Afghanistan is situated in the interior of Asia, lying on the Iranian Plateau. It is a country land-locked on all sides and surrounded by the rough and rugged Hindu Kush Mountains. Afghanistan has the typical arid to the semi-arid climate of the Russian Steppes.
Afghanistan’s Weather is characterized by dry hot cloudless summers and severe winters. The areas lying in the northeastern part of the mountains experience sub-arctic conditions having dry, cold winters.
The Afghanistan weather is marked by great variance in temperatures from region to region. It is accompanied by huge differences in day and night temperatures and summer and winter temperatures. The drought-ridden regions of the southwestern plateau experience daytime temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius. Jalalabad is among the hottest places in the country recording a maximum temperature of 49 degrees Celsius in the month of July. January temperatures fall to -15°C or below in regions situated at high altitudes in the mountains.
There is a rise in the mean precipitation as one goes from the western side to the eastern side of the mountains, the average being 400mm in the southeastern monsoon areas. Mostly, the precipitation takes place from December to April. Highlands experience snowfall from December-March and the lowlands experience intermittent rainfall from December to May.
Kabul Weather: Kabul is situated at a height of 5900 feet above sea level. Kabul weather is characterized by summer temperatures varying from 16° C at sunrise to 38° C at noon. The average temperature in January is 0°C. Kabul has recorded the lowest temperature of -31 °C. Summers are accompanied by bright sunshine. The average rainfall varies from 25 cm to 30cm. Mostly the precipitation occurs in the form of snow in the winter and spring seasons. The snow stays for three months in Kabul forcing the people to stay indoors and sleep nearer to the kitchen stoves.
Bagram Weather, Kandahar Weather, Herat Weather: At Kandahar, during summer the days are scorching hot and the nights are of no relief either. On the other hand, Kabul is at least blessed with cool nights in summer. Herat experiences temperate summer temperatures with violent winds blowing from the northwest during May-September. The winters in the heart are not so severe with snow melting as it falls.
