The Climate of
Russia
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View to Red Square from Zaryadye Park, Moscow
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Climate Map
Climate map of Russia
What is the climate of Russia like?
Russia is the largest country in the world, encompassing much of Eastern Europe and all of Northern Asia. The traditional divide between Europe and Asia is the Ural Mountains, dividing the country from north to south at 60° east longitude. All of northern Russia lies within the Arctic Circle. Russia shares long land borders with China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan, as well as shorter borders with Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia and Finland.
Russia has a largely continental climate because of its sheer size. The climate ranges from cold arctic conditions to hot deserts and subtropical regions where tea and rice are grown. The dominant feature of the Russian weather and climate is the extreme winter cold, which prevails in all but a small part of the south of the country. This harsh Russian winter helped defeat invaders like Napoleon and Hitler and continues to impact most aspects of Russian life to this day. Adapting to the Russian winter is a necessary but difficult process. Only Antarctica, Greenland, Alaska and northern Canada experience comparable cold, frost and snow as in winter over most of Russia.
Surprisingly, summer temperatures are quite warm in much of the country, even during the short summers in northern and eastern Siberia. There is a rapid rise in temperature in spring, the time of the thaw (rasputitsa), and an equally rapid fall in temperature in autumn. In fact, much of the country has only two seasons, winter and summer. This is a characteristic feature of a continental climate and some of the best examples of this can be found in Russia.
There are two main reasons for the coldness of the Russian winter: the large size of the Eurasian landmass, which means that the country is isolated from the mitigating influence of warm ocean waters; and the northern latitude of much of the country with a north coast on the Arctic Ocean, which remains frozen for most of the year. More than half of the country lies above 60°N, only relatively small areas below 50°N. In addition, Russia's mountain ranges, predominantly to the south and the east, block moderating temperatures from the Indian and Pacific oceans, but European Russia and northern Siberia lack such protection from the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans.
Because more than half of the country is north of 60° north latitude, extensive regions experience six months of snow cover over subsoil that is permanently frozen to depths as far as several hundred meters. The severity of the Russian winter has a major impact on transportation. Except in the extreme south of the country, rivers freeze over for long periods in winter and inland navigation comes to a standstill. Road transportation is also difficult and hence the rail and air services become important. The period when rivers are completely frozen varies from 70 days a year in the west of the country to 250 days in northern Siberia.
Typically, the severity and length of winter increases eastward. The ports that are typically ice-free year-round are those on the Black Sea coast and around Murmansk and Arkhangelsk, where the influence of the Gulf Stream from the Atlantic increases sea temperatures. A shipping route from the Atlantic to the Pacific along the Arctic coast is temporarily kept open in the summer with the help of powerful icebreakers. The cold in winter is so intense that there is permafrost in northern and eastern Siberia. Here the subsoil remains frozen all year round, even if the topsoil can thaw in summer.
There are some exceptions to this description, however: a narrow, subtropical band of territory provides Russia's most popular summer resort area on the Black Sea; and the Russian Far East, under the influence of the Pacific Ocean, has a monsoonal climate that reverses the direction of wind in summer and winter, sharply differentiating temperatures.
Precipitation is rather low almost everywhere in the country. Highest precipitation falls in the northwest, with amounts decreasing from northwest to southeast across European Russia. The wettest areas are the small, lush subtropical region adjacent to the Caucasus and along the Pacific coast. In some of the major grain-growing regions of southern Russia, drought can drastically reduce crop yields in some years. The summer months are the wettest in much of the country, with showers, thunderstorms.
Average annual days of snow cover depends on both latitude and altitude. Cover varies from forty to 200 days in European Russia, and from 120 to 250 days in Siberia. Winter snowfalls, while frequent, are rarely very heavy and strong winds, the Buran or Blizzard, often sweep the ground clear of snow.
European Russia, North and Central
Including Arkhangelsk, Gorky, Moscow, Perm, St Petersburg.
This vast region stretches west-east from the western border of Russia to the Ural Mountains and north-south from the Arctic coast to northeastern Ukraine. Most of the land is below 300 meters (1,000 feet) and is flat or gently rolling country. This part of Russia has the most changeable weather in both summer and winter, as it is more prone to weather disturbances from the Atlantic and north-western Europe. The mildest areas in winter are near the Baltic Sea coast, but the sea often freezes over here too.
