
| September | 3 | 0 |
|---|
| October | 16 | 3 |
|---|
| November | 40 | 6 |
|---|
| December | 39 | 7 |
|---|
| Year | 380 | 56 |
|---|
There are on average around 2845
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Samarkand - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
| January | 4 | 120 |
|---|
| February | 4.5 | 130 |
|---|
| March | 5.5 | 170 |
|---|
| April | 7.5 | 230 |
|---|
| May | 9.5 | 300 |
|---|
| June | 11.5 | 345 |
|---|
| July | 12 | 375 |
|---|
| August | 11.5 | 360 |
|---|
| September | 10 | 305 |
|---|
| October | 8 | 245 |
|---|
| November | 5 | 150 |
|---|
| December | 4 | 120 |
|---|
| Year | 7.8 | 2845 |
|---|
Samarkand - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.1 °C, with a minimum of
-1.3 °C and a maximum of
7.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-10.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-20 °C in January 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17 °C. However, it reached
23.2 °C in January 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
41.1 mm, distributed over 7 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 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.9 kph.
February is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.8 °C, with a minimum of -0.1 °C and a maximum of 9.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8.5 °C. However, it dropped to -19.7 °C in February 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C. However, it reached 26.7 °C in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 52.2 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 10.3 kph.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10 °C, with a minimum of 4.7 °C and a maximum of 15.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C. However, it dropped to -9.7 °C in March 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C. However, it reached 32.2 °C in March 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 73.2 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of 11.1 kph.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.6 °C, with a minimum of 9.8 °C and a maximum of 21.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C. However, it dropped to -4.1 °C in April 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C. However, it reached 36.2 °C in April 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 62.9 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is of 11.6 kph.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.6 °C, with a minimum of 14.2 °C and a maximum of 27.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C. However, it dropped to 1.6 °C in May 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C. However, it reached 39.5 °C in May 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 49%.
The average wind speed is of 11.3 kph.
June is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.3 °C, with a minimum of 18.1 °C and a maximum of 32.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C. However, it dropped to 10.5 °C in June 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C. However, it reached 41.4 °C in June 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only 6.8 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 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 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 37%.
The average wind speed is of 11.3 kph.
July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 27 °C, with a minimum of 19.6 °C and a maximum of 34.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C. However, it dropped to 12.2 °C in July 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39.5 °C. However, it reached 41.5 °C in July 2008.
Precipitation amounts to only 1.6 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 33%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of 11.1 kph.
August is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.6 °C, with a minimum of 18 °C and a maximum of 33.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C. However, it dropped to 9 °C in August 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C. However, it reached 41 °C in August 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only 1.6 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 85% of the time.
The average humidity is 35%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of 10.6 kph.
September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.1 °C, with a minimum of 13.5 °C and a maximum of 28.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C. However, it dropped to 2 °C in September 2017.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C. However, it reached 38.6 °C in September 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only 2.7 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 82% of the time.
The average humidity is 38%.
The average wind speed is of 10.9 kph.
October is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.9 °C, with a minimum of 7.8 °C and a maximum of 22 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C. However, it dropped to -3 °C in October 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C. However, it reached 35.2 °C in October 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 16 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is of 9.4 kph.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 8.9 °C, with a minimum of 3.3 °C and a maximum of 14.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C. However, it dropped to -11.6 °C in November 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C. However, it reached 31.5 °C in November 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 40.3 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of 8.9 kph.
December is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.6 °C, with a minimum of -0.1 °C and a maximum of 9.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8 °C. However, it dropped to -18 °C in December 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C. However, it reached 27.5 °C in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 39.2 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 9 kph.