Climate Insights for Pyongyang

The climate in Pyongyang is temperate. The average annual temperature is 12°C and approximately 1054mm of precipitation falls per year. July is the wettest month, receiving around 239mm of rainfall. Pyongyang is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, August, June. The coldest months are January, December, February, when temperatures can drop to -9°C. Light snow can occur between January and December.

Pyongyang has a wide annual temperature range, spanning 39°C from the coldest to warmest months. The warmest month is July, when average highs reach 30°C and the mean temperature sits around 26°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -9°C and the daily average is -4°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 9°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between November and December, with a 8°C shift in average temperatures.

Pyongyang is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 1054mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 88mm per month. The wettest month is July, averaging 239mm of rainfall. August and June also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is January, with just 15mm. That's 224mm less than July, 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 22cm annually. December is the snowiest month with approximately 6cm.

Pyongyang is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 16km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is April, averaging 18km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in September, with average winds dropping to 13km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 5km/h between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 17km/h in winter, 18km/h in spring, 14km/h in summer, 15km/h in autumn.

It is currently spring in Pyongyang, which began on March 20, 2026. Pyongyang 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 July at around 30°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -9°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 90 days from now.

The best time to visit Pyongyang is during September, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 21°C with modest rainfall averaging 98mm per month. By contrast, July can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 30°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to -9°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 Pyongyang 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.