Azerbajian Temperature & Climate types
The temperature regime and its distribution throughout Azerbaijan is regular, and depends on the features of air
masses entering the country, the regional landscape, and proximity to the Caspian Sea. The sea causes
temperatures in the maritime areas (20 kilometres or 12 miles away from the sea) to decline in the summer and
rise in the winter. At the same time, the sea moderates the influence of hot and dry air masses coming from
Central Asia. The average annual temperature is 14–15 °C (57–59 °F) in the Kur-Araz Lowland, the coastal
regions south to the Apsheron Peninsula, and in the Lenkoran Lowland. The temperature declines with
proximity to the mountains, averaging 4–5 °C (39–41 °F) at an altitude of 2,000 meters (6,600 ft), and 1–2 °C
(34–36 °F) at 3,000 meters (9,800 ft).
Climate types
Taking into consideration the distribution and features of the weather, temperature, humidity, and precipitation,
nine out of the 11 climate patterns in the Köppen climate classification can be found in Azerbaijan. Many of
these patterns are divided into subtypes.
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Semi-desert and dry steppe climates cover the central lowlands in Kur to 400 meters (1,300 ft), the
Caspian zone from the end of Samur River to the Gizilagaj gulf, the plains of Nakhchivan along the
Araz river, and the valleys of the Talish Mountains below 1,000 meters (3,300 ft). Annual precipitation
accounts for 15 to 50 percent of the possible evaporation. Winters are usually warm (though cold on
the Araz River plains along, and in the valleys of, the Talish Mountains). Summers are extremely hot,
sometimes over40 °C (104 °F).
Semi-desert and dry steppe climate with cold winter and dry hot climate.
A moderate climate with mild, dry winters covers the south hills (below 1,000 metres or 3,300 feet) of
the Great Caucasus, the Ganikh-Eyrichay valley between 200 and 500 meters (660 and 1,600 ft), and
the north and east hills of the Small Caucasus between 400 and 1,500 meters (1,300 and 4,900 ft).
Annual precipitation accounts for 50 to 100 percent of the possible evaporation in this climate zone.
A moderately hot climate with dry summers covers the Lankaran-Astara region. Annual precipitation
accounts for 100 to 150 percent or more of the possible evaporation. Winters are mild, summers are hot
and dry, and autumns are rainy. The period of May through August is usually dry, requiring artificial
irrigation.
Cold, dry winters cover the southeast hills of the Great Caucasus between 1,000 and 2,700 meters
(3,300 and 8,900 ft), and mountainous regions of the Small Caucasus between 1,400 and 2,700 meters
(4,600 and 8,900 ft). Annual precipitation accounts for 75 to 100 percent of the possible evaporation.
Summers are cool and winter is mild.
A cold climate with cool, dry summers covers the middle and high mountains of Nakhchivan AR
between 1,000 and 3,000 meters (3,300 and 9,800 ft). Annual precipitation accounts for 50 to 100
percent of possible evaporation. Summers are cool, and winter is cold enough for snow.
A mildly-hot climate with equal distribution of rainfall covers the mountainous forests in the south
between 600 and 1,500 meters (2,000 and 4,900 ft), and the northeast hills of the Great Caucasus
between 200 and 500 meters (660 and 1,600 ft).. Annual rainfall accounts for 75 to 100 percent of the
possible evaporation in the south hills, and 50 to 100 percent in the northeast hills. Winters are mild,
summers warm.
A cold climate with heavy precipitation year-round occurs in the south hills of the Great Caucasus
between 1,500 and 2,700 meters (4,900 and 8,900 ft), which include forest, subalpine, and alpine
zones. Annual precipitation accounts for more than 150 to 200 percent of the possible evaporation.
Winters are quite cold, summers cool.
Mountainous tundra covers the areas of Great and Small Caucasus above 2,700 meters (8,900 ft), and
Nakhchivan above 3,200 meters (10,500 ft). Annual precipitation accounts for more than 100 to 200
percent of the possible evaporation. Winters and summers are both cold. In some places, the snow does
not melt until the following winter.