Kazakhstan breaks 111-year heat record

An abnormal heat wave has broken a 111-year temperature record in Kazakhstan. July 2026 was the hottest July since 1915, according to Kazhydromet, Kazakhstan’s national meteorological service.

July was marked by extreme heat and record-breaking temperatures in several regions of the country. Throughout the month, temperatures across most of Kazakhstan were 1 to 4 degrees Celsius above normal.

• In Turkestan, temperatures climbed to 47.6 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record of 43.7 degrees set in 2019.
• In Shymkent, temperatures reached 45.2 degrees Celsius. Records dating back to 1915 were also broken on July 16 and 17, when temperatures reached 41.1 and 40.1 degrees Celsius, respectively.
• In Almaty, four temperature records were broken between July 16 and July 20. Temperatures reached 38 degrees Celsius on July 16, 39.2 degrees on July 17, 40 degrees on July 18 and 41.5 degrees on July 20.
• Astana recorded a temperature of 38.6 degrees Celsius on July 14.
• In Ust-Kamenogorsk, the temperature reached 39.7 degrees on July 16.
• In Kyzylorda, temperatures climbed to 45.2 degrees Celsius on July 17.

July was not only marked by extreme heat. Some regions also experienced precipitation levels several times above normal. In Zhetysay, Turkestan Region, monthly precipitation was 15 times higher than the long-term average.