AI-generatedBalkh at a glance
- Best time
- Apr, Oct
- Warmest month
- Jul · 38°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,910 h
- Rain a year
- 255 mm
- Climate
- Temperate
- Time zone
- UTC+4:30
- Elevation
- 348 m
Climate in Balkh
Balkh has a temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 38 °C, while January is the coolest at 9 °C. With around 2,910 hours of sunshine a year, Balkh is sunny; July is the sunniest month with 11.5 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: April, October
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 16°
- Midday, 13:00: about 24°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 22°
- Evening, 20:00: about 17°
- Night, 23:00: about 15°
06:0917:27
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:53–06:43 · evening 16:53–17:43
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:43–05:53 · evening 17:43–17:53
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Balkh in October?
In October, Balkh is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Balkh.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 19 min06:09 – 17:27
- UV index
- 5 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 12 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 19 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 2 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+4:30Asia/Kabul
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %78 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %100 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- A jumper for the evenings
Sunshine hours in Balkh
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 7.7 of 11.3 hours of daylight in Balkh, 68 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Balkh
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 5 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 11).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 25 min
- Fair skin
- about 35 min
- Light brown skin
- about 50 min
- Olive skin
- about 60 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Balkh: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Balkh has about 2 rainy days with 7 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Balkh
How breezy and how cloudy Balkh is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Balkh typically peaks at 12 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 19 % of the sky over Balkh: mostly clear, with about 7.7 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Balkh
How often the day gets hot in Balkh (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Balkh has about 2 hot days, with an average daytime high of 24 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Snow in Balkh
Snow is possible in Balkh, but no month makes it likely: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, it hardly ever snows in Balkh.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Balkh
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
CoolOctober: nights around 11°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (0°), the warmest in July (24°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from June to August; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in May and in September. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to March, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 36 | 9° | 0° | 5.0 h | 7 | 37 |
| FebruaryFeb | 47 | 12° | 2° | 5.4 h | 9 | 46 |
| MarchMar | 79 | 18° | 7° | 6.2 h | 9 | 53 |
| AprilApr | 92 | 25° | 12° | 7.9 h | 6 | 39 |
| MayMay | 75 | 31° | 17° | 9.3 h | 3 | 16 |
| JuneJun | 50 | 36° | 22° | 11.1 h | 1 | 2 |
| JulyJul | 50 | 38° | 24° | 11.5 h | 0 | 0 |
| AugustAug | 50 | 36° | 22° | 10.9 h | 0 | 0 |
| SeptemberSep | 76 | 31° | 17° | 9.7 h | 0 | 1 |
| OctoberOct | 96 | 24° | 11° | 7.7 h | 2 | 7 |
| NovemberNov | 73 | 16° | 6° | 5.7 h | 6 | 28 |
| DecemberDec | 47 | 11° | 1° | 5.0 h | 6 | 26 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
36.76° N, 66.90° E · 348 m · Asia/Kabul
Best time to visit Balkh
The best time to visit Balkh is in April and in October. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from March to April and from October to November. From June to August it can get very hot, with highs of up to 38 °C. The wettest month is March with 53 mm of precipitation.
Balkh through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Balkh in spring
Mar – May
Excellent
- 18–31 °C by day
- 8 h of sun a day
- 19 rainy days in all
Balkh in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 36–38 °C by day
- 11 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy days in all
Balkh in autumn
Sep – Nov
Excellent
- 16–31 °C by day
- 8 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days in all
Balkh in winter
Dec – Feb
Fair
- 9–12 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 22 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Balkh for you.
Your best months: April, October
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Balkh
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
October and April bring similar holiday weather to Balkh (score 96 and 92). In April, days are 1 °C warmer than in October. April has 4 more rainy days.
| Month | October | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 96better | 92 |
| Day high | 24° | 25° |
| Night low | 11° | 12° |
| Sunshine | 7.7 h | 7.9 h |
| Rainy days | 2better | 6 |
| Rainfall | 7 mmbetter | 39 mm |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Mar – Apr, Oct – Nov
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Peak heat
Jun – Aug
Highs of 33 °C or more
Balkh month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
36January9° · 5 h
In January, Balkh is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (0 °C). Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 37 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Balkh.
