Weather in Uzbekistan by month: temperatures, what to wear, what to do

On an average July afternoon Bukhara reaches 37 °C. On an average January night the same city drops to −2 °C, and Khiva to −6 °C. That is almost 40 degrees within one year, so the month you pick decides what you pack, how you plan the day and even which side trips make sense.

We live in Tashkent and take guests around the country in every season. Here is the weather in Uzbekistan by month for the four cities most trips include, Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, with what to wear, what the month is good for and a link to our full guide to each month.

Weather in Uzbekistan by month: the table

Average afternoon highs and night lows from the long-term climate normals (1991–2020), the same figures we use across this site. Khiva’s numbers come from the weather station in Urgench, 35 km away. Click a month for the full guide.

Month	Tashkent	Samarkand	Bukhara	Khiva
January	7 / −1 °C	7 / −1 °C	7 / −2 °C	3 / −6 °C
February	10 / 0 °C	10 / 0 °C	10 / 0 °C	6 / −4 °C
March	16 / 5 °C	15 / 5 °C	17 / 5 °C	14 / 2 °C
April	22 / 10 °C	21 / 10 °C	24 / 11 °C	22 / 9 °C
May	28 / 14 °C	27 / 14 °C	31 / 16 °C	29 / 15 °C
June	34 / 18 °C	32 / 18 °C	36 / 20 °C	34 / 19 °C
July	36 / 20 °C	35 / 20 °C	37 / 22 °C	36 / 21 °C
August	35 / 18 °C	33 / 18 °C	36 / 19 °C	34 / 18 °C
September	30 / 13 °C	29 / 14 °C	30 / 14 °C	28 / 12 °C
October	22 / 8 °C	22 / 8 °C	23 / 7 °C	20 / 5 °C
November	14 / 4 °C	14 / 3 °C	15 / 2 °C	11 / 0 °C
December	9 / 0 °C	9 / 0 °C	8 / −1 °C	4 / −4 °C

Three things stand out. In winter Khiva is the coldest of the four, about four degrees below the other cities. In summer Bukhara is the hottest and Samarkand the mildest. And all year the gap between day and night is wide: in October a 23 °C afternoon in Bukhara turns into a 7 °C night. Most rain falls between November and April, with February the wettest month in Tashkent at about 72 mm; Bukhara and Khiva stay dry for most of the year.

Winter: December, January, February

December

Afternoons of 8–9 °C in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, 4 °C in Khiva, nights around zero. Bring a warm coat and a hat. It is low season, with quiet courtyards and a wide choice of hotels, and New Year’s Eve is a night to spend in Samarkand, Bukhara or Tashkent. The ski season opens near Tashkent. Uzbekistan in December.

January

The coldest month: about 7 °C in the afternoon in the three warmer cities, 3 °C in Khiva and −6 °C there at night. Pack a winter coat, gloves and a scarf. The old towns are at their quietest, and it is the best month for skiing at Amirsoy, Beldersay and Chimgan; we arrange a day in the mountains at Amirsoy with the cable car. Uzbekistan in January.

February

About 10 °C in the afternoon, 6 °C in Khiva, nights around zero. February is the wettest month in Tashkent, which means fresh snow in the mountains in the middle of the ski season. A warm coat and waterproof shoes. Uzbekistan in February.

Spring: March, April, May

March

The season opens: 15–17 °C in the afternoon, 14 °C in Khiva, nights of 2–5 °C. With November, it is our favourite month. Navruz on 21 March is a public holiday, almonds and apricots blossom, and the ski lifts near Tashkent still run. Pack layers and a rain jacket for Samarkand and Tashkent. Uzbekistan in March.

April

Warm and green: 21–24 °C in the afternoon, 9–11 °C at night. Bukhara and Khiva are dry, Tashkent and Samarkand still get spring showers. High season begins, and train tickets go on sale 60 days ahead, so book early. A light jacket for the evenings. Uzbekistan in April.

May

27–31 °C in the afternoon, 14–16 °C at night, with Bukhara past 30 °C. The hiking season opens in the mountains near Tashkent; we run a one-day mountain hike with a guide and a picnic. A sun hat and a thin sweater. Uzbekistan in May.

Summer: June, July, August

June

Hot and dry: 32–36 °C in the afternoon, 18–20 °C at night, the longest days of the year. We see the sights in the morning and evening and spend midday indoors. Cherries and apricots fill the bazaars, and Chimgan is about ten degrees cooler than the city. Uzbekistan in June.

July

The hottest month: 35–37 °C in the afternoon, 20–22 °C at night, practically no rain. Wear light, loose clothes that cover the shoulders, a hat and sunscreen, and carry bottled water, which is sold everywhere. Peaches are at their peak and the first grapes appear. Uzbekistan in July.

August

33–36 °C in the afternoon, nights of 18–19 °C. The evenings in the old towns are the best part of the day. Melons and grapes are at their peak, and Khiva holds its Melon Festival in early August. By the end of the month the real heat is over. Uzbekistan in August.

Autumn: September, October, November

September

Warm and dry: 28–30 °C in the afternoon, 12–14 °C at night, almost no rain. Independence Day is on 1 September, the cotton harvest begins, and the grape harvest makes it a good month for our guide to Uzbek wine. Light clothes for the day, a sweater for the night. Uzbekistan in September.

October

The most comfortable month for long walking days: 20–23 °C in the afternoon, 5–8 °C at night, almost no rain. Cotton fields are white, Tashkent turns red and gold at the end of the month, and October is the last month for mountain hikes. It is high season: book trains and hotels early. Uzbekistan in October.

November

About 14–15 °C in the afternoon in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, 11 °C in Khiva, and cold nights of 0–4 °C. Bring warm layers. Few crowds and short days: start early and see Khiva in daylight. Uzbekistan in November.

Which month to choose

The city season runs from March to June and from September to November. Our favourite months are March and November, at the start and the end of the season, when the weather is comfortable and there are fewer people. July and August work if you plan around the heat, and winter is cold but calm, with the sights to yourself.

Whatever the month, cover your shoulders and knees at mosques and mausoleums; our notes on what to wear in Uzbekistan have the details. The seasons side by side, with the tours that suit each one, are in when to visit Uzbekistan.

In short

• Winter (December–February): 7–10 °C in the afternoon in the cities, colder in Khiva, nights around zero; skiing near Tashkent.
• Spring (March–May): 14–31 °C and rising; Navruz on 21 March, blossom, then high season.
• Summer (June–August): 32–37 °C and dry; sights early and late, the mountains for the middle of the day.
• Autumn (September–November): from about 30 °C in September to 11–15 °C in November; the harvest, few rains and our favourite November.
• Every month has its own guide: click the month in the table.