Climate Insights for Xining

The climate in Xining is cool. The average annual temperature is 4°C and approximately 743mm of precipitation falls per year. August is the wettest month, receiving around 142mm of rainfall. Xining 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 -17°C. Snowfall occurs from January to December, with around 115cm accumulating over the season.

Xining has a wide annual temperature range, spanning 38°C from the coldest to warmest months. July is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 21°C with a mean of 16°C. January brings the harshest conditions, with lows dropping to -17°C and an average temperature of -9°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 12°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 7°C shift in average temperatures.

Xining is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 743mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 62mm per month. The wettest month is August, averaging 142mm of rainfall. July and September also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is December, with just 5mm. That's 137mm 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. Snowfall is a regular feature from January to December, with around 115cm accumulating over the season. April typically sees the most snow at around 21cm.

Xining 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 2km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in September, 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 1km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently summer in Xining, which began on June 21, 2026. Xining 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 21°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -17°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 92 days from now.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Xining 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.