The climate of Almaty is continental, characterized by the influence of pronounced mountain — valley circulation and high-altitude zoning, which is especially evident in the Northern part of the city, located directly in the transition zone of mountain slopes to the plain.
Characteristic
The temperature regime of the city as a whole is much milder than the average in Kazakhstan due to relatively high temperatures in winter. The average long-term air temperature is +10 °C, which is significantly higher than in Moscow and Nur-Sultan. However, due to the high altitude zone and location in the heart of the continent, which quickly cools down in winter, the climate of Almaty is cooler than Tbilisi, Sofia, Barcelona and other Mediterranean cities located on the same 43rd parallel. The temperature of the coldest month (January) is -4.7 °C, and the warmest month (July) is +23.8 °C. Frosts on average start on October 14 and end on April 18. Stable frosts last an average of 67 days — from December 19 to February 23. Weather with a temperature of more than +30 °C is observed on average 36 days a year. In the center of Almaty, as in any major city, there is a "heat island" — the contrast of the average daily temperature between the Northern and southern suburbs of the city is 3.8% and 0.8 °C in the coldest and 2.2% and 2.6 °C in the hottest five days. This is why freezing temperatures in the city center start on average 7 days later and end 3 days earlier than in the Northern outskirts.
The highest temperature recorded in the city was +43 °C on July 31, 1983.
Rainfall
On average, 600-650 mm of precipitation falls per year, with the main maximum in April — may, and the secondary maximum in October-November. The dry season is in August. The average date for the formation of a stable snow cover is November 30, although its appearance ranges from November 5 to December 21. The average snowfall date is March 15 (ranges from February 26 to March 29). Fog is observed 50-70 days a year in the city and its surroundings.
According to experts, currently the city's climate has acquired subtropical features: the summer is stuffy with heavy rains, thunderstorms and Gale-force winds. Winter is warm with puddles and heavy sleet