Climate and weather
Climate and weather of Kazakhstan
The territory of Kazakhstan stretches for more than 3000 km from west to east and almost 2000 km from north to south. Climatic peculiarities are due to the amplitude of the country. Whereas temperature can hit 50 degrees below zero in the north in winter, in summer in the south melons ripen and cotton grow. The climate of Kazakhstan (excluding south) is sharply continental with average temperature between -4 °C and -19 °C in January and between +19…+26°C in July. In winter temperature may decrease down to -45°C, and in summer rise up to +30.
One can experience all four seasons on the territory of Kazakhstan with frosty winter, blossoming spring, heating summer and scarlet autumn. Cold winter starts in November and lasts till the end of April. The influence of Arctic air masses leads to a strong cold (up to -50 С°). Springs are short and changeable – from mid of April to end May. Besides spring weather is very unstable: clear warm day may suddenly turn into cold. Dry hot summer begins in the end of May and lasts till mid September, with temperatures sometimes going up to +35...+40 С°. Autumn with its stable weather and night frosts begin in the end of September and lasts till the beginning of November.
The highest temperature in Kazakhstan was registered in the city of Turkestan (South Kazakhstan) with +49 С°. The lowest was observed in the city of Atbasar (Akmola region) -57 С°. Besides, Astana is the coldest city in the world after Ulan-Bator however it is not an obstacle for the capital city to warm guests with its warm hospitality.