Climate Insights for Xichang

The climate in Xichang is temperate. The average annual temperature is 14°C and approximately 1251mm of precipitation falls per year. August is the wettest month, receiving around 226mm of rainfall. Xichang is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: August, July, June. The coldest months are January, December, February, when temperatures can drop to -1°C. Light snow can occur between January and December.

Temperatures in Xichang vary considerably across the year, with a 26°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. The warmest month is August, when average highs reach 25°C and the mean temperature sits around 20°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -1°C and the daily average is 6°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 10°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between February and March, with a 5°C shift in average temperatures.

Xichang is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1251mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 104mm per month. The wettest month is August, averaging 226mm of rainfall. June and July also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is February, with just 20mm. That's 206mm less than August, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic. Light snowfall can occur between January and December, totalling around 28cm annually. January is the snowiest month with approximately 10cm.

Xichang is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 6km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is February, averaging 8km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 4km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind speeds vary significantly across the year, with a 4km/h difference between the calmest and windiest months. This level of variation is worth factoring into travel plans. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 8km/h in winter, 7km/h in spring, 4km/h in summer, 5km/h in autumn.

It is currently summer in Xichang, which began on June 21, 2026. Xichang is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in August at around 25°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -1°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 (9 days from now).

The best time to visit Xichang is during April and May, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 74mm per month. By contrast, August can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 25°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to -1°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely. Pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Xichang based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.