AI-generatedKunming at a glance
- Best time
- Feb – Apr, Nov
- Warmest month
- May · 24°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,240 h
- Rain a year
- 1,115 mm
- Climate
- Mountain
- Time zone
- UTC+8
- Elevation
- 1,895 m
Climate in Kunming
Kunming has a mountain climate: summers are fresh, winters cold and snowy. May is the warmest month with average highs of 24 °C, while December is the coolest at 14 °C. With around 2,240 hours of sunshine a year, Kunming is sunny; April is the sunniest month with 8.4 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: February – April, November
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 15°
- Midday, 13:00: about 19°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 19°
- Evening, 20:00: about 17°
- Night, 23:00: about 16°
07:0618:43
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 06:52–07:37 · evening 18:12–18:57
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:43–06:52 · evening 18:57–19:06
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 Kunming in October?
In October, Kunming is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 80 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Kunming.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 36 min07:06 – 18:43
- UV index
- 9 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 12 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 66 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
- Time zone
- UTC+8Asia/Shanghai
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %27 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %29 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Kunming
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 4.6 of 11.6 hours of daylight in Kunming, 40 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 4 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Kunming
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 9 · very highStay in the shade around midday; SPF 50, clothing, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 14).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 15 min
- Fair skin
- about 20 min
- Light brown skin
- about 25 min
- Olive skin
- about 35 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 Kunming: 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, Kunming has about 14 rainy days with 80 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Kunming
How breezy and how cloudy Kunming 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 Kunming 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 66 % of the sky over Kunming: mostly cloudy, with about 4.6 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 Kunming
How often the day gets hot in Kunming (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, Kunming has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 19 °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
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Kunming
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°
CoolOctober: nights around 14°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (7°), the warmest in July (18°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from April to September. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from December to January, 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 | 70 | 14° | 7° | 7.2 h | 5 | 31 |
| FebruaryFeb | 89 | 17° | 9° | 7.9 h | 4 | 23 |
| MarchMar | 94 | 21° | 12° | 8.2 h | 6 | 31 |
| AprilApr | 89 | 23° | 15° | 8.4 h | 8 | 60 |
| MayMay | 71 | 24° | 16° | 7.0 h | 14 | 121 |
| JuneJun | 56 | 24° | 18° | 4.9 h | 22 | 209 |
| JulyJul | 53 | 23° | 18° | 4.0 h | 24 | 205 |
| AugustAug | 55 | 23° | 18° | 4.6 h | 23 | 180 |
| SeptemberSep | 54 | 22° | 16° | 4.2 h | 18 | 119 |
| OctoberOct | 64 | 19° | 14° | 4.6 h | 14 | 80 |
| NovemberNov | 79 | 17° | 10° | 6.4 h | 7 | 33 |
| DecemberDec | 67 | 14° | 7° | 6.3 h | 5 | 22 |
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
25.04° N, 102.72° E · 1,895 m · Asia/Shanghai
Best time to visit Kunming
The best time to visit Kunming is from February to April and in November. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from February to April and in November. Rain is most frequent from May to October; the wettest month is June with 209 mm.
Kunming through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Kunming in spring
Mar – May
Excellent
- 21–24 °C by day
- 8 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days in all
Kunming in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 23–24 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 69 rainy days in all
Kunming in autumn
Sep – Nov
Good
- 17–22 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 39 rainy days in all
Kunming in winter
Dec – Feb
Good
- 14–17 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Kunming for you.
Your best months: March – April
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Kunming
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
March has the better holiday weather in Kunming: score 94 against 64. In March, days are 2 °C warmer than in October. March has 8 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 4 hours longer a day in March.
| Month | October | March |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 64 | 94better |
| Day high | 19° | 21° |
| Night low | 14° | 12° |
| Sunshine | 4.6 h | 8.2 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 14 | 6better |
| Rainfall | 80 mm | 31 mmbetter |
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
Feb – Apr, Nov
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
May – Oct
12 or more rainy days
Kunming month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
70January14° · 7 h
In January, Kunming is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 31 mm. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in Kunming.
Kunming in January89February17° · 8 h
In February, Kunming is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 23 mm in total. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Kunming.
Kunming in February94March21° · 8 h
In March, Kunming is mild: daytime highs average 21 °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 31 mm. All in all, March is an excellent month for a holiday in Kunming.
Kunming in March89April23° · 8 h
In April, Kunming is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 60 mm. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Kunming.
Kunming in April71May24° · 7 h
In May, Kunming is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 121 mm. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Kunming.
Kunming in May56June24° · 5 h
In June, Kunming is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 22 days, adding up to 209 mm. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Kunming.
Kunming in June53July23° · 4 h
In July, Kunming is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 24 days, adding up to 205 mm. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Kunming.
Kunming in July55August23° · 5 h
In August, Kunming is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 23 days, adding up to 180 mm. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Kunming.
Kunming in August54September22° · 4 h
In September, Kunming is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 119 mm. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Kunming.
Kunming in September64October19° · 5 h
In October, Kunming is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 80 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Kunming.
Kunming in October79November17° · 6 h
In November, Kunming is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 33 mm. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Kunming.
Kunming in November67December14° · 6 h
In December, Kunming is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 22 mm in total. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Kunming.
Kunming in DecemberKunming compared
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Kunming vs. Sa Pa
In October Kunming has the better holiday weather (score 64 vs. 55). During the day Sa Pa is 2 °C warmer than Kunming. Sa Pa gets one hour less sunshine a day.
| in October | Kunming | Sa Pa |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 64 | 55 |
| Daytime high | 19° | 21° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 14 | 17 |
| Best time | Feb – Apr, Nov | Feb – Mar, Nov – Dec |
Through the year
China in October: the best places
In October, Kunming ranks 26 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Shantou27°26°89
- 2Jinan21°89
- 3Quanzhou27°25°88
- 4Xiamen28°25°84
- 5Kaifeng22°84
- 6Zhengzhou22°83
- 7Nanjing22°82
- 8Hefei23°81
- 26KunmingThis page19°64
Planning a trip to Kunming
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Kunming 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.
Kunming has its best school-holiday weather during the Easter holidays (score 91) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 54).
- 91
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
ExcellentBest holidays
- 22 °C by day
- 8.3 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 68
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 24 °C by day
- 6.6 h of sun a day
- 16 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 54
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 23 °C by day
- 4.4 h of sun a day
- 23 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 64
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 19 °C by day
- 4.6 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 69
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Good
- 14 °C by day
- 6.8 h of sun a day
- 5 rainy days a month
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 11 h
- Distance
- 8,710 km
- Time zone
- UTC+8
- Jet lag
- About 7 days (7 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 Kunming
When is the best time to visit Kunming?
The best time to visit Kunming is from February to April and in November. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Kunming?
May is the warmest month, with average highs of 24 °C and nights around 16 °C. December is the coolest month at 14 °C.
When does it rain most in Kunming?
Rain is most frequent from May to October; the wettest month is June with 209 mm. The driest month is December with 22 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Kunming get?
Kunming gets around 2,240 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is April with 8.4 hours a day; in July there are 4.0 hours a day.
What time zone is Kunming in?
Kunming uses the time zone Asia/Shanghai, at UTC+8 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Kunming?
A nonstop flight from London to Kunming takes about 11 h, for a straight-line distance of about 8,710 km.
Which school holidays are best for Kunming?
Kunming has its best school-holiday weather during the Easter holidays (score 91) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 54). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 91, May half-term 68, Summer holidays 54, October half-term 64, Christmas holidays 69.
Near Kunming
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Kunming
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Kunming's – good alternatives.