Weather locations in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is a landlocked country of steppe and semi-desert occupying the middle of the Eurasian continent, and its climate is severely continental. Nothing stands between it and the Siberian winter, so the country swings from long, hard frosts in winter to hot dry summers. The further south and east you go, the drier it becomes, and the precipitation drops away towards the deserts of the far south.

Main climate types

Most of the country lies in the steppe and semi-arid desert groups, with strongly continental features. The north, around Petropavl and Kokshetau, grades into a humid continental type with more rain. The far south, around Shymkent and Turkistan, is semi-arid to arid. The Tien Shan mountains in the south-east, along with the Karatau ridge, hold alpine and even glacial zones, and the highest peaks are always snow-covered.

Temperatures

Astana on the Kazakh steppe is one of the coldest national capitals, with January means about -14 degrees Celsius and July means about 21, and temperatures below -30 in cold spells. Almaty to the south-east, in a warmer valley, averages about -8 in January and 22 in July. Winter is long and snowy, spring arrives late, and the annual range of temperature is the widest in the country.

Rainfall

Annual rainfall is around 300 to 400 millimetres in the semi-arid north and under 200 in the southern deserts, falling mostly in the warm months as rain and frequent thunderstorms. The mountains are the wettest part of the country, with the Tien Shan taking 800 to 1,000 millimetres and supporting forest, meadow and glacier. Snow cover in the north lasts several months each winter, and the country is one of the driest in Central Asia.

When to go

Late May to early September is the main travelling season, and June to August the warmest, though the north is cool even in summer. Winter, from December to February, brings hard frost and heavy snow in the north, while the mountain resorts around Almaty ski from mid-December to early March.