The increasing severity of winters to the east and north is illustrated by comparing Moscow, Perm (near the Urals) and Arkhangelsk (near The arctic circle). Summers in St. Petersburg (at the tip of the Gulf of Finland) are slightly cooler than inland and further east. Summers are a little warmer to the east and south. The entire area has a summer precipitation maximum. Hours of sunshine are rather low throughout the region in winter, averaging just one to two hours a day, but between eight and ten hours in summer. In summer, the increasing day length in the north is important for warmth and sunshine.
| Climate data for Moscow (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | −3.9 (25.0) | −3 (27) | 3.0 (37.4) | 11.7 (53.1) | 19.0 (66.2) | 22.4 (72.3) | 24.7 (76.5) | 22.7 (72.9) | 16.4 (61.5) | 8.9 (48.0) | 1.6 (34.9) | −2.3 (27.9) | 10.1 (50.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −6.2 (20.8) | −5.9 (21.4) | −0.7 (30.7) | 6.9 (44.4) | 13.6 (56.5) | 17.3 (63.1) | 19.7 (67.5) | 17.6 (63.7) | 11.9 (53.4) | 5.8 (42.4) | −0.5 (31.1) | −4.4 (24.1) | 6.3 (43.3) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −8.7 (16.3) | −8.8 (16.2) | −4.2 (24.4) | 2.3 (36.1) | 8.1 (46.6) | 12.2 (54.0) | 14.8 (58.6) | 13.0 (55.4) | 8.0 (46.4) | 3.0 (37.4) | −2.4 (27.7) | −6.5 (20.3) | 2.6 (36.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 53 (2.1) | 44 (1.7) | 39 (1.5) | 37 (1.5) | 61 (2.4) | 78 (3.1) | 84 (3.3) | 78 (3.1) | 66 (2.6) | 70 (2.8) | 52 (2.0) | 51 (2.0) | 713 (28.1) |
| Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 26 (10) | 35 (14) | 29 (11) | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 3 (1.2) | 13 (5.1) | 35 (14) |
| Source: www.pogodaiklimat.ru | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Perm (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | −9.3 (15.3) | −7.5 (18.5) | 0.2 (32.4) | 9.1 (48.4) | 17.7 (63.9) | 22.0 (71.6) | 24.0 (75.2) | 20.7 (69.3) | 14.5 (58.1) | 6.3 (43.3) | −2.6 (27.3) | −7.8 (18.0) | 7.3 (45.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −12.5 (9.5) | −11.3 (11.7) | −4.0 (24.8) | 3.9 (39.0) | 11.5 (52.7) | 16.2 (61.2) | 18.5 (65.3) | 15.6 (60.1) | 10.0 (50.0) | 3.3 (37.9) | −5.2 (22.6) | −10.7 (12.7) | 2.9 (37.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −15.8 (3.6) | −14.8 (5.4) | −7.8 (18.0) | −0.6 (30.9) | 5.8 (42.4) | 10.9 (51.6) | 13.2 (55.8) | 11.2 (52.2) | 6.6 (43.9) | 0.9 (33.6) | −7.6 (18.3) | −13.7 (7.3) | −1.0 (30.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 45 (1.8) | 33 (1.3) | 34 (1.3) | 37 (1.5) | 55 (2.2) | 89 (3.5) | 78 (3.1) | 88 (3.5) | 64 (2.5) | 63 (2.5) | 56 (2.2) | 48 (1.9) | 690 (27.2) |
| Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 48 (19) | 61 (24) | 60 (24) | 19 (7.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (0.8) | 12 (4.7) | 30 (12) | 61 (24) |
