Mongolia Weather

Mongolia Weather

If you are planning to visit Mongolia, brace yourself for some extreme temperature. Mongolia, being landlocked, has continental weather. With very hot summers owing to the Gobi Desert, the temperature shoots up to 40°C (104°F). The hottest month is July. The average temperature in the north is 20°C (68 °F) and in the south is 25°C (77 °F), In the winters, it can get as cold as minus -40°C (-40°F).

The weather in Mongolia is dominated by winters that continue longer than the summers. So, you have to either visit in short summer months that last from July to September. November till late April will make you shiver to your bones. January is the coldest month. May to June is springtime and there is tourist rush at this time. Mongolia is a harsh subarctic region. It has 250 sunny days. Mostly blue-sky, rain is scanty 378mm (14.9in) on an average. Dry months are between January and February. From April and May, there are bouts of showers, but stronger showers are received in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar 161mm (6.3in) between July to August.

 See also Ulaanbaatar Weather
 

Best Time to Visit Mongolia

The best time to visit Mongolia is July and August, when the Nadam Festival takes place, bringing with it the peak season for Mongolian tourism. In fact, the period from May to October is a good time to plan a trip to Mongolia. Temperatures are relatively high during the day, and there are many activities for visitors to enjoy at daytime.
 

Mongolia Weather by Month

 

Mongolian Seasons – Temperature & Clothing Guide

Spring in Mongolia (mid-March to early May)

When the days start growing longer and the nights shorten, you know that spring has come to Mongolia after a long winter. Beginning from mid-March to early May, spring here lasts for 60 days. Spring has its difficulties, as harsh dust storms in the south and central region leave people huddling in their shelters, closing doors and windows. Sometimes their yurts are carried away by the strong winds for miles together.

Clothes to wear in Mongolia in the spring

Wear layers of warm clothes to brave the Mongolian weather. Long-sleeve T-shirts protecting arms and legs and Mongolian woolen hats can be tried out. For horse or camel riding trips, wear gloves and scarves. You can wear thermal undergarments that keep you warm.

The spring temperature in Ulaanbaatar:

Month Temperature (Max/Min) Sundial Span Rains/Precipitation
March -2 °C (28 °F)/-15 °C (5°F) 12.5 hours Nil
April +8 °C (46 °F)/-6 °C (21°F) 14.2 hours 2days/10mm
May +17 °C (62 °F)/+3 °C (37 °F) 15.8 hours 7 days/20mm
 

★ Travel tip: Carry sunglasses, jackets and don’t forget to cover your nose.

★ Things to do: Visiting nomad herders and watching the Takhi wild horse grazing at Khustai Mountains Camp. Watching migratory birds flocking the lakes Khovsgol region. Visiting National Museum of Mongolia to learn about Mongolia culture through historical and ethnographical objects.

 If you are in Mongolia at this time you can be a part of the following festivals:

Dates Festival
28 February-10 March Great winter festival
1st March -4th March Celebration of the ice on lake Hovsgol (Hovsgol)
March 5th Festival of the eagles in the National Park Hustai
5th March - 9th March Festival of a thousand camels in Dalanzadgad administrative center of South Gobi aimag

See also about 5 Best Traditional Mongolia Festivals
 

Summer in Mongolia (mid-May to August)

Summer months from June to August are the best in Mongolia and you will have a memorable trip if you travel during this time of the year. As the warmest months in Mongolia, this can be considered the best time to visit for travelers. The rains are frequent at this time so carry umbrellas and raincoats. The rivers swell up and the lakes also look full, fed with fresh showers after the long, dry frosty spring. But if the rains are less, the rivers look shallow. However, summer is welcomed in all its beauty and if you plan your visit at this time you will see the blue skies, green pastures and horses grazing lazily under the warm sun.

 Summer temperature in Ulaanbaatar:

Month Temperature (Max/Min) Sundial Span Rains/Precipitation
June +22 °C (72 °F)/ +8 °C (46°F) 16.6 hours 11 days/ 60mm
July +23 °C (73 °F)/+11 °C (52 °F) 16.2 hours 14days/70mm
August +21.5 °C (71 °F)/+9 °C (48 °F) 14.8 hours 13 days/80mm

 Clothes to wear in Mongolia in the summer

Clothes could include jeans, light capris, casual tops, and short sleeve shirts in the day time and visitors can wear long sleeve shirts, sweatshirt or fleece, pairs of socks, rainproof jackets, and bathing suits for nights to help you enjoy the Mongolian weather. Shoes could include sports shoes and flipflops.
 
