Climate of Azerbaijan

Climate of Azerbaijan

Where is the country of Azerbaijan located? The Republic of Azerbaijan is located on the west coast of the Caspian Sea and borders the countries of Georgia, Armenia, Russia and Iran. Geographically, Azerbaijan consists of three zones. Mountain areas can be found in the north (Greater Caucasus Mountains) and the southwest (Lesser Caucasus), along the Caspian Sea you will find the coastal area of ​​Azerbaijan and in the central part of the country is the Kura-Aras plain, which is named after the rivers Aras and Kura. This plain is partly below sea level, with which Azerbaijan has by far the lowest-lying areas of the Transcaucasian republics. The landscape consists of partly mountainous zones, which are sometimes sloping and green, but sometimes suddenly have a very rough and rocky appearance. The central part of Azerbaijan consists of plains where there are small differences in height.

Azerbaijan has no fewer than nine climatic zones, while the actual climates do not differ much from each other based on temperatures, precipitation amounts and precipitation moments. The biggest differences are in the extreme moments that can occur. For example, it can get so cold in the mountains that the thermometers drop far below minus thirty degrees. The record low is even minus 42 degrees Celsius. In the exclave of Nakhchivan, a highest temperature of 44 degrees above zero has been measured (in the place Julfa). The more east you go, towards the Caspian Sea, the more stable the weather picture is and extremes in temperature or precipitation become less frequent.

Mild winters

Of the entire region, Azerbaijan has the mildest winters on average, but a current that draws very cool air from Scandinavia via Russia to the Caspian Sea can create a system where temperatures in Azerbaijan can drop considerably. The average afternoon temperature in Azerbaijan in the winter period (December to March) is around 6 to 10 degrees along the coast to just below freezing in the mountains. At night it freezes moderately to sometimes severe in the mountains, along the coast the thermometer usually hangs around the freezing point thanks to the warming influence of the seawater of the Caspian Sea.

Precipitation

In the winter months there is relatively little precipitation. The amounts vary from about 15 to 30 millimeters of precipitation per month. In the interior a reasonable part of this precipitation falls in the form of snow, along the coast it can even rain in the coldest months of January and February instead of winter precipitation. As temperatures rise and spring arrives, so do the amounts of precipitation inland. The months of April, May and June are generally the wettest months here, with rain gauges measuring an average of forty to more than a hundred millimeters of rainwater per month. Along the coast, the amount of precipitation during the spring remains at the same low level of around 15 to 25 millimeters that also applies in the winter months. From June it will become a lot drier along the coast and on the Kura-Aras plain and significant precipitation will hardly occur anymore. The areas in the northwest, belonging to the Greater Caucasus, still have a wet month in June, after which the amounts of precipitation only decrease in July. Here, however, the number of millimeters of precipitation remains a lot higher than on the plains and along the coast.

Dry and warm summers

Summers in Azerbaijan are warm, dry and sunny. The places along the Caspian Sea are excellent sun destinations based on the climate, but as a summer sun destination Azerbaijan plays a minuscule role in today’s tourism. In terms of weather, however, Azerbaijan can compete with many places in Spain and Greece. In the summer months, afternoon temperatures rise to 28 to 32 degrees on average. During hot periods you can safely add a few degrees to this. These daytime temperatures, in combination with pleasant nighttime temperatures that average slightly above twenty degrees along the coast, little precipitation and many hours of sunshine (about three hundred per month in summer) make the climate of Azerbaijan during the summer one of the better climates. of the region.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Maximum temperature Minimum temperature Hours of sunshine per day Days of rainfall per month Water temperature
January 7℃ 1℃ 3 6 9℃
February 7℃ 1℃ 3 6 8℃
March 10℃ 4℃ 4 5 8℃
April 18℃ 9℃ 6 4 11℃
May 23℃ 14℃ 8 3 15℃
June 28℃ 19℃ 10 2 20℃
July 31℃ 22℃ 10 1 24℃
August 30℃ 21℃ 9 2 25℃
September 27℃ 18℃ 7 2 23℃
October 20℃ 12℃ 5 6 20℃
November 16℃ 8℃ 3 6 16℃
December 10℃ 3℃ 3 6 12℃

Best time to visit Azerbaijan

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Azerbaijan? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. The landscape and geographical situation of Azerbaijan allows for a wide variety of temperatures and precipitation patterns. As a result, there are different types of climate. The further you get from the Caspian Sea or increase in altitude, the more extreme the weather can get. Directly on the coast there is a maritime climate, which inland changes into continental climate types. High mountain climates occur in the mountains, especially in the Greater Caucasus.

Best months for Azerbaijan

Due to the risk of extreme weather, both in summer and in winter, spring and autumn are considered the best travel period for a holiday in Azerbaijan. If you travel to the coast of Azerbaijan, for example to the capital Baku, summer is also an option. The average maximum temperature in the coastal areas is around the tropical value of thirty degrees. Due to the lower relative humidity, it is then bearable. There may also be periods when it becomes significantly warmer.

Traveling around Azerbaijan

If you want to make a tour through Azerbaijan, the period from April to October is suitable. If you want to go more into the high mountains, it is better to forget about April and October and plan your tour from May to September. That way, you’re almost certain to avoid winter conditions.

Formula 1

In the spring, usually in late April or early May, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place in Baku. On average, during this period there is mild pleasant weather in Baku, with the chance of heavy precipitation or extreme heat being quite small. Anyone who is planning to travel to Baku during this period, but is not interested in Formula 1 competitions, should take a good look at when this motorsport event is on the agenda before planning the trip. Due to the high hotel prices, this is not the best time to visit Baku.

Azerbaijan