Climate Insights for Almaty

The climate in Almaty is cool. The average annual temperature is 7°C and approximately 786mm of precipitation falls per year. Almaty receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. 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 -11°C. Almaty experiences heavy snowfall, typically from January through December.

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 27°C and the mean temperature sits around 21°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -11°C and the daily average is -8°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 11°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 9°C shift in average temperatures.

Almaty is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 786mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 65mm per month. The wettest month is April, averaging 142mm of rainfall. May and June also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is January, with just 31mm. That's 111mm less than April, the wettest month. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the first half (January to June) of the year generally seeing more rainfall. Almaty receives heavy snowfall, accumulating around 219cm annually from January through December. The snowiest month is November, with approximately 33cm. Winter travel should account for significant snow cover.

Almaty 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 February, averaging 2km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in October, with average winds dropping to 2km/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 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 27°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -11°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 4 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 20°C with modest rainfall averaging 63mm 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 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.