Mongolia has the world's most continental climate. Deep cold in winter, hot sun in summer, diurnal swings of 20+ degrees. Here is a month-by-month weather reality for travellers.
Munkhbayar Bat-Erdene
Mongolia sits at 45-50 N latitude. Its continental climate has four distinct seasons. Long winters, short hot summers, brief springs and autumns. Clear skies dominate (280+ sunny days per year). Precipitation is low (150-400 mm annually).
January: -16 to -26 C. February: -13 to -24. March: -4 to -16. April: 7 to -6. May: 16 to 2. June: 22 to 8. July: 24 to 12. August: 22 to 10. September: 16 to 3. October: 7 to -5. November: -6 to -16. December: -15 to -26.
Summer highs 30-35 C, winter lows -25 to -30 C. Wind is constant. Precipitation extremely low (100 mm). Dust storms possible May-October. Beautiful cold clear winter.
Alpine. Snow possible any month. Summer highs 15-20 C at valley floor, below freezing at 3,000m. Winter lows -35 to -45 C at valley floor. Severe but extraordinary.
Taiga influence. Cooler summers (18-22 C highs). Longer winters. Lake ice forms late November, lifts late May. Two metres of ice mid-winter.
Most variable. Summer thunderstorms. Winter blizzards (dzuds). Wind constant. May-June is our favourite for greenest grass.
In the countryside, 20-25 C between 3 pm and 3 am in summer is normal. Always pack a warm layer even for a hot day of driving.
Mongolia is often windy. Countryside drives include white-out dust storms a few times each summer. Our vehicles have filters and air-conditioned cabins. A buff for face protection is worth bringing.
Rare. Concentrated July-August. Usually localised thunderstorms, not all-day rain. Rain shells still recommended for mountain trips.
Layer for the range, not the forecast. Mongolia's weather punishes the underdressed more than anywhere outside polar regions. Prepare for 30+ degree swings, and bring a hat for the sun.