Kara-Kul’ weather in January

In January, Kara-Kul’ sees average daytime highs of -3°C and overnight lows near -8°C, with 48 mm of precipitation across 9.4 wet days and about 9.3 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near -3°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 8% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 hours at the start of January to 9 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Kara-Kul’'s 12th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Kara-Kul’'s year-round climate.

Daytime high
-3°
12th warmest
Overnight low
-8°
1st coldest
Precipitation
48 mm
9.4 wet days
Daylight
9 h 18 min
8:40 AM – 5:58 PM
Cloud cover
78%
12th clearest
Wind
3 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
2.14 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Kara-Kul’ is city in Kyrgyzstan.

Density
26/km²
people per km²

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near -3°C through the month.

A typical January day in Kara-Kul’ reaches about -3°C in the afternoon and slips back to -8°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -7°C and 0°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 2°C cooler than December and about 2°C cooler than February.

-15°-10°-5°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
1-3-8
2-3-8
3-3-8
4-3-8
5-3-8
6-3-8
7-3-8
8-3-8
9-3-8
10-3-8
11-3-9
12-3-9
13-3-9
14-3-9
15-3-9
16-3-9
17-3-9
18-3-9
19-3-9
20-3-9
21-3-9
22-3-9
23-3-8
24-3-8
25-3-8
26-3-8
27-3-8
28-3-8
29-3-8
30-3-8
31-3-8

How January really feels in Kara-Kul’

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 31 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
31
wind chill below the day's low

The story in January is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Kara-Kul’ weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan-3° / -8°489.4119.30.0
Feb-1° / -7°6810.611.510.30.0
Mar / -2°9413.210.711.70.1
Apr11° / 15515.53.213.12.3
May17° / 21018.90.314.34.3
Jun20° / 11°19517.10155.4
Jul22° / 13°17817014.75.9
Aug22° / 13°15615013.76.3
Sep18° / 14015.1012.35.4
Oct12° / 10412.81.410.92.9
Nov / -2°78116.59.70.3
Dec-1° / -7°629.810.790.0

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 8% of the time in January, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 76%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12080
22080
32080
42179
52179
62179
72179
82179
92179
102278
112377
122377
132476
142476
152476
162575
172575
182575
192575
202575
212773
222773
232773
242872
252872
262872
272872
282872
292872
302773
312773

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitationSnow

Kara-Kul’ gets around 48 mm of rain and snow over 9.4 wet days in January, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 31% and peaks near 36% on the wettest days, and about 11 days bring snow. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12732
22732
32732
42732
52732
62733
72833
82834
92935
103035
113036
123136
133136
143136
153136
163137
173237
183237
193237
203237
213337
223337
233337
243337
253337
263438
273438
283538
293539
303539
313640

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, January lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

Wind in January

Winds average 3 km/h in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 3 km/h on the calmest days to 3 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
13calm
23calm
33calm
43calm
53calm
63calm
73calm
83calm
93calm
103calm
113calm
123calm
133calm
143calm
153calm
163calm
173calm
183calm
193calm
203calm
213calm
223calm
233calm
243calm
253calm
263calm
273calm
283calm
293calm
303calm
313calm

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 hours at the start of January to 9 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 42 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 8:42 AM to 8:30 AM, and sunset from 5:43 PM to 6:15 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.08:425:43
29.08:425:44
39.18:425:45
49.18:425:46
59.18:425:47
69.18:425:48
79.18:425:48
89.18:425:49
99.18:425:50
109.28:415:51
119.28:415:52
129.28:415:53
139.28:415:54
149.28:405:55
159.38:405:56
169.38:405:58
179.38:395:59
189.38:396:00
199.48:386:01
209.48:386:02
219.48:376:03
229.58:376:04
239.58:366:05
249.58:366:07
259.58:356:08
269.68:346:09
279.68:336:10
289.68:336:11
299.78:326:13
309.78:316:14
319.78:306:15

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 2.14 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.77 kWh/m² to a high of 6.75 kWh/m² in July across the year — January's 2.14 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.9Dim
21.9Dim
31.9Dim
41.9Dim
51.9Dim
61.9Dim
72.0Dim
82.0Dim
92.0Dim
102.0Moderate
112.0Moderate
122.0Moderate
132.1Moderate
142.1Moderate
152.1Moderate
162.1Moderate
172.1Moderate
182.2Moderate
192.2Moderate
202.2Moderate
212.3Moderate
222.3Moderate
232.3Moderate
242.3Moderate
252.3Moderate
262.4Moderate
272.4Moderate
282.4Moderate
292.5Moderate
302.5Moderate
312.5Moderate
Planning a trip in January

Is January a good time to visit Kara-Kul’?

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

0.0
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

January is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Kara-Kul’.

What to pack for Kara-Kul’ in January

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

In January, Kara-Kul’ sees daytime highs around -3°C and nights near -8°C. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

UV index in Kara-Kul’ in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Kara-Kul’ peaks around May 20 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 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 highVery highHighModerateMay 20UV 10Dec 21UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb4Moderate
Mar5High
Apr7Very high
May11Extreme
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep7High
Oct5Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Kara-Kul’ in January

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in Kara-Kul’ is worst in May — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.6× the cleanest month (December, 4 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodMay 1720 µg/m³Dec 215 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan5Good
Feb7Good
Mar14Moderate
Apr18Moderate
May20Moderate
Jun19Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep14Moderate
Oct12Moderate
Nov7Good
Dec4Good
Location & terrain

Where is Kara-Kul’?

Kara-Kul’ sits at 41.6°N, 72.7°E, 942 m above sea level, in Kyrgyzstan. The nearest listed city is Toktogul, 35 km away.

MassyBazar-KorgonKochkor-AtaUchqŭrghon ShahriPaxtaobodJalal-Abad

Topography around Kara-Kul’

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Kara-Kul’.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Kara-Kul’ has very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,302 m around an average of 1,062 m above sea level; within 16 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,608 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,930 m.

The land around Kara-Kul’ is covered by grassland (77%) within 3 km, grassland (86%) within 16 km, and grassland (70%) within 80 km.

3 km
1,302 m
16 km
2,608 m
80 km
3,930 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainsnow and icewatermoss and lichen
January weather nearby: Toktogul 35 km · Tash-Kumyr 49 km · Massy 63 km · Bazar-Korgon 66 km · Kochkor-Ata 68 km · Uchqŭrghon Shahri 76 km · Paxtaobod 79 km · Jalal-Abad 81 km

Kyrgyzstan travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type C / F
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 33% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$3,081
2025
Happiness
6.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
74%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
1.7
per 100k, 2020
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
Very low
EF EPI 443
Religion
Muslim 90%Christian 7%other 3%

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 Kara-Kul’ (41.6283°, 72.6703°, elevation 942 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).