| Source: www.pogodaiklimat.ru | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Arkhangelsk (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | −8.4 (16.9) | −7.1 (19.2) | −1.1 (30.0) | 5.6 (42.1) | 13.1 (55.6) | 18.7 (65.7) | 22.1 (71.8) | 18.6 (65.5) | 12.8 (55.0) | 5.0 (41.0) | −1.9 (28.6) | −5.3 (22.5) | 6.0 (42.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −11.6 (11.1) | −10.7 (12.7) | −5.5 (22.1) | 0.8 (33.4) | 7.5 (45.5) | 13.1 (55.6) | 16.5 (61.7) | 13.6 (56.5) | 8.8 (47.8) | 2.5 (36.5) | −4.2 (24.4) | −8.2 (17.2) | 1.9 (35.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −15.2 (4.6) | −14.4 (6.1) | −9.7 (14.5) | −3.4 (25.9) | 2.5 (36.5) | 7.7 (45.9) | 11.5 (52.7) | 9.3 (48.7) | 5.6 (42.1) | 0.4 (32.7) | −6.7 (19.9) | −11.3 (11.7) | −2.0 (28.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 42 (1.7) | 32 (1.3) | 31 (1.2) | 32 (1.3) | 48 (1.9) | 65 (2.6) | 75 (3.0) | 82 (3.2) | 62 (2.4) | 68 (2.7) | 51 (2.0) | 48 (1.9) | 636 (25.0) |
| Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 36 (14) | 45 (18) | 48 (19) | 19 (7.5) | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (0.8) | 11 (4.3) | 24 (9.4) | 48 (19) |
| Source: www.pogodaiklimat.ru | |||||||||||||
Southern European Russia
Including Astrakhan, Grozny, Rostov, Sochi, Volgograd.
Although winters are still cold here and periods of extremely cold weather occur when easterly winds blow from Siberia, winter is shorter and the spring thaw comes earlier.
To the southeast, in the steppe region north of the Caucasus and west of the Caspian Sea, the climate becomes significantly drier. This steppe is quite windswept, and hot, dry summer winds (the Sukhovey) raise temperatures and bring very low humidity, which hurts crops. The opposite of this hot wind is the Buran, a bitterly cold wind often associated with snowstorms in winter. Astrakhan, where the Volga flows into the Caspian Sea, shows the desert-like climate of south-eastern Russia.
| Climate data for Astrakhan (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | −0.1 (31.8) | 1.5 (34.7) | 8.8 (47.8) | 17.6 (63.7) | 24.7 (76.5) | 30.1 (86.2) | 32.6 (90.7) | 31.4 (88.5) | 24.6 (76.3) | 16.8 (62.2) | 7.3 (45.1) | 1.3 (34.3) | 16.4 (61.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −3.6 (25.5) | −3.0 (26.6) | 3.2 (37.8) | 11.3 (52.3) | 18.5 (65.3) | 23.8 (74.8) | 26.1 (79.0) | 24.6 (76.3) | 18.0 (64.4) | 10.9 (51.6) | 3.1 (37.6) | −1.8 (28.8) | 10.9 (51.6) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −6.5 (20.3) | −6.5 (20.3) | −1.0 (30.2) | 5.9 (42.6) | 12.7 (54.9) | 17.7 (63.9) | 19.9 (67.8) | 18.3 (64.9) | 12.5 (54.5) | 6.3 (43.3) | −0.1 (31.8) | −4.5 (23.9) | 6.2 (43.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 15 (0.6) | 12 (0.5) | 17 (0.7) | 25 (1.0) | 28 (1.1) | 25 (1.0) | 22 (0.9) | 17 (0.7) | 16 (0.6) | 19 (0.7) | 17 (0.7) | 18 (0.7) | 231 (9.1) |
| Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 2 (0.8) | 2 (0.8) | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.4) | 2 (0.8) |
| Source: www.pogodaiklimat.ru | |||||||||||||
One small area in southern Russia is particularly prone to mild winters: the east coast of the Black Sea. This area is sometimes referred to as the "Russian Riviera" and is a popular summer vacation spot. Although the summer climate here is sunny, with ten or more hours of sunshine per day, rain falls throughout the year and can be particularly heavy. Sochi shows the weather typical for this area.
