Xinjiang Weather in January

What is the weather like in Xinjiang in January? The key words are cold and dry. 
 

Cold Xinjiang in January

January marks the coldest month of Xinjiang. Besides, northern Xinjiang is much colder than southern Xinjiang.

If you come from a tropical region, you will find the chill of northern Xinjiang unbearable the moment you step off the plane. Take Urumqi and Altay as examples: in January, even during the warmest period of the day, the temperature rarely climbs above 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). The daily low temperature of Urumqi typically hovers around -10°C (14°F), but it can sometimes drop to around -20°C (-4°F). In Altay, the daily low is around -20°C (-4°F), with the coldest days potentially reaching -30°C (-22°F) or below.

In comparison, temperature in southern Xinjiang is milder. Taking Kashgar as an example, its daily highs typically reach around 0°C (32°F), while daily lows are around -10°C (14°F).
 Precipitation is scarce throughout Xinjiang in January. So the chances for you to encounter snowy days while traveling to Xinjiang this month are low. However, it doesn’t mean you have no chance to appreciate for snowy landscapes, especially in northern Xinjiang - after months of accumulation of snow, areas like Altay have thick enough snow cover in January, becoming dreamlike white wonderlands.

Due to low precipitation, the weather of Xinjiang tends to be dry. Combined with the use of heating equipment, indoor places may be even drier.

Snowy Day of Xinjiang

 On average, the daytime is around 9-10 hours this month. In most places, the sun rises late at around 09:30-10:00 and sets at around 19:00-20:00. Sunshine hours are approximately 5-6. Don’t assume you can skip sun protection just because it’s winter: UV rays remain strong at this time in Xinjiang due to the thin cloud cover.