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Mongolia lies right between the southern edge of eternal glaciers and northernmost boundaries of deserts, a landlocked expanse surrounded by Russia and China. The high central Asian mountain ranges surrounding Mongolia on practically all sides form a formidable barrier against the humid masses of air moving from the Atlantic and the Pacific, thus establishing a predominantly continental climate. The long distance from the seas and the considerable elevation above sea level makes the climate very dry. Mongolia is a remarkably sunny country, enjoying 260 sunny days a year, often with clear cloudless skies.

Summer is the warmest season in Mongolia, lasting from J68-une to August. Summer also marks the beginning of the rainy season, bringing with it almost 70% of Mongolia's annual precipitation. Rains, often just afternoon showers, rarely last for more than 2-3 days, and mostly occur in mid to late July and early August.

Temperature fluctuations are relatively small in summer, usually within 10 degrees. Average temperatures in summer are 20C-25C (68-77F) in Gobi Desert region, and 15C -20C (59-68F) in mountain areas, though in such high mountain as Altai, Khuvsgul, Khentii and Khangai it may be around 15C (59F). In July temperatures may reach 39C (102F), but this rarely lasts more than two weeks. The highest temperatures are in the Gobi Desert region, exceeding 40C (104F). Hot seasonal temperatures above 30C (86F) last for more than 40 days in Gobi region. But summer evenings can be cool because of Mongolia's high altitude. Winds are a regular feature of Mongolia, with rarely a day without a slow breeze. In summer, cool winds come mostly from north, northwest and west, bringing with them some relief from the summer heat. The barometric pressure is lowest in July, when it falls down to 779- 900 bar as compared to 1041 ml/bar in Ulaanbaatar in winter.

Mongolian Winter is long and cold with temperatures often below -30C (-22F). Despite these temperatures, the blue winter sky often makes it feel warmer. There is very little snowfall but it and ice can remain for several weeks at a time. In Ulaanbaatar it is usually around -20C (-4F), but in some regions, for instance in the northern part of the Khuvsgul aimag, the temperature drops to between 45C and 52C below zero (-49F-62F). The global warming has had its effects on Mongolia. Experts say that average annual temperatures have raised by 1-2 degrees, making winter milder and summers hotter.

For up-to-date reports on the weather in Mongolia, visit http://www.wunderground.com/global/MO.html or specifically Ulaanbaatar, http://www.weather.com/cities/mg__ulan_bator.html or http://cnn.com/WEATHER/html/UlaanBaatarMongolia.html

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