Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of 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.
Climate quick facts
- 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%
Temperatures through the year
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.
Rain, sun and snow
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.
How Bishkek compares
- 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.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
Bishkek month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Bishkek's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 6.9 h
- Daylight
- 9.3 h
- Snow
- 5 days
February
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 7.5 h
- Daylight
- 10.5 h
- Snow
- 6 days
March
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 8.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
- Snow
- 4 days
April
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 9.4 h
- Daylight
- 13.3 h
May
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 11.2 h
- Daylight
- 14.6 h
June
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 12.5 h
- Daylight
- 15.3 h
July
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 12.9 h
- Daylight
- 15.0 h
August
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 12.1 h
- Daylight
- 13.9 h
September
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
October
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 8.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.0 h
- Snow
- 2 days
November
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 6.7 h
- Daylight
- 9.7 h
- Snow
- 4 days
December
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 6.1 h
- Daylight
- 9.0 h
- Snow
- 5 days
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons 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.
Climate questions, answered
How hot does Bishkek get in summer?
What should I wear in Bishkek?
Does it freeze in Bishkek?
How often does it rain in Bishkek?
Best time to visit Bishkek
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.
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.
Bishkek temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.