Average temperature in Irkutsk

Baikal is situated in central part of Euroasian continent and surrounding climate is sharply continental - cold winters, rather hot summers, low humidity; and Baikal lake close by with significant softening effect. Mean diurnal temperature varies from +22°C in July to -19°C in January. Per the last years rather seldom it lowers below -30 degrees, but it happens. In summer a column can rise up to +37°C.

Because of huge water volume Baikal freezes late. For instance, in the southern part the ice foot along the shoreline is formed in the beginning of December, closer to the outlet of Angara it is formed not earlier than mid-December. Water surface starts to freeze on the 2-nd - 3-d of January, and Baikal is completely covered with ice by the 7-10-th of January.