The Weather and Climate

When we talk about weather and climate the most important thing is location. The high-mountain location of the lake Sevan basin influences the climate, which is cooler than other areas in Armenia. The climate is continental with hot, dry summers and cold winters.

 

The lake is surrounded by mountains so it has very long and cold winters. In January, the average air temperature is -9 C, and in July, it is + 16 C. The annual precipitation ranges between 500-600 mm.  

The coldest month is January, with the average daily temperature ranging between -13°C and 1°C.  The weather is usually windy, with an average speed of more than 4m/s, stronger during winter and weaker during spring and fall.It snows a lot during the month of January and sometimes cause the lake to freeze completely.  
 










(The lake during winter with large cumulonimbus clouds)

The hottest months are July and August with the temperatures ranging between 30°C and 35°C and the temperature of water reaches 18-20 С. The wettest months are from May and June and during those months it rains the most. So heavy rains lead to thunderstorms which are warm moist air rising quickly and forming large cumulonimbus clouds. The annual number of sunny hours vary from 2600-2800 depending on location. Annual precipitation ranges from 340 to 720mm and usually rains during the spring.

 

In autumn the huge clouds descending from the peaks of high mountains into the water surface make a striking sight. In sunny weather the Lake is light blue but in cloudy weather the clear blue turns into a hard metal. Its transparent waters are capable of changing color: when it is sunny it gets turquoise, in windy weather the water turns grey, at night – silvery.

(Lake during hot season)

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