51-year-old temperature record broken in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz – In January 2026, new temperature highs were recorded in Kazakhstan, including the breaking of a record that had stood for 51 years. The abnormal warmth was followed by severe frosts, which highlighted the sharp contrast of this winter’s weather.

Abnormal warmth and new record highs

According to Kazhydromet meteorologists, the first ten days of January across the country, as well as the beginning of the second ten-day period in the south, were marked by above-normal temperatures. As warm air masses moved in from Central Asia, historic maximum temperatures were renewed in several regions.

On 11 January in Karaganda, the air temperature reached +5.5 °C. This exceeded the previous 2016 high by 1.5 degrees.

In Shymkent, temperatures rose to +17.4 °C, higher than the 1987 record (+17.3 °C). In Taraz, +19.3 °C was recorded — significantly above the previous maximum in 1999 (+14.2 °C).

On 12 January in Aktau, the air warmed to +13.4 °C, beating the 2025 record (+9.7 °C). In Karaganda that day, +1.2 °C was recorded, above the 1975 figure (+1.0 °C). Thus, a 51-year-old temperature record was broken.

In Semey, the temperature reached +1.5 °C, also higher than the 1975 value (+1.0 °C). In Ust-Kamenogorsk, the air warmed to +4.4 °C, exceeding the 1987 record (+3.4 °C).

On 13 January in Turkistan, +16.8 °C was recorded — above the 1986 maximum (+11.3 °C).

Frosts down to -42 °C

At the same time, in the northern half of the country, the arrival of cold air masses from the Novaya Zemlya area caused temperatures to drop sharply.

At night, thermometers fell to -30…-38 °C. In East Kazakhstan Region and Abai Region, frosts reached -40 °C. At the Markakol weather station, -42.6 °C was recorded.

Situation in Astana

In Astana, the average January temperature was -14.3 °C, with a norm of -14.5 °C. The monthly maximum was recorded on 11 January at +1.6 °C. The coldest day was 17 January, when the temperature dropped to -28.3 °C.

A total of 23 millimetres of precipitation fell during the month, which is 128 percent of the norm (18 millimetres).