Climate of Iran
Where is the country of Iran located? Iran is one of the largest countries in southwestern Asia. Despite the vastness of the country and the relief in large parts of the former Persia, there are fewer different climate types than you would expect. Except for the northwestern tip, which has a warm continental climate (continental climate), you mainly see a mix of the four so-called arid or dry climates in Iran (B climate according to the Köppen climate system). In the regions, the warm desert climate of the low plains along the coast changes into a warm steppe climate (Bsh), near the Zagros Mountains. Central Iran mainly has a cold steppe climate (type Bsk) and locally a cold desert climate (Bwk). The Elbur Mountains are located in the north of Iran. in which relatively large quantities can occur within relatively small distances. Incidentally, the northern strip along the Caspian Sea is remarkably mild compared to the surrounding areas. In winter, the mercury hardly falls below freezing here, while in the more southerly capital Tehran freezes regularly at night and in the middle of winter light frost during the day is certainly a possibility.
Heat
The summer months in Iran are warm to hot. Where the sea normally has a cooling effect in the hottest months, the opposite seems to be the case in Iran. The southwestern and southeastern coastal areas in particular are very warm in summer, with daytime air temperatures often exceeding 35 degrees and in some places 40 to 45 degrees more than normal in the hottest months. The seawater temperature of the Persian Gulf also rises considerably in summer, with as much as 30 to 32 degrees in June and July, it is one of the warmest seas in the world. In addition to being hot, summers are also very dry, especially in southeastern Iran, where months of drought are more the rule than the exception locally.
Extremes
The climate of Iran is one with considerable extremes. Snow and locally severe frost in winter, areas of extreme drought and strong winds in the east, with wind speeds that can exceed hurricane force. Especially in the mountain areas you often have to deal with weather conditions that sometimes make it difficult for people and animals to move. Completely snowy roads in winter, high temperatures in summer and strong winds that can sometimes cause life-threatening situations, especially in dry times when the wind carries a lot of sand and dust.
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 | |
| January | 7℃ | -3℃ | 6 | 10 |
| February | 9℃ | -1℃ | 6 | 8 |
| March | 15℃ | 5℃ | 7 | 10 |
| April | 21℃ | 12℃ | 9 | 6 |
| May | 27℃ | 16℃ | 9 | 4 |
| June | 34℃ | 20℃ | 11 | 1 |
| July | 37℃ | 24℃ | 12 | 1 |
| August | 36℃ | 23℃ | 12 | 1 |
| September | 31℃ | 19℃ | 11 | 1 |
| October | 23℃ | 12℃ | 9 | 4 |
| November | 15℃ | 5℃ | 5 | 5 |
| December | 8℃ | -1℃ | 5 | 8 |
Best time to visit Iran
Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Iran? 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. Iran is a country in the Middle East, which lies largely on the Persian Gulf to the south and the Caspian Sea to the north. About two-thirds of the landscape consists of mountains and mountainous areas. The lower parts and the plateaus mainly consist of deserts. The weather is erratic with many extremes. Think of considerable cold in the mountain areas during the winter period to extreme heat during the summer on the high plateaus and on the coast of Iran. With afternoon temperatures that can rise above forty degrees Celsius, the middle of summer is uncomfortably hot in those kinds of places. The warmest city is Iranshahr, where highs averaging 43 to 47 degrees Celsius are common in the summer months. This makes this city in the southeast of Iran one of the hottest cities in the world.
Best time to visit
Most people who travel to Iran as tourists do so in the form of a tour. The country has a large number of historical treasures and places of interest, which can be found throughout Iran. Traveling around is therefore almost a must to get a good impression of this special destination. The best time to travel to Iran is in April. Late autumn is also an alternative, especially October, but then it is still hot in the south and it starts to get wetter on the Caspian Sea.
Tropical Cyclones
The southeast of Iran can be affected by tropical cyclones. These can be sent to the Gulf of Oman via the Indian Ocean. Iran is never reached by a hurricane, but these massive depressions can affect the weather in the Gulf region. The southeast of Iran can therefore sometimes have to deal with heavy rainfall. These cyclones mainly occur during the hurricane season, which lasts from May to November.
Pay attention when you travel to Iran
Traveling to Iran may affect future travel to the United States of America. With an Iran visa in your passport you cannot travel to America visa-free and applying for a visa for the US can be difficult.
Another thing to keep in mind is that religious holidays affect daily life. During the fasting period (Ramadan) it is also impossible as a tourist to eat or drink in public during the day.
