Weather in Bishkek

Planning your day in Bishkek? Check out the latest weather data, detailed forecasts, and visual charts right here in this section.

The climate in Bishkek is characterized as sharply continental, which means significant temperature fluctuations between seasons. The city experiences four distinct seasons: a cold winter, a warm spring, a hot summer, and a cool autumn. When preparing for your trip, it is worth considering this seasonality to choose the right wardrobe and plan your activities.

Winters in Bishkek (December-February) are quite cold, with average temperatures below zero, sometimes dropping to -7°C and lower, but with a small amount of precipitation. Spring (March-May) brings gradual warming, with average temperatures rising from 5°C to 16°C, and this is the wettest period of the year, although the total amount of rainfall remains moderate. Summer (June-August) in Bishkek is hot and predominantly sunny, with average temperatures hovering around 20-23°C, while maximums can reach 30°C and higher. Autumn (September-November) delights with comfortable coolness, with temperatures gradually decreasing from 16°C to 2°C, and relatively little precipitation.

Overall, Bishkek is a city with pronounced seasons and a relatively dry climate. The highest number of days with precipitation occurs in the spring and early summer months; however, heavy and prolonged rains are rare here. Travellers can expect many sunny days, especially during the summer period.

The annual temperature trend in Bishkek demonstrates significant contrasts, characteristic of a sharply continental climate. The hottest month is traditionally July, when the average daily temperature reaches 23.6°C. During this period, daytime maximums often rise to 30.5°C and above, while nights bring relative coolness with temperatures around 16.7°C. Conversely, January is the coldest month of the year with an average temperature of -2.8°C. At night, the thermometer in January can drop to -7.6°C, and daytime values rarely exceed 2.1°C.

The summer months in Bishkek, from June to August, are distinguished by consistently hot weather. The average air temperature in June is 20.5°C, in July – 23.6°C, and in August – 21.5°C. During the day, the air warms up significantly: average maximum temperatures range from 27.3°C in June to 30.5°C in July. A characteristic feature of the Bishkek summer is the substantial daily temperature fluctuation. After a sweltering day, nights become noticeably cooler, with average minimum temperatures from 13.8°C (June) to 16.7°C (July), providing comfortable conditions for evening relaxation.

Winter in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, covering December, January, and February, is quite frosty. Average monthly temperatures in December (-1.8°C) and January (-2.8°C) remain firmly below the freezing mark. February also remains cold, with an average temperature of -0.6°C. During the daytime, air temperature in the coldest months usually fluctuates in the range of 2.1°C (January) to 4.7°C (February), but frosts occur regularly at night, and the thermometer drops to -5.9°C and even -7.6°C. Even in winter, noticeable differences between day and night temperatures are observed, although not as pronounced as in the summer period.

Precipitation in Bishkek is distributed unevenly throughout the year, but overall, the city's climate can be described as relatively dry. There is no pronounced rainy season with heavy downpours here, and the total annual rainfall is low. The highest amount of precipitation, albeit moderate, usually falls during the spring months.

In winter, from December to February, when average temperatures drop below zero, precipitation in Bishkek most often falls as snow. The total amount of precipitation in these months is minimal (1-2 mm), but snowy days occur regularly, averaging 9-11 days per month. Spring, especially March and April, is the "wettest" period in terms of precipitation volume – up to 4 mm per month, falling predominantly as rain. These months also see the highest number of days with precipitation – up to 16 days in March. In summer, from June to August, the amount of precipitation is about 2 mm per month, but there can be quite a few rainy days (14-16 days), which usually implies short, refreshing rains. In autumn, the amount of precipitation and rainy days gradually decreases, and by November, the first snowfalls are already possible.

Thus, the wettest months by the amount of rainfall are March and April (4 mm each). In terms of the number of days with precipitation, March and June stand out (16 days each). The driest months, both in volume (only 1 mm) and in the number of days with precipitation (about 9 days), are January and December. In general, even in the "driest" periods, precipitation is not a great rarity; it is simply, as a rule, not abundant and is short-lived.

When planning a trip to Bishkek, it is important to consider its sharply continental climate with significant temperature changes throughout the year and even within a single day. Therefore, the main principle when packing your suitcase is layering. In winter (December-February), it is cold here, average temperatures drop below zero, and snowfalls occur. You will need a warm down jacket or winter coat, a hat, gloves, a scarf, and insulated, preferably waterproof footwear. Don't forget warm jumpers and possibly thermal underwear. In spring (March-May), the weather gradually warms up, but this is also the wettest period, even if precipitation is moderate. It is worth taking a mid-season jacket, a fleece jumper, as well as an umbrella or light raincoat, especially if your trip falls in March or April.

Summer in Bishkek (June-August) is hot and sunny, with daytime temperatures often exceeding +30°C. During this period, light, breathable clothing made from natural fabrics, headwear (a hat or cap), sunglasses, and definitely sunscreen with a high SPF are preferable. Despite the daytime heat, evenings can be noticeably cooler, so a light jacket, cardigan, or hoodie will be very useful. In autumn (September-November), the temperature gradually decreases. In early autumn, you will be comfortable in a light jacket and jumper, but by November, warmer clothing will be needed as the first frosts are possible. Regardless of the season, comfortable walking shoes are an absolute necessity, as Bishkek and its surroundings offer many interesting places for walking.