In Urumqi a semi-arid climate prevails, with very large differences between summer and winter, hot summers, with a July daily average of 23.7 °C (74.7 °F), and very cold winters, with a January daily average of -12.6 °C (9.3 °F). The annual average temperature is 6.90 °C (44.4 °F).

The city is semi-arid, with its summers slightly wetter than its winters, yet sunny weather is more likely in the warmer months, and relative humidity is the lowest during summer. Its annual precipitation is about 290 millimetres (11.4 in). Extreme temperatures have ranged from -41.5 °C (-43 °F) to 42.1 °C (108 °F).