Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Climate & Monthly Averages

Bishkek has a humid subtropical climate. July is the hottest month, averaging 88° by day; January is the coldest at 36°.

Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬 · humid subtropical climate
Annual avg
52°
Hottest month
July
Coldest month
January
Rainy days / yr
99
Sunshine
9.4 h/day

Winter sets the pace in Bishkek

Cold is the baseline in Bishkek, not the exception. Night-time lows sit at or below freezing in 4 months of the year, and the warmest month, July, still only averages 88°F (31°C) by day. January runs to 21°F (-6°C) after dark.

Warm end

July

88° by day 66° at night
Cold end

January

36° by day 21° at night

The cold-weather pattern in numbers

Relative humidity averages 55% across the year, drier than all but 10% of the 3496 cities in our dataset. At its warmest, in July, Bishkek runs to 88°F (31°C) in the afternoon and back to 66°F (19°C) by dawn. January sits at the other end of the year: 36°F (2°C) by day, 21°F (-6°C) at night. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 102°F (39°C) and the lowest daily minimum -16°F (-27°C).

April is the wettest month at 4.5 inches (113 mm) over 13 days; July is the driest.

Snow falls on roughly 28 days a year, mostly October through April. Between the average July and the average January lie 28°C, a wider spread than 93% of the 3496 cities in our dataset.

More climate facts for Bishkek
  • Hottest month: July - highs near 88°F (31°C)
  • Coldest month: January - highs near 36°F (2°C)
  • Decade extremes (2015-2024): 102°F (39°C) high · -16°F (-27°C) low
  • Wettest month: April (13 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (12.9 h sun/day)
  • Climate type: humid subtropical
  • Annual swing: 28°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
  • Snow: about 28 days a year
  • Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 1
  • Average humidity: 55%

From snow season to the warmest stretch in Bishkek

Spring (March through May)

Spring is mild here - highs near 63°F (17°C), nights near 44°F (7°C), and rain falls on around 38 of the 90 days, plus about 5 snowy days.

Summer (June through August)

Summer in Bishkek runs hot, with daytime highs averaging 85°F (29°C) and nights around 63°F (17°C); rain comes on about 16 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 12.5 hours of sun a day.

Fall (September through November)

Fall in Bishkek is mild, with daytime highs averaging 60°F (16°C) and nights around 43°F (6°C); expect showers on roughly 22 days across the season, plus about 6 snowy days.

Winter (December through February)

Winter is frigid here - highs near 38°F (3°C), nights near 23°F (-5°C), and expect showers on roughly 23 days across the season, plus about 16 snowy days. Wind sharpens cold like this considerably; pair the forecast winds with the wind speed converter to judge exposed conditions.

The coldest and warmest values in the dataset

Highest daily value
102°
in July
Lowest daily value
-16°
in January
Annual precipitation
25.6"
Snowy days / yr
28

Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.

Planning around winter in Bishkek

The easier weather window

Aim for May to June and September to October if you get the choice: these are the warmest and brightest weeks of the year, and highs average 72°F (22°C) against roughly 8 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in May.

Cold-weather packing

Pack for Bishkek with light clothing for the warm months, a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and a compact umbrella or rain shell. July nights average 66°F (19°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.

Monthly highs, lows and seasonal change

Monthly averages for Bishkek based on 2015–2024 weather data. Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th; wet-day chance is the share of days with measurable rain.
MonthHighLow Rain daysPrecipitation SunshineDaylightWet-day chanceHumidity
January 36° 21° 8 1.2 in 6.9 h/day 9.3 h 25% 62%
February 41° 24° 8 1.8 in 7.5 h/day 10.5 h 29% 61%
March 53° 34° 13 3.6 in 8.3 h/day 11.8 h 43% 64%
April 64° 45° 13 4.5 in 9.4 h/day 13.3 h 43% 62%
May 72° 52° 12 3.7 in 11.2 h/day 14.6 h 37% 59%
June 82° 60° 7 1.5 in 12.5 h/day 15.3 h 24% 46%
July 88° 66° 4 0.8 in 12.9 h/day 15.0 h 14% 39%
August 84° 63° 5 1.1 in 12.1 h/day 13.9 h 15% 41%
September 74° 54° 4 1.1 in 10.8 h/day 12.4 h 15% 44%
October 60° 42° 8 2.4 in 8.3 h/day 11.0 h 26% 56%
November 46° 31° 9 2.5 in 6.7 h/day 9.7 h 31% 61%
December 38° 23° 8 1.5 in 6.1 h/day 9.0 h 25% 61%

The route from winter to summer, month by month

Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Bishkek's coldest night and warmest afternoon.

January

Coldest
36°21°
Rain
8 days
Sunshine
6.9 h
Daylight
9.3 h
Snow
5 days

February

41°24°
Rain
8 days
Sunshine
7.5 h
Daylight
10.5 h
Snow
6 days

March

53°34°
Rain
13 days
Sunshine
8.3 h
Daylight
11.8 h
Snow
4 days

April

Wettest
64°45°
Rain
13 days
Sunshine
9.4 h
Daylight
13.3 h

May

72°52°
Rain
12 days
Sunshine
11.2 h
Daylight
14.6 h

June

82°60°
Rain
7 days
Sunshine
12.5 h
Daylight
15.3 h

July

HottestDriestSunniest
88°66°
Rain
4 days
Sunshine
12.9 h
Daylight
15.0 h

August

84°63°
Rain
5 days
Sunshine
12.1 h
Daylight
13.9 h

September

74°54°
Rain
4 days
Sunshine
10.8 h
Daylight
12.4 h

October

60°42°
Rain
8 days
Sunshine
8.3 h
Daylight
11.0 h
Snow
2 days

November

46°31°
Rain
9 days
Sunshine
6.7 h
Daylight
9.7 h
Snow
4 days

December

38°23°
Rain
8 days
Sunshine
6.1 h
Daylight
9.0 h
Snow
5 days

Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Bishkek's coolest part of the year: January, December, February.

Where Bishkek sits among other climates

  • Bishkek sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 52°F (11°C) as an annual average, 25.6 inches (650 mm) of precipitation and 9.4 hours of sun a day.

These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.

Practical questions about Bishkek's cold climate

How hot does Bishkek get in summer?
July averages 88°F (31°C). Hot afternoons happen but extremes are not the norm.
What should I wear in Bishkek?
It depends on the month: July runs to 88°F (31°C) while January holds at 36°F (2°C). The full month-by-month breakdown is in the packing notes above.
Does it freeze in Bishkek?
Average overnight lows sit at or below 0°C in 4 months of the year, November through February.
How often does it rain in Bishkek?
About 99 days bring measurable precipitation, totalling 25.6 inches (650 mm). That works out at roughly 6.6 mm on an average wet day.