The Climate of
Tajikistan
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Panoramic view of Dushanbe
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Climate Map
Climate map of Tajikistan
What is the climate of Tajikistan like?
Tajikistan is part of a mountainous region in central Asia. It shares borders with Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, and Afghanistan. It includes peaks rising to over 6,000 meters (20,000 feet). These mountains carry snow the year round. However, because of the distance from the sea and the shelter of the Pamir and Himalayan ranges to the south and southeast, it is a rather dry region considering its height. Winters are cold but spring comes earlier than farther north.
In general, the climate of Tajikistan is continental, subtropical and semi-arid, with some desert areas. However, the climate changes drastically depending on altitude. The lowlands are shielded from arctic air masses by mountains, but temperatures still fall below freezing in winter. In the subtropical southwestern lowlands, which experience the highest average temperatures, the climate is arid, although some sections are irrigated for agriculture.
Average temperatures vary significantly by region in Tajikistan. A continental climate predominates in the lowlands, with hot summers and cold winters. The capital city Dushanbe has an average July temperature of 27°C (81°F) and a January average of 3°C (37°F). Extreme temperatures in summer can reach 45°C (113°F), with strong dust storms in the semiarid regions. By contrast, the eastern mountains have average July temperatures below 10°C (50°F) and January temperatures of -20°C (-4°F). Winter temperatures in the eastern Pamir mountains have dropped to -60°C (-76°F).
For most of Tajikistan, the average annual precipitation is rather meager. The capital city, Dushanbe, located in the southwest lowlands has an annual rainfall of 650 millimeters (25 inches). In many other places it is much lower. Khujand in the Fergana Valley in the north averages 165 millimeters (7 inches). The heaviest precipitation is at the Fedchenko Glacier in eastern Tajikistan, which averages 2,250 millimeters (88 inches) per year. Winter and spring are the chief snowfall/rainfall seasons. Summer and fall can be drought-stricken. Sudden, substantial amounts of rain have occasionally caused landslides.
| Climate data for Dushanbe (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 9.0 (48.2) | 11.0 (51.8) | 17.0 (62.6) | 22.8 (73.0) | 27.9 (82.2) | 33.6 (92.5) | 36.4 (97.5) | 35.5 (95.9) | 31.3 (88.3) | 24.4 (75.9) | 16.7 (62.1) | 11.1 (52.0) | 23.1 (73.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.1 (37.6) | 5.0 (41.0) | 10.5 (50.9) | 15.8 (60.4) | 20.1 (68.2) | 25.1 (77.2) | 27.4 (81.3) | 26.0 (78.8) | 21.2 (70.2) | 14.7 (58.5) | 9.0 (48.2) | 4.6 (40.3) | 15.2 (59.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −0.9 (30.4) | 0.5 (32.9) | 5.5 (41.9) | 10.1 (50.2) | 13.4 (56.1) | 17.2 (63.0) | 18.9 (66.0) | 17.2 (63.0) | 12.7 (54.9) | 7.8 (46.0) | 3.8 (38.8) | 0.4 (32.7) | 8.9 (48.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 100 (3.9) | 95 (3.7) | 102 (4.0) | 112 (4.4) | 75 (3.0) | 17 (0.7) | 4 (0.2) | 1 (0.0) | 4 (0.2) | 29 (1.1) | 55 (2.2) | 60 (2.4) | 654 (25.7) |
| Source: www.pogodaiklimat.ru | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Khujand (1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 3.5 (38.3) | 6.2 (43.2) | 13.8 (56.8) | 21.9 (71.4) | 28.6 (83.5) | 34.2 (93.6) | 35.5 (95.9) | 32.4 (90.3) | 28.8 (83.8) | 20.6 (69.1) | 12.3 (54.1) | 5.6 (42.1) | 20.3 (68.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −0.3 (31.5) | 1.7 (35.1) | 8.5 (47.3) | 16.2 (61.2) | 21.8 (71.2) | 26.9 (80.4) | 28.3 (82.9) | 26.1 (79.0) | 20.8 (69.4) | 13.9 (57.0) | 7.3 (45.1) | 2.0 (35.6) | 14.4 (57.9) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −3.4 (25.9) | −1.8 (28.8) | 4.2 (39.6) | 10.7 (51.3) | 15.5 (59.9) | 19.6 (67.3) | 21.2 (70.2) | 18.8 (65.8) | 13.6 (56.5) | 8.1 (46.6) | 3.4 (38.1) | −0.5 (31.1) | 9.1 (48.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 15.7 (0.62) | 15.7 (0.62) | 26.1 (1.03) | 31.4 (1.24) | 17.2 (0.68) | 4.6 (0.18) | 2.3 (0.09) | 1.7 (0.07) | 2.7 (0.11) | 16.9 (0.67) | 13.7 (0.54) | 16.8 (0.66) | 164.8 (6.49) |
| Source: World Meteorological Organization | |||||||||||||
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, (1997), Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan: country studies. Claitor's Pub. Division. ISBN 0844409383
- Hugh Chisholm, (ed.), (1911), Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh edition, Cambridge University Press
The Climate of
Tajikistan
In summary:
Tajikistan's climate is a continental one in the lowlands, with hot, dry summers and cold winters. The capital city, Dushanbe, has an average July temperature of 27°C (81°F) and a January average of 3°C (37°F). The mountains experience alpine conditions with short, brief summers, and long cold winters. Rainfall is low in most places, often reaching desert conditions.