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Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, sits on the Chuy valley plain in the north of the country, at around 800 metres above sea level with the snow-capped Kyrgyz Ala-Too range rising abruptly to the south, at approximately 42.87°N, 74.57°E. Its deep interior position gives it a continental semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk/Dfa) — hot, dry summers and cold winters.
Summer, from June to August, is hot and dry, with July the warmest month — average highs around 32–33°C, and an average of about 26°C — tempered by low humidity and by cool air draining down from the mountains at night, giving a large day-to-night swing. Rain is scarce, and the sun shines almost every day; the nearby peaks offer an easy escape from the valley heat.
Winter, from December to February, is cold, with January the coldest month — average highs around 3°C and nights near -8°C, with cold snaps that can drop below -20°C. Snow falls and can lie for weeks, and the valley readily traps cold, stagnant air, so winter smog is a persistent problem beneath the mountain wall.
Bishkek is dry, receiving only around 440–480 mm of precipitation a year, with a clear spring maximum — April and May are the wettest — while the summer is nearly rainless; a good share of the winter total falls as snow, and the mountains just above receive far more. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.
Bishkek's setting at the foot of the Tian Shan defines its weather: the mountains wring out most of the region's precipitation on their slopes, leaving the valley dry, while cool air sliding down from the peaks tempers the summer nights. In winter the same enclosed valley traps cold air and pollution, giving the city some of the worst seasonal smog in Central Asia.
To follow any single measurement in Bishkek 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.