Climate Insights for Almaty

The climate in Almaty is cool. The average annual temperature is 7°C and approximately 948mm of precipitation falls per year. May is the wettest month, receiving around 173mm of rainfall. 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 February, January, November, when temperatures can drop to -9°C. Almaty experiences heavy snowfall, typically from January through December.

Temperatures in Almaty vary considerably across the year, with a 34°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. July is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 25°C with a mean of 20°C. The coldest month is February, when overnight lows fall to -9°C and the daily average is -4°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 10°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between September and October, with a 13°C shift in average temperatures.

Almaty is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 948mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 79mm per month. The wettest month is May, averaging 173mm of rainfall. April and July also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is February, with just 15mm. That's 158mm less than May, 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. Almaty receives heavy snowfall, accumulating around 233cm annually from January through December. The snowiest month is November, with approximately 46cm. 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 December, averaging 2km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, 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 Almaty, which began on June 21, 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 25°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in February near -9°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 52 days from now.

The best time to visit Almaty is during June, August and September, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 18°C with modest rainfall averaging 56mm per month. By contrast, July can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 25°C, while February is the coldest period with lows dropping to -9°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.