Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, sits on a high plateau in the west-central part of the country, in a valley ringed by mountains with Mount Ararat on the horizon, at elevations around 1,000 metres above sea level and approximately 40.18°N, 44.51°E. Its altitude and its landlocked position, cut off from the moderating seas by mountains, give it a continental semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) — very hot, dry summers and cold winters — with a large seasonal range and scarce rainfall.

Summer, from June to September, is long, very hot, dry and sunny, with July and August the hottest months — average highs around 33–35°C and peaks that can reach 40°C — though the altitude and low humidity keep the heat dry and the nights cooler and more comfortable. Rain is very scarce, and clear, sunny skies dominate; Yerevan is one of the sunniest capitals, with over 2,600 hours of sunshine a year.

Winter, from December to February, is cold, with January the coldest month — average highs around 1–2°C and nights well below freezing, near -6 to -8°C, and cold spells that can drop lower still. Temperature inversions can trap cold, hazy air in the valley for days. Snow falls and can lie on the ground, though winter precipitation is relatively light, and the season is drier than the spring.

Yerevan is dry, receiving only around 350–400 mm of precipitation a year, with a clear spring maximum — April and May are the wettest, sometimes with thunderstorms — while summer and early autumn are nearly rainless. A share of the winter total falls as snow. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Yerevan's climate is a product of altitude and continentality: the mountains that ring it block the moderating influence of the seas, giving it fierce summer heat, genuinely cold winters and a wide day-to-night and seasonal temperature swing, all under famously clear, sunny skies. The valley's tendency to trap cold, hazy air in winter through temperature inversions is a recurring feature of the cold season.

To follow any single measurement in Yerevan more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.