Mongolia Weather
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
Mongolia Weather by Month
Mongolian Seasons – Temperature & Clothing Guide
Spring in Mongolia (mid-March to early May)
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 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
★ 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)
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 |
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 |