| Climate data for Sochi (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 9.9 (49.8) | 10.4 (50.7) | 12.7 (54.9) | 17.0 (62.6) | 21.2 (70.2) | 25.4 (77.7) | 27.9 (82.2) | 28.6 (83.5) | 25.2 (77.4) | 20.7 (69.3) | 15.6 (60.1) | 12.0 (53.6) | 18.9 (66.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.3 (43.3) | 6.5 (43.7) | 8.6 (47.5) | 12.3 (54.1) | 16.6 (61.9) | 20.9 (69.6) | 23.7 (74.7) | 24.3 (75.7) | 20.5 (68.9) | 16.2 (61.2) | 11.4 (52.5) | 8.3 (46.9) | 14.6 (58.3) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 3.8 (38.8) | 3.7 (38.7) | 5.6 (42.1) | 9.0 (48.2) | 13.3 (55.9) | 17.4 (63.3) | 20.0 (68.0) | 20.7 (69.3) | 16.9 (62.4) | 13.1 (55.6) | 8.5 (47.3) | 5.7 (42.3) | 11.5 (52.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 177 (7.0) | 134 (5.3) | 133 (5.2) | 109 (4.3) | 107 (4.2) | 95 (3.7) | 120 (4.7) | 106 (4.2) | 140 (5.5) | 177 (7.0) | 175 (6.9) | 178 (7.0) | 1,651 (65.0) |
| Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 1 (0.4) | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.4) |
| Source: www.pogodaiklimat.ru | |||||||||||||
Siberia
Including Ekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Tomsk, Verkhoyansk, Vladivostok.
This region stretches from the Urals to the Pacific Ocean in the east and from the Arctic Ocean to the borders of Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China. Western Siberia is mostly low-lying and generally flat. Towards the east and northeast, however, the country becomes more mountainous with deeper valleys. It is still a remote and sparsely populated region north of the southern settlement strip along the Trans-Siberian Railway. Within this vast area there are few significant weather and climate differences.
Winter precipitation is fairly low and falls entirely as snow. Winters are very cold and prolonged everywhere, but the short summers can be quite warm and comfortable during the day once the winter snows have melted. Summers get shorter northward, but even as far north as Verkhoyansk the short summer has some very warm days. Summer is the wettest season everywhere.
The Siberian city of Verkhoyansk has a reputation for being one of the coldest places on earth, with the greatest difference between summer and winter temperatures.
| Climate data for Verkhoyansk (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | −41.6 (−42.9) | −36.7 (−34.1) | −18.8 (−1.8) | −1.8 (28.8) | 10.3 (50.5) | 20.6 (69.1) | 23.4 (74.1) | 19.2 (66.6) | 8.7 (47.7) | −8.5 (16.7) | −30.0 (−22.0) | −40.6 (−41.1) | −8.0 (17.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −44.7 (−48.5) | −42.1 (−43.8) | −28.9 (−20.0) | −10.9 (12.4) | 4.2 (39.6) | 13.9 (57.0) | 16.5 (61.7) | 12.1 (53.8) | 2.8 (37.0) | −13.4 (7.9) | −33.7 (−28.7) | −43.6 (−46.5) | −14.0 (6.8) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −47.7 (−53.9) | −46.3 (−51.3) | −37.4 (−35.3) | −20.4 (−4.7) | −2.0 (28.4) | 7.3 (45.1) | 10.0 (50.0) | 5.7 (42.3) | −1.9 (28.6) | −18.0 (−0.4) | −37.3 (−35.1) | −46.3 (−51.3) | −19.5 (−3.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 6 (0.2) | 5 (0.2) | 5 (0.2) | 4 (0.2) | 16 (0.6) | 30 (1.2) | 34 (1.3) | 30 (1.2) | 22 (0.9) | 13 (0.5) | 11 (0.4) | 6 (0.2) | 182 (7.2) |
| Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 20 (7.9) | 22 (8.7) | 24 (9.4) | 18 (7.1) | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 5 (2.0) | 12 (4.7) | 16 (6.3) | 24 (9.4) |
| Source: www.pogodaiklimat.ru | |||||||||||||
The tables for Yekaterinburg, Tomsk, and Irkutsk (all in approximately the same latitude in southern Siberia) show the similarity of temperatures from west to east.
