Page 50 - Mongolia & the Gobi Desert

CLIMATE

Mongolia: Mongolia’s climate can be summed up in a few words: cold, dry, and windy
(winter) or hot, dry, and windy (summer). Of course there are seasons when the temperatures
vary, rain falls, and the wind stops, but since the country is completely landlocked, there is no
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Mongolia’s two main topographical features—its mountains and its deserts.

Mongolia is a four-season country. Spring is usually mid- or late-March through May.
Summer runs until August. Fall is brief—September and October—with winter sometimes
starting at the end of October, and sometimes holding out until November. Winter’s arrival
depends on your location; just like in the U.S., it arrives earlier in the north and in the
mountains.

Spring can be a tough season to predict because the weather is so changeable (freak
snowstorms have been known to occur as late as May). Summer is the warmest time of
year, with average highs in the 70s, but the Gobi Desert can hit 100°F and Ulaanbaatar can
sometimes get up to the low 90s. Despite these high daytime temperatures, keep in mind that
even in July and August, the nighttime lows can be a chilly 40°, especially in the mountains.
Summer is also usually the rainiest season, bringing color and life to the steppes. Many
parts of the country experience long daylight hours in the summer—in Ulaanbaatar sunset
can be as late as 9 or 10 pm. Fall brings moderate temperatures and, in the north, changing
colors on the trees. Winter is very cold, with frost and snow almost everywhere—even in the
Gobi Desert.

Lake Kohvsgol, Mongolia: By the mountains, the winters are harsh and frequently below
freezing. And even in the height of summer, it can be cool near the mountains, with
temperatures ranging from the 60s to the 40s. On the shores of Lake Khovsgol, the winter can
be just as harsh as in the mountains, but summer tends to be a bit more moderate as highs do
get into the 70s. On the other hand, summer can be more rainy here than in other parts of the
country. Despite being a desert, the Gobi is not always warm—the temperature drops sharply
at night even after warm summer days. However, the daytime temperatures can be extremely
high, especially in the summer.

Beijing, China: Beijing is considered to be in the North-Central region, where spring and
autumn are pleasantly warm, and summer hot and humid. Rain falls year-round. Winters
occasionally bring snow. Temperature-wise this region can be compared to the Northeast of
the U.S., similar to New York City or Boston.

Yunnan Province, China: This region is in southwest China, and borders Vietnam, Laos, and
Burma. The climate here is semitropical, comparable to the Gulf Coast of Florida. Summers
are very warm and humid. In fall temperatures are a bit lower, and usually the humidity has
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