Chelyabinsk, a major industrial city in the southern Urals, sits on the Miass River just east of the mountains at approximately 55.16°N, 61.40°E. Its inland position gives it a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) — with warm summers and long, cold winters — drier than Yekaterinburg to the north, on the edge of the Kazakh steppe.

Summer, from June to August, is warm and short, with July the warmest month — average highs around 25–26°C — and warm spells that can exceed 33°C. It is the wettest season, with thunderstorms bringing most of the year's rain, and the long days are bright, though the season passes quickly.

Winter, from November to March, is long, cold and snowy, with January the coldest month — average highs around -9°C and lows near -16°C, and cold snaps below -35°C. Snow lies for five months, and the still, freezing air traps the emissions of the city's heavy industry, giving it a serious winter smog problem.

Chelyabinsk receives around 430–480 mm of precipitation a year — drier than the western Urals, sheltered by the mountains — with a clear summer maximum from thunderstorms and light, dry winter snow. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Chelyabinsk lies in the lee of the Urals on the fringe of the Kazakh steppe, giving it drier, sunnier winters than cities to the west. Its still, freezing high-pressure spells trap industrial pollution over the city for days at a time, a persistent cold-season problem in this heavily industrial region.

To follow any single measurement in Chelyabinsk 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.