Climate Insights for Qilian

The climate in Qilian is cold. The average annual temperature is -5°C and approximately 797mm of precipitation falls per year. August is the wettest month, receiving around 172mm of rainfall. Qilian 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, February, December, when temperatures can drop to -27°C. Qilian experiences heavy snowfall, typically from January through December.

Qilian has a wide annual temperature range, spanning 41°C from the coldest to warmest months. July is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 14°C with a mean of 9°C. January brings the harshest conditions, with lows dropping to -27°C and an average temperature of -18°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 14°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between September and October, with a 9°C shift in average temperatures.

Qilian is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 797mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 66mm per month. The wettest month is August, averaging 172mm of rainfall. July and June also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is December, with just 3mm. That's 168mm 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. Qilian receives heavy snowfall, accumulating around 257cm annually from January through December. The snowiest month is May, with approximately 55cm. Winter travel should account for significant snow cover.

Qilian is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 1km/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 1km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in January, with average winds dropping to 1km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 0km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently summer in Qilian, which began on June 21, 2026. Qilian 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 14°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -27°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 92 days from now.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Qilian 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.