 CLIMATE |
The weather in May be changeable but is usually
mild-warm; June is warm-hot; July-August is very
hot and sometimes unpleasant (38-40 degrees most
days peaking at 50 degrees in Bishkek in 1998),
though usually not very humid; in September warm-hot;
in October cool and possibly cold towards the end
of the month. Snow usually arrives mid-November
but does not lie long on the ground. Snow will be
intermittent between November-March, and possibly
even earlier or later. It usually melts between
falls. December and January are the coldest months
and most days will be below freezing. By the end
of February temperatures become changeable but are
warming; March and April can be very changeable
and wet.
Bishkek enjoys a very sunny climate on the whole:
there is sunshine on over 300 days per year (though
it is not sunny, necessarily, for the whole of
every day.) Note: in 1998 and 1999 there was unusually
wet weather in May, June and even July - still
warm, with lots of sunshine but often rain especially
in the evenings. The year 2000 to date has been
very warm: June had the hottest day (for June)
ever recorded. July 2000 and 2001 were also exceptionally
hot even from the start of the month. July 2001
saw exceptionally heavy rainfall more than the
monthly falling on one day.
Mountains, the weather resembles that of Bishkek
but is more extreme: nights will be much cooler,
even in mid-summer. Night temperatures of -30C
or lower are not uncommon in winter - even worse
in Naryn or Sussamir (whereas in Bishkek, -15C
would be considered very cold.)
Lake Issyk Kul summer days may be hot but it
is never hot at night and may be cool at night
even in high summer. Winters are very cold, despite
the name "warm lake". In fact, the lake
is never very warm for bathing (but is quite tolerable
in summer): the name simply indicates that it
never freezes over. The water is slightly salty
and thought to be very good for the skin.
High passes such as Torugart, snow may fall occasionally
even in the height of summer, (In the last three
years bad weather has closed the Torugart pass
for three to five days in July and August).
Remember that if you are going to the mountains
or even lake Issyk-Kul, you should bring something
warm with you for the evenings, even in mid summer.
There is sometimes rain in the mountains, you may
want something rainproof. |
There are four distinct
climate zones are determined here:
Valley zone (from 500-600 to 900-1000m heights).
Hot summer (to +28 degrees) and moderate cold
and snow less winter characterize it. Average
annual temperature is +20-25 in summer and -4
-7 in winter. In some places temperature reaches
+47. It drops as the height increases and the
absolute temperature minimum is -22-30,only in
some places it drops lower -40.Middle mountainous
zone (from 900-1200 to 2000-2200 m heights) has
typical moderate climate with warm summer and
moderate snowy and cold winter. Average annual
temperature is +18-19 in summer (July) and -7-8
in winter (January).
High mountainous zone (from 2000-2200 to 3000-3500
m heights) is characterized by cold summer and
very snowy winter. July temperature is +11-16,
January - 8-10. Winter is long (from November
to March). In the upper part of this zone the
freezing period lasts 3-4 months.
| ENVIRONMENT
|
Landlocked Kyrgyzstan is slightly larger than Austria
and Hungary put together. It borders Kazakstan in
the north, China in the east, Tajikistan in the
south and Uzbekistan in the west. Nearly 95% of
the country is mountainous: almost half of it at
an elevation of over 3000m (9840ft) and three-quarters
of it under permanent snow and glaciers. The dominant
topographic feature is the Tian Shan range in the
south-east. Its crest, the dramatic Kakshaal-Too
range, forms a stunning natural border with China,
culminating at Pik Pobedy (7439m/24,400ft), Kyrgyzstan's
highest point. The southern border with Tajikistan
lies along the Pamir Alay Range. Lake Issyk-Kul,
almost 700m (2300ft) deep, lies in a vast indentation
on the fringes of the Tian Shan in eastern Kyrgyzstan.
Though environmental pressures are as bad in Central
Asia as anywhere, there's a reasonably good chance
of seeing memorable beasts and plants, especially
since Cannabis indica grows thick and wild by the
roadsides. The mountains of Kyrgyzstan are the setting
for high, grassy meadows - it's not unheard of to
look out a train or bus window on the open steppe
and see a rushing herd of antelope. Marmots and
pikas are preyed upon by eagles and lammergeiers
while the elusive snow leopard hunts the ibex amongst
the crags and rocky slopes. Forests of Tian Shan
spruce, larch and juniper provide cover for lynx,
wolf, wild boar and brown bear. In summer, the wildflowers
are a riot of colour.
The climate of this mountainous region is influenced
by its distance from the sea and the sharp change
of elevation from neighbouring plains. Conditions
vary from permanent snow in high-altitude cold deserts
to hot deserts in the lowlands. From the end of
June through mid-August most afternoons reach 32°C
(90°F) or higher, with an average annual maximum
of 40°C (104°F). During the winter months,
temperatures remain below freezing for about 40
days. The coldest month is January when winds blow
in from Siberia. |
