August heat pushes 2024 summer into top three warmest on record in Uzbekistan

August, the last month of summer, has ended. This year, temperature patterns during the month were inconsistent.

The first half of August was very warm, with temperatures averaging 2–3.5°C above normal. During this period, daytime temperatures rose to +36–41°C, in the southern regions to +42–43°C, and on some days in the extreme south, temperatures reached +45°C.

The number of days with temperatures above +40°C in central and southern areas was higher than the average over the past 10 years, particularly in the far south of the country. However, no extreme temperature peaks were recorded in August.

In the second half of the month, a series of cool air masses moved over Uzbekistan, signaling the approach of autumn.

Across all regions of Uzbekistan, the temperature dropped to normal levels. Daytime temperatures generally ranged from +29–34°C, and in the south, +35–38°C. The coolest nights saw temperatures drop to +14–17°C.

The average monthly temperature in August was 1–2°C higher than the long-term average.

In most of Uzbekistan, August 2024 ranked among the top three warmest Augusts on record.

The month was dry, with rain occurring very rarely. Most areas experienced only 1–3 days of light rain, and the monthly precipitation ranged from 1–2 mm, while in the Andijan and Fergana regions, it was 3–5 mm, and in some areas of Karakalpakstan, it reached 9–10 mm.

In the foothills and mountainous regions of the republic, rain was also infrequent but more intense. Monthly rainfall ranged from 6–11 mm, with 19 mm recorded in the highlands of the Tashkent region and near the Kamchik Pass.

In the southern and southwestern regions of the country, there was no rain throughout the month.

During the month, wind speeds increased in certain areas, reaching 13–18 m/s, with gusts on the Ustyurt plateau reaching 20–25 m/s.

In the northern, southern, and desert zones, the strengthening winds were accompanied by dust storms, reducing visibility to 800 meters.

With the end of August, the summer season of 2024 concluded. This year, it was 1–2°C warmer than normal, and across most of Uzbekistan, it ranked among the top three warmest summer seasons on record, alongside the summers of 2021 and 2023.

All three months of the past summer were warmer than usual, with June being the warmest compared to the norm in most regions of the country. The average monthly temperature deviation in June was 2–2.5°C above normal.

Despite the overall warmth of the summer, the highest air temperatures throughout the season were far from record levels.

This fact, along with the absence of prolonged periods of extreme heat, allows for the assessment of the temperature regime of the 2024 summer season as relatively comfortable.