Climate of Lijiang
Located in the northwestern portion of Yunnan and borders Sichuan and a region where the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau converge, Lijiang has three different climatic zones, ranging from subtropical in the southeast, to warm temperatures in the centre, and cold temperatures in the northwest. And owing to its low latitude and high elevation, the city centre of Lijiang experiences a mild subtropical highland climate with distinct dry and rainy seasons. The dry season lasts from November to April, and the wet season is between May and October with plenty of rainfall during this period. The average annual temperature is 12.6°C without drastic changes. The annual rainfall is 900 to 1,200 mm.
Spring, from April and May, daytime temperatures can range from 15 to 20°C and warmer, and rain comes more frequently as spring progresses. By early June rain may fall almost daily.
Summer in Lijiang, particularly June and July, is mild and comfortable, but the long season is usually very wet. The annual mean temperature is 12.7 °C. Temperatures almost never get higher than 25°C, and nights are cool and pleasant. From June through September rain normally falls every day. Precipitation averages around 970 millimeters. August in Lijiang may often see spectacular lightning storms, but the frequent rain may make August and September particularly chilly at times, and the usual cloud cover makes this time of year less than ideal for sightseeing.
In autumn, the rains are almost completely gone by mid-October, bringing blue skies and slightly warmer weather. In October and November the temperatures are in the upper teens Celsius and the nights are crisp and chilly.
It is the southerly latitude that makes for a warmer winter; despite the city’s high elevation. In addition, December to February is dry season, and nearly every day sees strong, warm sunshine. Daily high temperatures may reach 15°C while night-time temperatures usually drop to just above freezing. Snow rarely falls in the city more than once a year, though the surrounding mountain areas may see occasional snowfall.
Climate Data Table for Lijiang
Time | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Average High(°C) | 15/17 | 18/20 | 22/24 | 25/27 | 26/29 | 25/28 | 26/29 | 27/30 | 23/26 | 21/23 | 17/20 | 15/17 |
Average Low(°C) | 3/5 | 5/7 | 8/11 | 11/14 | 15/17 | 16/18 | 17/20 | 17/19 | 15/17 | 12/14 | 7/11 | 3/6 |
Rain(mm) | 4/9 | 2/7 | 10/ 15 | 25/ 30 | 93/ 98 | 180/ 185 | 208/ 213 | 175/ 180 | 150/ 155 | 75/80 | 17/22 | 4/9 |
Lijiang Weather Forecast
