Dunhuang weather in August

In August, Dunhuang sees average daytime highs of 32°C and overnight lows near 19°C, with 5 mm of rain across 1 wet days and about 13.6 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 4th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 34°C in the first days to 31°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 65% of the time in August, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 14 h 12 min at the start of August to 13 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, August is Dunhuang's 3rd-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Dunhuang's year-round climate.

Daytime high
32°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
19°
11th coldest
Rainfall
5 mm
1 wet days
Daylight
13 h 36 min
6:57 AM – 8:33 PM
Cloud cover
31%
3rd clearest
Wind
13 km/h
6th windiest
Solar energy
6.7 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.9
out of 10

Temperature in August

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 34°C in the first days to 31°C by the end.

A typical August day in Dunhuang reaches about 32°C in the afternoon and slips back to 19°C overnight — a 14°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 28°C and 36°C. Set against its neighbours, August runs about 1°C cooler than July and about 5°C warmer than September.

10°20°30°40°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13421
23421
33421
43421
53420
63420
73420
83320
93320
103320
113320
123319
133319
143319
153319
163319
173219
183218
193218
203218
213218
223218
233218
243217
253217
263117
273117
283117
293117
303116
313116

How August really feels in Dunhuang

Once humidity and wind are folded in, August averages 20 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
20
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in August is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Dunhuang weather by month

How August compares with the rest of the year at a glance. August is the 2nd-warmest and 4th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan-1° / -12°10.10.39.50.0
Feb / -7°10.20.210.40.8
Mar14° / -1°20.50.511.75.0
Apr22° / 20.70.1138.2
May27° / 13°51014.27.7
Jun32° / 19°81.6014.85.1
Jul34° / 21°71.4014.63.9
Aug32° / 19°51013.64.9
Sep27° / 12°30.5012.38.1
Oct19° / 10.4010.97.7
Nov / -4°10.30.39.82.2
Dec / -10°10.40.79.20.0

Cloud cover in August

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 65% of the time in August.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of August, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 24%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17822
27624
37624
47624
57624
67525
77525
87525
97525
107525
117525
127525
137525
147525
157525
167624
177624
187624
197624
207723
217723
227723
237822
247822
257822
267822
277822
287822
297723
307723
317723

Chance of precipitation in August

Any precipitation

Dunhuang gets around 5 mm of rain over 1 wet days in August. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 3% and peaks near 4% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
13
23
34
44
54
64
74
84
94
104
114
124
134
144
154
164
174
184
193
203
213
223
233
242
252
262
272
282
292
302
312

Humidity in August

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of August feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, August lands in the dry band about 97% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19361
29361
39361
49361
59361
69451
79451
89541
99541
109631
119631
129721
139721
149721
159811
169811
179811
189811
199811
209811
219811
229811
239811
249811
259811
269811
279811
289811
299910
309910
319910

Wind in August

Winds average 13 km/h in August.

Across August, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
113light breeze
213light breeze
313light breeze
413light breeze
513light breeze
613light breeze
713light breeze
813light breeze
913light breeze
1013light breeze
1113light breeze
1213light breeze
1313light breeze
1413light breeze
1513light breeze
1613light breeze
1713light breeze
1813light breeze
1913light breeze
2013light breeze
2113light breeze
2213light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2612light breeze
2712light breeze
2812light breeze
2912light breeze
3013light breeze
3113light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in August

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 14 h 12 min at the start of August to 13 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 72 minutes over August. Sunrise moves from 6:43 AM to 7:12 AM, and sunset from 8:52 PM to 8:11 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
114.26:438:52
214.16:448:51
314.16:458:50
414.16:468:49
514.06:478:47
614.06:488:46
713.96:488:45
813.96:498:44
913.96:508:43
1013.86:518:41
1113.86:528:40
1213.86:538:39
1313.76:548:38
1413.76:558:36
1513.66:568:35
1613.66:578:33
1713.66:588:32
1813.56:598:31
1913.57:008:29
2013.47:018:28
2113.47:028:26
2213.47:038:25
2313.37:048:23
2413.37:058:22
2513.27:068:20
2613.27:078:19
2713.17:088:17
2813.17:098:15
2913.17:108:14
3013.07:118:12
3113.07:128:11

Solar energy in August

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in August, about 6.7 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.44 kWh/m² to a high of 7.48 kWh/m² in June across the year — August's 6.7 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

02468151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
17.1Intense
27.0Intense
37.0Intense
47.0Intense
57.0Intense
66.9Intense
76.9Intense
86.9Intense
96.9Intense
106.8Intense
116.8Intense
126.8Intense
136.8Intense
146.7Intense
156.7Intense
166.7Intense
176.7Intense
186.6Intense
196.6Intense
206.6Intense
216.6Intense
226.5Intense
236.5Intense
246.5Intense
256.5Intense
266.4Intense
276.4Intense
286.4Intense
296.3Intense
306.3Intense
316.3Intense
Planning a trip in August

Hazard calendar for Dunhuang

In seasonPeak

In August, Dunhuang sits inside its dust season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Dunhuang sees dust haze year-round, heaviest in May.

Dust
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is August a good time to visit Dunhuang?

Our two travel scores rate August for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

4.9
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
8.1
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

August is a reasonable time to visit Dunhuang for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Dunhuang in August

From August's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In August, Dunhuang sees daytime highs around 32°C and nights near 19°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.

light clothessun protection

UV index in Dunhuang in August

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in August peaks around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Dunhuang peaks around July 16 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 11 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highModerateJul 16UV 10Jan 11UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5High
Apr7High
May7High
Jun10Very high
Jul11Extreme
Aug10Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct5Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Dunhuang in August

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where August falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Dunhuang is worst in March — around 276 µg/m³ PM2.5 (very unhealthy), about 2.2× the cleanest month (December, 125 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0306090120150180210240270JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery unhealthyUnhealthyVery unhealthyUnhealthyVery unhealthyUnhealthyMar 19268 µg/m³Dec 13129 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan179Very unhealthy
Feb180Very unhealthy
Mar276Very unhealthy
Apr222Very unhealthy
May218Very unhealthy
Jun139Unhealthy
Jul136Unhealthy
Aug169Very unhealthy
Sep133Unhealthy
Oct167Very unhealthy
Nov145Unhealthy
Dec125Unhealthy
Location & terrain

Where is Dunhuang?

Dunhuang sits at 40.2°N, 94.7°E, 1,131 m above sea level, in China. The nearest listed city is Jiayuguan, 309 km away.

JiayuguanTurpanAltaiUrumqiBogdHovdBayanhongorUliastay

Topography around Dunhuang

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Dunhuang.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Dunhuang has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 31 m around an average of 1,129 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 582 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,435 m.

The land around Dunhuang is covered by cropland (54%) within 3 km, bare terrain (56%) and cropland (31%) within 16 km, and bare terrain (95%) within 80 km.

3 km
31 m
16 km
582 m
80 km
3,435 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrain
August weather nearby: Jiayuguan 309 km · Turpan 552 km · Altai 702 km · Urumqi 711 km · Bogd 792 km · Hovd 806 km · Bayanhongor 829 km · Uliastay 860 km

China travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / I
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 47% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$13,862
2025
Happiness
6.1 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
0.5
per 100k, 2020
Road deaths
17.4
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 464
Religion
unaffiliated 52%folk religion 22%Buddhist 18%Christian 5%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Dunhuang (40.1667°, 94.6833°, elevation 1,131 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).