| Climate data for Yekaterinburg (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | −9.3 (15.3) | −6.6 (20.1) | 0.9 (33.6) | 10.1 (50.2) | 18.3 (64.9) | 22.6 (72.7) | 24.3 (75.7) | 21.4 (70.5) | 15.0 (59.0) | 6.9 (44.4) | −2.6 (27.3) | −7.8 (18.0) | 7.8 (46.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −12.6 (9.3) | −10.8 (12.6) | −3.6 (25.5) | 4.7 (40.5) | 12.2 (54.0) | 16.9 (62.4) | 18.9 (66.0) | 16.2 (61.2) | 10.4 (50.7) | 3.6 (38.5) | −5.4 (22.3) | −10.7 (12.7) | 3.3 (37.9) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −15.5 (4.1) | −14.1 (6.6) | −7.3 (18.9) | 0.3 (32.5) | 6.9 (44.4) | 12.0 (53.6) | 14.4 (57.9) | 12.2 (54.0) | 6.8 (44.2) | 1.0 (33.8) | −7.8 (18.0) | −13.3 (8.1) | −0.4 (31.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 25 (1.0) | 19 (0.7) | 25 (1.0) | 31 (1.2) | 47 (1.9) | 73 (2.9) | 93 (3.7) | 75 (3.0) | 45 (1.8) | 41 (1.6) | 33 (1.3) | 28 (1.1) | 535 (21.1) |
| Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 33 (13) | 42 (17) | 38 (15) | 5 (2.0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.4) | 8 (3.1) | 21 (8.3) | 42 (17) |
| Source: www.pogodaiklimat.ru | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Tomsk (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | −13.4 (7.9) | −9 (16) | −0.4 (31.3) | 8.7 (47.7) | 17.5 (63.5) | 23.0 (73.4) | 25.0 (77.0) | 21.9 (71.4) | 14.7 (58.5) | 6.3 (43.3) | −4.8 (23.4) | −11.1 (12.0) | 6.5 (43.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −17.5 (0.5) | −14.2 (6.4) | −6.3 (20.7) | 2.6 (36.7) | 10.4 (50.7) | 16.5 (61.7) | 18.8 (65.8) | 15.9 (60.6) | 9.2 (48.6) | 2.0 (35.6) | −8.2 (17.2) | −14.9 (5.2) | 1.2 (34.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −21.2 (−6.2) | −18.4 (−1.1) | −11.2 (11.8) | −2.2 (28.0) | 4.9 (40.8) | 11.2 (52.2) | 13.8 (56.8) | 11.3 (52.3) | 5.2 (41.4) | −1.1 (30.0) | −11.3 (11.7) | −18.5 (−1.3) | −3.1 (26.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 36 (1.4) | 26 (1.0) | 29 (1.1) | 35 (1.4) | 50 (2.0) | 60 (2.4) | 72 (2.8) | 68 (2.7) | 52 (2.0) | 53 (2.1) | 55 (2.2) | 51 (2.0) | 587 (23.1) |
| Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 58 (23) | 68 (27) | 70 (28) | 30 (12) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (0.8) | 15 (5.9) | 41 (16) | 70 (28) |
| Source: www.pogodaiklimat.ru | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Irkutsk (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | −12.7 (9.1) | −7.5 (18.5) | 1.2 (34.2) | 10.5 (50.9) | 18.1 (64.6) | 23.8 (74.8) | 25.7 (78.3) | 22.9 (73.2) | 16.1 (61.0) | 7.9 (46.2) | −2.7 (27.1) | −10.8 (12.6) | 7.7 (45.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −17.6 (0.3) | −14.1 (6.6) | −5.5 (22.1) | 3.6 (38.5) | 10.4 (50.7) | 16.4 (61.5) | 19.0 (66.2) | 16.4 (61.5) | 9.5 (49.1) | 2.0 (35.6) | −7.6 (18.3) | −15.4 (4.3) | 1.4 (34.5) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −21.4 (−6.5) | −19.1 (−2.4) | −11.1 (12.0) | −1.9 (28.6) | 3.7 (38.7) | 10.1 (50.2) | 13.5 (56.3) | 11.4 (52.5) | 4.6 (40.3) | −2.4 (27.7) | −11.5 (11.3) | −19.1 (−2.4) | −3.6 (25.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 14 (0.6) | 9 (0.4) | 12 (0.5) | 21 (0.8) | 36 (1.4) | 69 (2.7) | 107 (4.2) | 96 (3.8) | 53 (2.1) | 21 (0.8) | 20 (0.8) | 19 (0.7) | 477 (18.8) |
| Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 24 (9.4) | 28 (11) | 18 (7.1) | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.4) | 8 (3.1) | 18 (7.1) | 28 (11) |
| Source: www.pogodaiklimat.ru | |||||||||||||
Vladivostok illustrates the quite varied climate and weather in a narrow strip along the Pacific coast. The winters are still cold and the ports are freezing, because the prevailing winter wind comes from the west or northwest which brings very cold Siberian air to the coast. Wind direction reversals occur in summer as the East Asian summer monsoon brings warm, humid winds off the Pacific Ocean, making coastal regions comparatively wet at this time.