★ Tip: Carry your sleeping bags, some snacks, earplugs. In Mongolian Thank you, is 'bayarlalaa', practice and use it. The locals will love you.

★ Places to visit:
Tsagaan Suvarga - White Stupa
Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park
Hustai National Park
Orkhon Valley
Altai Tavan Bogd National Park
Zaisan Hill

 Festivals at this time of the year in Mongolia:

Dates Festival
June 14-June 20 "Tourin tower-goon", Music Festival
July 9 -July 13 Naadam
July 22 The festival of horses
August 22 Festival celebrating the "the Legacy of Genghis Khan", National Park Terelj
 

Autumn in Mongolia (early September to early November)

The season of slow change from hot summers to cold winters. This is a dry season. Harvest time for the locals, forests take a beautiful fiery shade as their leaves prepare for the fall. The livestock grows more fur to guard against the coming winter months. This season lasts for 60 days and is an ideal time for travelers, but there is always a chance of snowfall during September.

 Temperature in Ulaanbaatar:

Month Temperature (Max/Min) Sundial Span Rains/Precipitation
September +16 °C (61 °F)/+2 °C (36 °F) 13.1 hours 7days/ 40mm
October +7 °C (45 °F)/-6 °C (21 °F) 11.3 hours 2 days/10mm
November -4 °C (25 °F)/-16 °C (3 °F) 9.8 hours Nil

 Clothes to wear in Mongolia in the autumn

Wear long sleeves as it goes well with the Mongolian weather and tradition. Medium weight clothes would do. Western suits with a light coat will come handy. Wear sports shoes and keep a flip flop with you.

★ Note: You can carry compact binoculars for bird watching. Charging points may not always be available outside Ulaanbaatar, so be ready to get disconnected.

★ Places to visit:
Mid-autumn is the perfect time to visit the Gobi Desert and to visit the oldest surviving Buddhist monastery, Kharkhorin-Erdenezuu. Also, don’t miss the capital Ulaanbaatar city and hunting with golden eagles in western Mongolia.

 Festivals to lookout for:

Dates Festival
September 17 -18 Festival of Nomads
October 3-5 Golden Eagle Festival
November 26 Independence Day of Mongolia
August 22 Festival celebrating the "the Legacy of Genghis Khan", National Park Terelj
 

Winters in Mongolia (mid-November to early March)

Winters last for 110 days in Mongolia. The temperature is freezing cold and the lakes freeze almost till the bottom and so do the rivers. However, it does not snow as much as it snows in Russia. The winters are very dusty. The coldest month is January. In some parts of the country, the temperature falls to -30 °C (-22 °F). The dry air makes the winters more tolerable.

 Temperature in Ulaanbaatar:

Month Temperature (Max/Min) Sundial Span Rains/Precipitation
December -14 °C (7 °F)/-24 °C (-11 °F) 9.1 hours Nil
January -16 °C (3 °F)/-26.5 °C (-16 °F) 9.5 hours 1 days/0mm
February 11 °C (52 °F)/-24 °C (-11 °F) 10.8 hours Nil
 
 Clothes to wear in Mongolia in the winter

Since winters are extremely cold, wear heavy and warm clothes. Don’t forget to carry overcoats and thick woolen pullovers to face the Mongolian weather. Also carry hat, gloves and boot to tread on the thin and thick ice.

★ Tip: Even though Ger camps provide towels, carry your toiletries.

★ Things to do:
The Ice Festival is a star attraction of North Mongolia in the winters on the Khovsgol Lake and Dog Sled adventures over the frozen lakes of Khuvsgul Lake are unmissable. Visitors can also spot snow leopards in the Gobi Alta region.

 Festival dates in winter:

Dates Festival
December 25 Christmas Day
January 1 New Year
January 13 The Constitution Day
February 19 The White Month
 
Mongolian weather holds charm in every season and each experience is unique. So, choose your visit time based on what you would prefer in this beautiful heaven on earth. Winters, if you can brave the frost, would certainly be an experience worth trying. However, if you are more adventurous, why not make a trip in each season and find out which season surpasses your standards of excellence.
- Last updated on May. 17, 2021 -
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