(according to the Köppen classification, cold semi-arid or steppe climate - BSk), with very cold winters and hot summers.
Balkhash (also transliterated as Balqash) is a city of 70,000 inhabitants, located in central-eastern Kazakhstan, in the region (oblys) of Karaganda, at 375 meters (1,230 feet) above sea level and at almost 47 degrees north latitude.
, a lake of half fresh water and half salt water, located in the center of an endorheic basin, which receives water from seven rivers.
is decidedly scarce, as it is less than 150 millimeters (6 inches) per year. In particular, summer, a season in which thunderstorms occur in northern Kazakhstan, here is dry.
, from November to March, is very cold: the average temperature in January is about -13.5 °C (7.5 °F).
Due to the arid climate, snowfall is usually light. However, there are periods when light snow often falls.
, the temperature drops around or below -30 °C (-22 °F) every year. The record is -41.2 °C (-42.2 °F), set in December 1938. In January 1938, the daily average was -25.5 °C (-14 °F).
, from June to August, is hot and sunny, with some rare thunderstorms. The average for July is 24 °C (75 °F).
The altitude and the presence of the lake moderate the summer temperatures a little, so much so that Balqash is not as hot as most other cities in central-southern Kazakhstan.
However, on the hottest days, the temperature reaches 37/38 °C (99/100 °F), and more rarely 40 °C (104 °F).
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-13.4 °C, with a minimum of
-17.8 °C and a maximum of
-8.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-29 °C. However, it dropped to
-35.6 °C in January 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
-0.5 °C. However, it reached
3.8 °C in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
13.9 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.1 kph.
February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-11.2 °C, with a minimum of
-16.2 °C and a maximum of
-6.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-26.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-35.5 °C in February 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
2 °C. However, it reached
5.9 °C in February 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
11.5 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.2 kph.
March is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-2.1 °C, with a minimum of
-7 °C and a maximum of
2.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-18.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-28.9 °C in March 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14 °C. However, it reached
21.7 °C in March 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
12.7 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.9 kph.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.4 °C, with a minimum of
3.9 °C and a maximum of
14.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-10.4 °C in April 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
32.5 °C in April 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
10.1 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is of
16.2 kph.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.5 °C, with a minimum of
10.7 °C and a maximum of
22.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.6 °C in May 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
36.5 °C in May 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
15.5 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is of
15.8 kph.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22.3 °C, with a minimum of
16.8 °C and a maximum of
27.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
5.4 °C in June 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
37.1 °C in June 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
12.8 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is of
15.5 kph.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24 °C, with a minimum of
18.5 °C and a maximum of
29.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C. However, it dropped to
10 °C in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
40.9 °C in July 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
14.8 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 49%.
The average wind speed is of
14.8 kph.
August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22.2 °C, with a minimum of
16.4 °C and a maximum of
28 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
3.7 °C in August 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
39.5 °C in August 2008.
Precipitation amounts to only
6.5 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 47%.
The average wind speed is of
14.8 kph.
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.4 °C, with a minimum of
9.4 °C and a maximum of
21.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.2 °C in September 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
37.6 °C in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only
3.6 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 80% of the time.
The average humidity is 47%.
The average wind speed is of
14.8 kph.
October is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7.8 °C, with a minimum of
2.3 °C and a maximum of
13.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-11.5 °C in October 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22 °C. However, it reached
25 °C in October 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
9.2 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is of
14.4 kph.
November is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-1.4 °C, with a minimum of
-5.8 °C and a maximum of
2.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-16.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-29.5 °C in November 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
11.5 °C. However, it reached
18.9 °C in November 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
16.6 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.8 kph.
December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of
-9.6 °C, with a minimum of
-13.8 °C and a maximum of
-5.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-25.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-35.1 °C in December 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
2.5 °C. However, it reached
6.8 °C in December 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
13.6 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 35 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14 kph.