| Climate data for Vladivostok (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | −7.8 (18.0) | −3.8 (25.2) | 2.7 (36.9) | 10.1 (50.2) | 14.9 (58.8) | 17.9 (64.2) | 21.6 (70.9) | 23.3 (73.9) | 20.1 (68.2) | 13.2 (55.8) | 3.3 (37.9) | −5.4 (22.3) | 9.2 (48.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −11.9 (10.6) | −8.1 (17.4) | −1.5 (29.3) | 5.3 (41.5) | 10.0 (50.0) | 13.8 (56.8) | 18.1 (64.6) | 20.0 (68.0) | 16.3 (61.3) | 9.2 (48.6) | −0.7 (30.7) | −9.2 (15.4) | 5.1 (41.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −15.0 (5.0) | −11.3 (11.7) | −4.5 (23.9) | 2.1 (35.8) | 7.0 (44.6) | 11.3 (52.3) | 16.1 (61.0) | 17.9 (64.2) | 13.5 (56.3) | 6.2 (43.2) | −3.5 (25.7) | −12.0 (10.4) | 2.3 (36.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 12 (0.5) | 16 (0.6) | 27 (1.1) | 43 (1.7) | 97 (3.8) | 105 (4.1) | 159 (6.3) | 176 (6.9) | 103 (4.1) | 67 (2.6) | 36 (1.4) | 19 (0.7) | 860 (33.9) |
| Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 5 (2.0) | 4 (1.6) | 3 (1.2) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.4) | 3 (1.2) | 5 (2.0) |
| Source: www.pogodaiklimat.ru | |||||||||||||
When is the best time to visit Russia?
The climate ranges from extreme Arctic conditions in Siberia to subtropical along the Black Sea coast. From June through September, much of Russia has weather similar to that in the northern USA or central Europe. The Black Sea coast and the Caucasus in the south have mild winters and hot summers.
References
- E. A. Pearce, Charles Gordon Smith, (1990) The Hutchinson World Weather Guide, John Murray Press. ISBN 1859863426
- Timothy L. Gall, (ed.), (2003), Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, Eleventh Edition, Thomson Gale
- Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, (1998), Russia: a country study. Claitor's Pub. Division. ISBN 0844408662
- Hugh Chisholm, (ed.), (1911), Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh edition, Cambridge University Press
The Climate of
Russia
In summary:
Most of Russia has a continental climate, with long, cold winters and brief summers. There is a wide range of summer and winter temperatures and relatively low rainfall. January temperatures are in the range of 6°C (45°F) on the eastern shore of the Black Sea, but regularly reach −45°C (−50°F) in northern Siberia. July temperatures range from 15°C (59°F) to 26°C (79°F) across the country. The northern forest, like most of the country, has long severe winters, short summers, and extremely short springs and autumns. The steppes have very cold winters and hot, dry summers.
Most of Russia experiences only modest precipitation, but the averages vary by region. On the Great European Plain, averages decrease from more than 800 mm (30 in) in the west to less than 400 mm (16 in) on the Caspian Sea shoreline. Siberia uniformly sees annual precipitation ranging from 500 to 800 mm (20 to 32 in), although amounts are generally less than 300 mm (12 in) in northeastern Siberia.