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Climate and weather in Mongolia

Mongolia - because of its high altitude and of its situation far from any sea - has an extreme continental climate: very cold winters, with temperatures which can reach-30°C, and short, but warm summers, particularly in the Gobi Desert.

The sun shines on average 257 days a year, the country being generally in the heart of a system of high pressures. Mongolia is moreover nicknamed the "Country of the Blue Sky".

As a consequence of this omnipresent sun, the rain is very rare in Mongolia: an annual average from 200 to 350 mm in the North, which decreases by going southward, the extreme south being occupied by the Gobi Desert, where certain regions receive no rain during years.

The four seasons are very different in Mongolia.

You will often hear that in Mongolia you can have 4 seasons in the same day. This is true especially during the intermediate seasons in May or September.

SUMMER

Summer in Mongolia begins in June and ends late August.

The weather is warm (20-25 °C in most parts of the country) and pleasant.

These summer temperatures are tempered by altitude in the Altai mountains and in the Orkhon Valley, or by latitude for Lake Khövsgöl.

In the Southern Gobi Desert, the temperature is noticeably higher. Indeed, in this region, shade is hard to find, the thermometer reaching average temperatures of 40 degrees.

Even in summer, be prepared for all kinds of weather as it can change quickly, especially in the mountains.

 

AUTUMN

Autumn in Mongolia begins early, at the beginning of September, and lasts the entire month of October.

The temperatures cool down very quickly, you must be ready for early snowfall...

WINTER

Winter in Mongolia lasts about four months, from November to February.

Temperatures are very low, they can reach -30 °.

It's a dry cold, the sky is blue and there is very little snow, except in northern areas.

A trip at this time is possible, with good preparation and good equipment. It is a wonderful experience because nomads do not expect to meet foreign visitors during this period and will welcome you warmly, in the frozen steppe.

 

SPRING

Spring in Mongolia begins in March until the end of May, with temperatures which become positive again. Sandstorms can occur in the frontier regions of the Gobi Desert.

 

The best time to travel to Mongolia is from mid-May to late September (see "tips to choose your tour in Mongolia").

Average temperatures & rainfalls in Mongolia

 

Ulaanbaatar

Seasonal Averages
Ulaanbaatar
(Altitude 1 316 m)

Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
August
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Maximum temperatures (°c)
-16
-11
-2
8
17
22
23
22
16
7
-4

-14

Minimum temperatures (°c)
-26
-24
-15
-6
3
8
11
9
2
-6
-16

-24

Average rainfall (mm)
1.1
1.7
2.7
8.3
13.4
41.7
57.6
51.6
26.2
6.4
3.2

2.5

 


Arkhangai and Orkhon Valley

Seasonal Averages
Hujirt
(Altitude 1 662 m)
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
August
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Maximum temperatures (°c)
-13
-9
0
9
16
21
21
20
15
8
-2

-10

Minimum temperatures (°c)
-28
-26
-17
-7
0
5
8
6
0
-7
-18

-25

Average rainfall (mm)
1.1
1.8
3.7
9.6
23.7
53.8
60.4
64.7
25.0
9.0
3.3

2.0


Seasonal Averages
Tsetserleg
(Altitude 1 693 m)
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
August
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Maximum temperatures (°c)
-8
-6
0
8
16
20
20
19
15
8
-1

-6

Minimum temperatures (°c)
-20
-19
-13
-4
2
6
9
7
2
-5
-13

-18

Average rainfall (mm)
1.9
2.7
5.8
16.3
32.6
63.1
75.4
66.9
26.7
13.4
5.8

2.6

 

Altai Mountains

Seasonal Averages
Altai Mountains
(Altitude 2 182 m)
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
August
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Maximum temperatures (°c)
-10
-9
-2
6
14
19
20
18
13
5
-4

-8

Minimum temperatures(°c)
-25
-23
-16
-7
1
6
8
6
0
-7
-17

-22

Average rainfall (mm)
1.0
1.8
5.9
10.1
12.2
27.7
48.6
40.7
16.0
7.5
2.9

1.5


Seasonal Averages
Uigi
(Altitude 1 716 m)
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
August
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Maximum temperatures (°c)
-11
-7
1
9
16
21
23
21
16
7
-2

-9

Minimum temperatures (°c)
-23
-21
-14
-5
3
8
10
9
3
-5
-14

-20

Average rainfall (mm)
0.6
0.5
1.3
4.5
10.6
25.0
34.0
20.0
12.5
3.0
0.7

1.0

 


Gobi Desert

Seasonal Averages
Omno-Gobi
(Altitude 1 590m)
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
August
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Maximum temperatures (°c)
-15
-11
0
9
17
22
22
21
15
7
-4

-13

Minimum temperatures (°c)
-28
-26
-16
-6
2
8
10
8
1
-6
-16

-25

Average rainfall (mm)
0.7
0.5
1.9
4.3
6.8
24.9
44.6
27.0
12.2
3.0
1.3

1.4


Seasonal Averages Dalanzadgad
(Altitude 1 465 m)
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
August
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Maximum temperatures (°c)
-8
-4
4
14
21
26
28
26
20
12
2

-6

Minimum temperatures (°c)
-21
-17
-9
-1
7
12
15
13
7
-2
-11

-18

Average rainfall (mm)
1.4
1.1
3.3
5.3
11.8
18.1
32.8
32.1
13.1
4.4
2.0

1.0

Our office in Mongolia


Mongolia Travel & Tours
/ Randocheval Mongolie LLC

8 toot, 33 bair, Erkhuugiin gudamj
7r khoroo, Sukhbaatar duureg
Ulaanbaatar, MONGOLIA

Our office in France


Randocheval Mongolie
1645 route du Vernéa
38440 Moidieu Détourbe
FRANCE
+33 437 02 2000 (Monday to Friday)

IMPORTANT - Flights in Mongolia


Be aware that very few airlines go to Mongolia, flights are therefore quickly fully booked, especially between June and September. Book at least 6 months in advance to have the best air fares.
If your luggage has been delayed, the airlines do NOT deliver it in Mongolia, they keep it available in Ulan Bator. If your tour has already started, and you are already in the Orkhon Valley for example, it can be very expensive to deliver it.
We can do it for you at extra cost:
- 50 € for a delivery inside Ulan Bator
- 100 € for a delivery in Hustai
- 200 € for a delivery in Khogno Khan
- 300 € for a delivery in Karakorum, the Orkhon Valley or Arkhangai
- 400 € for a delivery at Lake Khövsgöl or in the Gobi Desert
This cost includes the driver & the vehicle for 1 or 2 days depending on the distance + fuel for the vehicule for the round trip + meals and accommodation for the driver if the roundtrip is more than 1 day.
If your flight is late, the same rates apply if you need a private transfer.