Taraz (or Talas, formerly Dzhambul, Džambul, Zhambyl, Jambyl) is a city of 430,000 inhabitants located in southern Kazakhstan, in the region (oblys) of Zhambyl, of which it is the capital, on the banks of the Talas River, 630 meters (2,060 feet) above sea level and at almost 43 degrees north latitude.
The city is located on the ancient Silk Road. Just south of the city is the border with
, belonging to the western part of the Tian Shan, which reach 3,700 meters (12,000 ft).
is quite scarce, amounting to about 350 millimeters (13.8 inches) per year, however, it is more abundant than in the lowland areas of central-southern Kazakhstan. The driest period is from July to September.
, from December to February, is cold, with an average January temperature of around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F).
Cold weather, however, is not constant. In fact, unlike in northern Kazakhstan, winds from the south can bring mild periods, during which the temperature can reach, and sometimes exceed, 15 °C (59 °F).
, the temperature drops every year to around or below -20 °C (-4 °F), and can sometimes drop below -30 °C (-22 °F). The coldest record is -41 °C (-41.8 °F), set in January 1956. In January 1969, the daily average was -15.2 °C (4.6 °F).
, from March to May, is characterized by clashes of air masses and temperature changes, and is also the rainiest season. It can sometimes snow in April, and occasionally even in May.
, from June to August, is very hot and sunny, although the altitude tempers the heat a bit compared to the lowland cities of southern Kazakhstan. The average in July is 27 °C (80.5 °F).
The hottest record is 43.7 °C (110.7 °F), set in July 1983. In July 2023, the average maximum was 36.4 °C (97.5 °F).
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-2.4 °C, with a minimum of
-7.3 °C and a maximum of
2.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-19 °C. However, it dropped to
-28 °C in January 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
13.5 °C. However, it reached
22.1 °C in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
29.7 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
February is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-0.6 °C, with a minimum of
-5.7 °C and a maximum of
4.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-17 °C. However, it dropped to
-28.2 °C in February 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16 °C. However, it reached
24.6 °C in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
36.5 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
March is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.9 °C, with a minimum of
0.3 °C and a maximum of
11.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-9 °C. However, it dropped to
-23.3 °C in March 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
30.3 °C in March 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
38.3 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.6 °C, with a minimum of
6.3 °C and a maximum of
18.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.4 °C in April 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
33.2 °C in April 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
49.2 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 67%.
May is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
18 °C, with a minimum of
11 °C and a maximum of
24.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
-2 °C in May 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32 °C. However, it reached
38.6 °C in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
40.4 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 58%.
June is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
23.2 °C, with a minimum of
15.6 °C and a maximum of
30.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
6 °C in June 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37 °C. However, it reached
42.3 °C in June 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
28.3 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 51%.
July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
25.3 °C, with a minimum of
17.6 °C and a maximum of
33 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
9 °C in July 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
39 °C. However, it reached
42.9 °C in July 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
18.2 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 46%.
August is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
23.7 °C, with a minimum of
15.6 °C and a maximum of
31.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
3.3 °C in August 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
38 °C. However, it reached
43.5 °C in August 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
8.6 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 46%.
September is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
18 °C, with a minimum of
10.3 °C and a maximum of
25.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.8 °C in September 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
40.6 °C in September 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
9.9 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 50%.
October is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
11.5 °C, with a minimum of
4.8 °C and a maximum of
18.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.6 °C in October 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
34.6 °C in October 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
30.1 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 62%.
November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4.4 °C, with a minimum of
-0.9 °C and a maximum of
9.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-10 °C. However, it dropped to
-29.9 °C in November 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22 °C. However, it reached
29 °C in November 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
35.6 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-0.9 °C, with a minimum of
-5.8 °C and a maximum of
4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-18 °C. However, it dropped to
-31 °C in December 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16 °C. However, it reached
20.3 °C in December 1996.
Precipitation amounts to
32.1 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.