In January 2026, new temperature maxima were recorded in Kazakhstan, while one of the records, which lasted 51 years, was exceeded. The winter month was marked by sharp contrasts.
The first decade of January throughout the country, as well as the beginning of the second decade in the south, took place against a background of elevated temperatures. With the removal of warm air masses from the regions of Central Asia, historical highs have been updated in a number of regions.
On January 11, the air temperature in Karaganda reached +5.5 °C, which is 1.5 degrees higher than the previous record in 2016. +17.4 °C was recorded in Shymkent, higher than the maximum of 1987 (+17.3 °C). In Taraz, the thermometer rose to +19.3 °C, significantly exceeding the previous record of 1999 (+14.2 °C).
On January 12, the air in Aktau warmed up to +13.4 °C, which is higher than the record value of 2025 (+9.7 °C). On the same day, +1.2 °C was registered in Karaganda — the indicator exceeded the maximum of 1975 (+1.0 °C), thereby updating the temperature record of 51 years ago. In Semey, the temperature was +1.5 °C, which is also higher than in 1975 (+1.0 °C). In Ust-Kamenogorsk, the air warmed up to +4.4 °C, exceeding the record of 1987 (+3.4 °C).
On January 13, Turkestan recorded +16.8 °C, higher than the 1986 maximum (+11.3 °C).
At the same time, a sharp drop in temperature occurred in the northern half of the country when cold air masses arrived from Novaya Zemlya. At night, the thermometer dropped to -30...-38 °C. In the East Kazakhstan region and the Abai region, frosts reached -40 °C. The Markakol weather station recorded -42.6 °C.
In Astana, the average January temperature was -14.3 °C with a climatic norm of -14.5 °C. The maximum temperature of the month was recorded on January 11 — +1.6 °C. The coldest day was on January 17th, when the temperature dropped to -28.3 °C.
23 mm of precipitation fell during the month, which is 128% of the norm (18 mm).
