Climate Insights for Lanzhou

The climate in Lanzhou is cool. The average annual temperature is 10°C and approximately 378mm of precipitation falls per year. August is the wettest month, receiving around 96mm of rainfall. Lanzhou 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 -11°C. Light snow can occur between January and December.

Lanzhou has a wide annual temperature range, spanning 40°C from the coldest to warmest months. The warmest month is July, when average highs reach 29°C and the mean temperature sits around 23°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -11°C and the daily average is -5°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 12°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between February and March, with a 8°C shift in average temperatures.

Lanzhou is a quite dry location, receiving approximately 378mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 32mm per month. The wettest month is August, averaging 96mm of rainfall. July and September also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is December, with just 3mm. That's 93mm 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 33cm annually. February is the snowiest month with approximately 6cm.

Lanzhou is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 2km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is May, averaging 3km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in December, with average winds dropping to 2km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 1km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently summer in Lanzhou, which began on June 21, 2026. Lanzhou 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 29°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -11°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 93 days from now.

The best time to visit Lanzhou is during May, June, July, August and September, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 19°C with modest rainfall averaging 58mm per month. By contrast, January can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to -11°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 Lanzhou 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.