Balkh in January47February12° · 5 h
In February, Balkh is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 46 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, February is a so-so month for a holiday in Balkh.
Balkh in February79March18° · 6 h
In March, Balkh is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 53 mm in total. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Balkh.
Balkh in March92April25° · 8 h
In April, Balkh is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 39 mm. On about 5 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Balkh.
Balkh in April75May31° · 9 h
In May, Balkh is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 16 mm in total. On about 20 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Balkh.
Balkh in May50June36° · 11 h
In June, Balkh is very hot: daytime highs average 36 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 29 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Balkh.
Balkh in June50July38° · 12 h
In July, Balkh is very hot: daytime highs average 38 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. With around 12 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 31 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Balkh.
Balkh in July50August36° · 11 h
In August, Balkh is very hot: daytime highs average 36 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 30 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Balkh.
Balkh in August76September31° · 10 h
In September, Balkh is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 18 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Balkh.
Balkh in September96October24° · 8 h
In October, Balkh is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Balkh.
Balkh in October73November16° · 6 h
In November, Balkh is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 28 mm. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Balkh.
Balkh in November47December11° · 5 h
In December, Balkh is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 26 mm. All in all, December is a so-so month for a holiday in Balkh.
Balkh in DecemberBalkh compared
Put Balkh side by side with another destination.
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Balkh vs. Mazar-i-Sharif
In October the holiday weather in Balkh and Mazar-i-Sharif is about equally good (score 96 vs. 96). During the day it is about as warm in Mazar-i-Sharif as in Balkh.
| in October | Balkh | Mazar-i-Sharif |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 96 | 96 |
| Daytime high | 24° | 24° |
| Sunshine | 8 h | 8 h |
| Rainy days | 2 | 2 |
| Best time | Apr, Oct | Apr, Oct |
Through the year
Afghanistan in October: the best places
In October, Balkh ranks 2 of 6 destinations in this country.
- Herat25°97
- 2BalkhThis page24°96
- 3Mazar-i-Sharif24°96
- 4Kabul21°95
- 5Kandahar28°92
- 6Jalalabad28°90
Planning a trip to Balkh
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Balkh in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Balkh has its best school-holiday weather during October half-term (score 96) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 42).
- 88
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Excellent
- 23 °C by day
- 7.4 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 70
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 32 °C by day
- 9.7 h of sun a day
- 3 rainy days a month
- 50
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 36 °C by day
- 11.1 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Peak heat
- 96
October half-term
Oct
ExcellentBest holidays
- 24 °C by day
- 7.7 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 42
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Fair
- 10 °C by day
- 5.0 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 7 h
- Distance
- 5,410 km
- Time zone
- UTC+4:30
- Jet lag
- About 4 days (4 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Balkh
When is the best time to visit Balkh?
The best time to visit Balkh is in April and in October. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Balkh?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 38 °C and nights around 24 °C. January is the coolest month at 9 °C.
When does it rain most in Balkh?
The wettest month is March with 53 mm of precipitation. The driest month is August with 0 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Balkh get?
Balkh gets around 2,910 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 11.5 hours a day; in January there are 5.0 hours a day.
What time zone is Balkh in?
Balkh uses the time zone Asia/Kabul, at UTC+4:30 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Balkh?
A nonstop flight from London to Balkh takes about 7 h, for a straight-line distance of about 5,410 km.
Which school holidays are best for Balkh?
Balkh has its best school-holiday weather during October half-term (score 96) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 42). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 88, May half-term 70, Summer holidays 50, October half-term 96, Christmas holidays 42.
Near Balkh
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Balkh
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Balkh's – good alternatives.