The climate of the Orenburg region has a pronounced continentality and is completely dependent on geographical location. Due to the considerable distance from the ocean, the mitigating effect of marine air masses is absent here. We will tell about all climatic features of the region in the article.
Temperature fluctuations
The continental climate of the Orenburg region determines the strong heating of the earth's surface during the day and during the warmer months, and therefore the summer in the region can be very hot, with droughts and dry winds. In turn, the rapid and strong cooling of the mainland at night and in the cold season makes winters very severe here, with strong blizzards and blizzards. High absolute amplitudes of fluctuations in temperature indicators, reaching 85-89 degrees, are noted.
Precipitation
Precipitation is unevenly distributed throughout the territory; they decrease from the northwestern part to the southeast. The maximum level that is observed on Mount Nakas, the highest point in the Orenburg region, is 550 millimeters per year. In summer, the highest annual rainfall occurs. This is mainly storm thunderstorms, which due to high temperatures are practically not absorbed into the ground and immediately evaporate. In this regard, there is a strong aridity of the climate of the Orenburg region. According to many years of observation, over the past hundred years, severe droughts in the south of the region occurred every three years.
Warm time
The hottest month is July with average temperatures +21 .. + 22 ° . On some days it can be very hot, the thermometer can show up to + 40 ° C. Severe droughts due to the prolonged absence of rain are sometimes accompanied by dust storms and dry winds. The climate features of the Orenburg region are such that the duration of summer here is 4.5 months. In the first half of autumn it is still warm, but there is a noticeable cooling at night.
Cold time
From mid-October, a sharp drop in temperatures begins, winter sets in, which lasts until the end of March. Snowfalls, blizzards and blizzards with strong gusts of wind - this is the climate in the Orenburg region in winter. The thickness of the snow cover can sometimes reach 110 cm. The soil freezes to a depth of more than 1 meter. Winter rains and thaws are possible under the influence of passing western and southern cyclones, as well as 40-degree frosts that bring Siberian anticyclones.
The average monthly temperature in January ranges from -11 to -14 ° C, and the maximum frost can reach -50 ° C. A short spring in the territory is accompanied by late frosts and sharp temperature drops from +15 degrees during the day to -12 at night. Snow lies until April, when, as a result of significant warming, its rapid melting begins, leading to strong spills of rivers and streams. The period of spring flood can be 15 days in the presence of high snow cover.
Wind and solar activity
In the region, winds blow almost constantly, the direction and speed of which is very variable. There are only 45 calm days in the year. The prevailing winter east and southwest winds can reach speeds of up to 30 m / s, forming strong snowstorms - snowstorms, characteristic of the Orenburg steppes. In summer, eastern and western winds blow with an average speed of not more than 4 m / s.
Also, the formation of climate in the Orenburg region is influenced by solar radiation. Its greatest number is observed in the south in June and July. In general, there are 292 clear days per year, which averages 2198 hours of sunshine.