THE CLIMATE OF MONGOLIA IS EXTREME. ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURES ARE AMONG THE HIGHTEST ON EARTH. THE SUNSHINE IS HOT AND INTENSE. YOU CAN BATHE ONE DAY, GETTING A SUNBURN AND FREEZE THE NEXT DAY WITH WINTER TEMPERATURES.
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The best time to visit Mongolia is between early May and late September. July is the warmest month - this is also the period of Nadaam, the great Mongolian feast.But it is also the wettest month of the year and it is well known that the rain is the enemy of the motorcyclist. June and September are slightly cooler, especially at night but you can still have very warm days with temperatures above 30C. Those are very pleasant months and less traveled. Maybe the best time to travel in the steppe.
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It is important to remember that Mongolia has a continental climate, thetemperature differences are very brutal and snow storms can occur at any time, even in midsummer. But they never last very long. Just find refuge in a nomad family and wait until it passes. In summer, temperatures can drop below 10C but also exceed 40C. Bring warm clothes, a good sleeping bag and a good mountain tent as well as a swimsuit for swimming in the lakes.
WEATHER IN ULAANBAATAR
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The capital Ulaanbaatar (Ulan Bator) is located in the north, 1,300 metres (4,250 feet) above sea level, and it's relatively rainy, not only for the northern position but also for its proximity to the mountains (the aforementioned Khentii in the north, and a single mountain, Bogd Khan, in the south), in fact it receives about 300 mm (12 in) of rain or snow per year. During winter, Ulaanbaatar it's the coldest capital in the world, in fact it has a January average of -24.5 °C (-12.5 °F). The minimum temperature at night drops easily below -35 °C (-31 °F); in January 2012 it dropped for a consecutive week below -40 °C (-40 °F), with a low of -44 °C (-47 °F), while in January 2001 it reached -45 °C (-49 °F). The daily average is around 0 °C (32 °F) in April and October. In May and September, lows are around freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) and highs around 15 °C (59 °F), but given the climatic variability, sometimes there can be intense frosts even in these months. During winter, snowfalls occur frequently, but they are light. The sky is often clear, although in the coldest hours, mists may form. Summer is pleasant: highs in July and August are about 25.5 °C (78 °F), with very cool nights, around 11 °C (52 °F). Occasionally, it can get cold even in summer, while during the day it can get hot: the temperature rarely exceeds 32/33 °C (90/91 °F), but sometimes it can reach 37/38 °C (99/100 °F).
Here are the average temperatures recorded at the airport (in the city the night temperatures are a few degrees higher, especially in winter).
Here are the average temperatures recorded in Ulaanbaatar - Average temperatures
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Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Min (°C) -33 -30 -17 -6 0 8 11 8 0 -7 -21 -29
Max (°C) -16 -11 01 1 17 23 26 23 17 8 -5 -14
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Summer is also the rainiest season: from June to August, more than 50 mm (2 in) of rain fall per month, usually in the form of showers in the afternoon. Here is the average precipitation.
Ulaanbaatar - Average precipitation
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Prec.(mm) 2 2 3 8 15 50 65 75 30 8 5 3
Days 0 1 1 2 3 10 11 14 5 2 1 2
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WEATHER IN THE GOBI DESERT
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The Gobi Desert is located in the south, and although it is drier than the north, it receives some rain showers in summer, able to feed some grass and the camels, at least in the eastern part, where 150 to 200 mm (6 to 8 in) of rain fall per year. The most arid area is the south-west, where precipitation drops below 100 mm (4 in) per year, and in some cases below 50 mm (2 in).
Here is the average precipitation of Sainshand, located in the south-east, at 950 metres (3,100 ft) above sea level.
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Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Prec.(mm) 1 1 2 3 8 15 30 30 10 5 2 1 111
Days 0 0 0 1 2 3 5 4 2 1 1 0 20
In summer, temperatures in this area are high, as we can see from the averages of Sainshand.
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Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Min (°C) -23 -20 -11 -1 7 14 17 15 8 -1 -12 -20
Max (°C) -12 -7 3 14 23 28 29 28 21 12 -1 -10
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In Ulaan Baatar market, you can find very good rain clothes from the Russian army that cost only few euros. You can also buy a good del - the traditional Mongolian dress - that will keep you warm.