Climate

Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country, landlocked between Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and China, at the heart of Central Asia. Its geography strongly influences its climate, which is continental, with strong temperature and humidity variations. There can be important snowfalls and ice in the spring. Agriculture suffers from this unstable climate.

The Kyrgyz winter

With harsh, cold and dry winters, arctic and Siberian winds, traveling in this mountainous country at this time of the year is difficult. The wind can be very strong. The geography makes rooms for fog, snow and rain.

In winter, temperatures vary depending on the region. The south is relatively warm with average temperatures of -2°C, whereas the north is much colder, with temperatures of -27 °C. The coldest temperature recorded was -50°C.

Milder periods

The best time to come to Kyrgyzstan is from spring to autumn, between April and October. This period is quite dry, and temperatures are milder. This will make your trip more pleasant and, most importantly, ensure you can access all interest sights.

However, it’s not rare to come across storms or snowfalls even in those months.

The country is divided in two, between the south and the north, with high passes at around 3000m altitude. Due to this, it is exposed to different winds, from the Arctic and the Mediterranean. In the south of the country, the climate is more tropical.

The specificity of Kyrgyzstan is that the country is entirely covered by high mountains. This explains the important temperature differences during the year. In spring, temperatures get warmer gradually. March and April are the rainiest months, also Kyrgyzstan is not a humid country.

Summer lasts from May to September, with temperatures above 40°C in July. However, nights are always fresh, sometimes nearing freezing temperatures.

Fall starts mid-September, and the temperatures drop until the winter.

Bishkek

The city of Bishkek is located in the valley of the Chu River. It has a low altitude, between 650m and 950m. This region enjoys a continental climate, with freezing winters and very hot summers.

It rarely rains in Bishkek. There are strong winds and storms year round. During the winter, temperatures are around 0°C, but can drop to -15 or -25°C with the northern winds.

Osh

Osh is the second largest city in the country, after Bishkek. It’s located at an altitude of 750m, in the south-west of the country. The climate is similar to that of Bishkek, but it is warmer thanks to the mountains at the north, which protect it from winds and cold.

The spring is rainy, before giving place to a dry summer.

Karakol

Karakol has a micro-climate thanks to the proximity of the great Issyk Kul Lake. The weather is milder than in other regions of the same altitude. In summer, Karakol enjoys a warm weather with maximum temperatures of 23 to 25°C. Nights are rather fresh so don’t forget to bring warm clothes. In winter, temperatures drop around -10°C.