Climate Insights for Kunming

The climate in Kunming is temperate. The average annual temperature is 16°C and approximately 1279mm of precipitation falls per year. July is the wettest month, receiving around 250mm of rainfall. Kunming is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: May, June, August. The coldest months are January, December, February, when temperatures can drop to 4°C. Light snow can occur between January and February.

Temperatures in Kunming vary considerably across the year, with a 22°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. The warmest month is May, when average highs reach 26°C and the mean temperature sits around 21°C. January is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 4°C and an average of 9°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 4°C shift in average temperatures.

Kunming is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1279mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 107mm per month. The wettest month is July, averaging 250mm of rainfall. June and August also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is December, with just 18mm. That's 232mm 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 February, totalling around 7cm annually. January is the snowiest month with approximately 4cm.

Kunming is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 3km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is March, averaging 4km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 2km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind speeds vary significantly across the year, with a 2km/h difference between the calmest and windiest months. This level of variation is worth factoring into travel plans.

It is currently summer in Kunming, which began on June 21, 2026. Kunming 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 May at around 26°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 4°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 93 days from now.

The best time to visit Kunming is during March, April, May and October, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 18°C with modest rainfall averaging 70mm per month. By contrast, January can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 4°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 Kunming 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.