Climate Insights for Almaty

The climate in Almaty is cool. The average annual temperature is 6°C and approximately 730mm of precipitation falls per year. May is the wettest month, receiving around 119mm of rainfall. Almaty 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 -12°C. Snowfall occurs from January to December, with around 134cm accumulating over the season.

Almaty has a wide annual temperature range, spanning 38°C from the coldest to warmest months. The warmest month is July, when average highs reach 26°C and the mean temperature sits around 21°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -12°C and the daily average is -9°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 10°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 8°C shift in average temperatures.

Almaty is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 730mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 61mm per month. The wettest month is May, averaging 119mm of rainfall. April and March also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is January, with just 21mm. That's 99mm less than May, 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. Snowfall is a regular feature from January to December, with around 134cm accumulating over the season. March typically sees the most snow at around 32cm.

Almaty is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 8km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is June, averaging 9km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in November, with average winds dropping to 6km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 3km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently spring in Almaty, which began on March 20, 2026. Almaty 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 26°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -12°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 90 days from now.

The best time to visit Almaty is during June, July and August, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 19°C with modest rainfall averaging 60mm per month. By contrast, January can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to -12°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Almaty 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.