Tabriz, the largest city of northwestern Iran, sits in a valley of the Sahand mountains in East Azerbaijan province at around 1,350 metres above sea level, near Lake Urmia at approximately 38.08°N, 46.29°E. Its northerly, high, interior position gives it a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) — warm, dry summers and cold, snowy winters — among the coldest of Iran's major cities.

Summer, from June to August, is warm to hot and very dry, with July and August the warmest — highs around 32–33°C — kept comfortable by the altitude and low humidity, with nights cooling markedly. Rain is scarce, and clear, sunny skies dominate; the mountain setting gives a large day-to-night temperature swing.

Winter, from December to February, is cold and snowy, with January the coldest month — highs around 2–3°C and nights near -6 to -8°C, with cold snaps driven by continental air that can drop well below -10°C. Heavy snowfall is common and can lie for weeks; the northwest of Iran sees the country's most severe winters outside the high mountains.

Tabriz is dry, receiving only around 280–300 mm of precipitation a year, concentrated in spring and winter with a clear April and May maximum, while the summer is nearly rainless; a good share of the cold-season total falls as snow. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Northwestern Iran endures the country's coldest, snowiest winters outside the high mountains, and Tabriz sits at its heart, with sub-freezing temperatures and heavy snow from December to February. The nearby Lake Urmia, once one of the world's largest salt lakes, has shrunk dramatically, altering the local climate and raising salt dust from its exposed bed.

To follow any single measurement in Tabriz 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.