Shiraz, the historic capital of Fars province, sits in a fertile valley among the Zagros mountains of southwestern Iran at around 1,500 metres above sea level, at approximately 29.59°N, 52.58°E. Its considerable altitude tempers its southerly latitude to give a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) — hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters — celebrated for its gardens and mild air.

Summer, from June to August, is hot, dry and sunny, with July the hottest month — highs around 37–38°C — though the mountain altitude and extremely low humidity make the heat dry and the nights pleasantly cool, sometimes falling below 20°C. Rain is entirely absent for months, and the skies stay reliably clear.

Winter, from December to February, is mild but cool, with January the coolest month — highs around 12–13°C and nights near freezing, occasionally with frost or a light dusting of snow. This is the wet season, when Mediterranean-origin systems bring most of the year's rain, along with cooler, greyer spells; the surrounding Zagros peaks are often snow-capped.

Shiraz is dry, receiving only around 300–340 mm of rain a year, almost all of it between November and April, while the long summer is completely rainless; the Zagros mountains capture more precipitation on their heights, feeding the valley's springs and gardens. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Shiraz's sheltered valley and its altitude give it the mild, dry, fragrant air long celebrated by Persian poets — hot but comfortable summers, cool nights, and enough winter rain to sustain the famous gardens and vineyards that surround the city, in a region that would otherwise be desert.

To follow any single measurement in Shiraz 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.