Van is a city of 525,000 inhabitants located in the far east of Turkey, in the Eastern Anatolia Region, at 1,700 meters (5,575 feet) above sea level and 38 degrees north latitude.
, the largest in Turkey. The lake, formed by salt water and without outlets, slightly mitigates the climate, which is a little less extreme than in the rest of the eastern plateau of Turkey. Due to the salinity, the lake does not freeze in winter, except sometimes for the northern area, which is shallower.
is not abundant, however, it is moderate from October to May, while it becomes rare in summer. In winter it often occurs in the form of snow, while in late spring it often occurs in the form of thunderstorms.
, from December to February, during cold spells, the temperature can drop from -15 °C to -20 °C (-4/
-5 °F). In the past it has dropped even lower. The coldest record is -28.7 °C (-19.7 °F), set in January 1964.
, from March to May, is an unstable season, with sudden changes in temperature and gusts of wind. Furthermore, it is the rainiest season, also due to the thunderstorms that break out in April and May.
, from June to August, is a warm to hot and sunny season, with some afternoon thunderstorms, usually of short duration. Temperatures are not usually too high, and exceed 32 °C (89.5 °F) for a few days a year. Occasionally they can reach 35/36 °C (95/97 °F).
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-1.6 °C, with a minimum of
-6 °C and a maximum of
2.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-14 °C. However, it dropped to
-21.6 °C in January 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8.5 °C. However, it reached
10.8 °C in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
35.5 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
6.3 kph.
February is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-0.8 °C, with a minimum of
-5.2 °C and a maximum of
3.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-14 °C. However, it dropped to
-20.2 °C in February 2017.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9 °C. However, it reached
13.2 °C in February 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
31.9 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
6.5 kph.
March is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.1 °C, with a minimum of
-1.3 °C and a maximum of
7.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-18.4 °C in March 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15 °C. However, it reached
21.1 °C in March 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
49.3 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.5 kph.
April is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
8.4 °C, with a minimum of
3.6 °C and a maximum of
13.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-10 °C in April 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C. However, it reached
26.2 °C in April 2008.
Precipitation amounts to
57.2 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
8.6 kph.
May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.3 °C, with a minimum of
8 °C and a maximum of
18.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.4 °C in May 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
28.3 °C in May 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
45.8 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
8.5 kph.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.3 °C, with a minimum of
12.3 °C and a maximum of
24.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
4.6 °C in June 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
33.2 °C in June 1998.
Precipitation amounts to
16.1 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 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 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is of
8 kph.
July is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22.2 °C, with a minimum of
16 °C and a maximum of
28.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10 °C. However, it dropped to
8.3 °C in July 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C. However, it reached
36.7 °C in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to only
6.6 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is of
7.5 kph.
August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22.4 °C, with a minimum of
16.2 °C and a maximum of
28.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11 °C. However, it dropped to
6.5 °C in August 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C. However, it reached
35.1 °C in August 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only
3.4 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 82% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is of
7.2 kph.
September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.2 °C, with a minimum of
12 °C and a maximum of
24.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5 °C. However, it dropped to
0.6 °C in September 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
33 °C in September 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
16.5 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 82% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is of
7.3 kph.
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.3 °C, with a minimum of
6.8 °C and a maximum of
17.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-5 °C in October 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24 °C. However, it reached
26.8 °C in October 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
45.9 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is of
7.4 kph.
November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.6 °C, with a minimum of
0.9 °C and a maximum of
10.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-12.4 °C in November 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17.5 °C. However, it reached
19.2 °C in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
47.6 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
6.8 kph.
December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
0.8 °C, with a minimum of
-3.6 °C and a maximum of
5.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-12 °C. However, it dropped to
-22.2 °C in December 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
10.5 °C. However, it reached
15 °C in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
46.2 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 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 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
6.3 kph.