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The barrier of mountains in the south and east prevents the air from escaping from the country. That is why winters here are more severe than it is normal for
the latitude of subtropics. They have, in fact, more similarity with winters in Kazakhstan, which is located further to the north, in the climatic zone of moderate latitude.
The coldest month in Uzbekistan is January, when the temperature in the north can go down to minus eight, though in the extreme south, in the region of
Termez, temperatures are usually positive. The absolute temperature minimum in winter can be minus 35-38"C. For instance, the winter of 1993-94 was frosty, with much snow, and the
temperature in the Ustyurt Plateau went down to minus 33-35°C in February. It is worthwhile to note that during the same period (February 14- 16"C) the temperature in Yakutia, the
coldest region of the former Soviet Union, was similar. In the north of Uzbekistan, winter lasts almost five months, while in the valleys it lasts for just one and a half to two months.
The hottest month in summer is July and in the mountains it is July and August. In summer, the average temperature on the plains and in the foothills is plus
25-30"C, whilst in the south (Termez and Sherabad) it is up to 31 -32"C, with the absolute level of summer temperatures above 42"C. The maximum temperature of plus 50"
was registered in the city of Termez, Surkhandarya Region in July 1944. A temperature of 42-47"C is normal for all the plains and foothills of Uzbekistan. In the desert, during the hot
lest period, the temperature can rise to plus 70°C.
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