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Afghanistan

Mazar-i-Sharif

City break

Mazar-i-Sharif at a glance

Best time
Apr, Oct
Warmest month
Jul · 38°
Sunshine a year
2,900 h
Rain a year
255 mm
Climate
Temperate
Time zone
UTC+4:30
Elevation
361 m

Climate in Mazar-i-Sharif

Mazar-i-Sharif 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 10 °C. With around 2,900 hours of sunshine a year, Mazar-i-Sharif is sunny; July is the sunniest month with 11.6 hours a day.

Holiday weather through the year

Your holiday weather, at a glance

Weather in October

96

Holiday weather in October

Excellent

Best time to visit: April, October

Good forSightseeing & walks

A typical day in October

  1. Morning, 08:00: about 16°
  2. Midday, 13:00: about 24°
  3. Afternoon, 16:00: about 22°
  4. Evening, 20:00: about 17°
  5. Night, 23:00: about 15°

06:0817:27

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 05:52–06:43 · evening 16:52–17:43
Blue hour
Morning 05:42–05:52 · 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 Mazar-i-Sharif in October?

In October, Mazar-i-Sharif is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °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 Mazar-i-Sharif.

More details for October

Daylight
11 h 19 min06:08 – 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

Sunshine hours in Mazar-i-Sharif

Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
2,900 hours
Sunniest month
Jul · 11.6 h a day
Least sunshine
Jan · 5.0 h a day
OctoberSunshine 7.7 hDaylight 11.3 hShare of daylight 68 %
SunshineDaylight

In October, the sun shines for about 7.7 of 11.3 hours of daylight in Mazar-i-Sharif, 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.

Sun protection

UV index in Mazar-i-Sharif

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 45 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

Rain in Mazar-i-Sharif: 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.

Per year
255 mm on 49 days
Wettest month
Mar · 53 mm
Driest month
Aug · 0 mm
OctoberRainy days 2Rainfall 7 mm

In October, Mazar-i-Sharif has about 2 rainy days with 7 mm of rain in total.

Wind & clouds

Wind and clouds in Mazar-i-Sharif

How breezy and how cloudy Mazar-i-Sharif 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.

Year average
13 km/h · light breeze
Windiest month
Mar · 15 km/h
Calmest month
Sep · 11 km/h
OctoberWind 12 km/hBeaufort 3

In October, the wind in Mazar-i-Sharif 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.

Year average
31 % · mostly sunny
Clearest month
Aug · 3 %
Cloudiest month
Mar · 56 %
OctoberCloud cover 19 %Sunshine 7.7 h

In October, cloud covers on average 19 % of the sky over Mazar-i-Sharif: 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 & humidity

Heat and humidity in Mazar-i-Sharif

How often the day gets hot in Mazar-i-Sharif (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.

Hot days a year
136 days
Hottest month
Jul · 38 °C
Hot months
May – Sep

Heat calendar

  • pleasant
  • some hot or muggy days
  • often muggy
  • often hot
  • hot and muggy
OctoberHot days (30 °C+) 2Day high 24 °C

In October, Mazar-i-Sharif 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

Snow in Mazar-i-Sharif

Snow is possible in Mazar-i-Sharif, 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 days a year
6 days
Fresh snow a year
19 cm
Snow possible
Jan – Feb

Snow calendar

  • hardly any
  • possible
  • likely
  • very likely
OctoberDays with fresh snow 0Fresh snow 0 cmChance of snow 0 / 100

In October, it hardly ever snows in Mazar-i-Sharif.

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.

Best time to visit

Nights and sleep in Mazar-i-Sharif

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 12°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.

The coolest nights are in January (0°), the warmest in July (25°). 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.

OctoberDay 24°Night 12°
DayNight
MonthScoreDayNightSunRain daysRain mm
JanuaryJan3810°0°5.0 h737
FebruaryFeb4912°2°5.4 h946
MarchMar8018°7°6.2 h953
AprilApr9225°12°7.8 h639
MayMay7531°17°9.3 h316
JuneJun5036°22°11.1 h12
JulyJul5038°25°11.6 h00
AugustAug5036°23°10.9 h00
SeptemberSep7531°17°9.6 h01
OctoberOct9624°12°7.7 h27
NovemberNov7516°6°5.6 h628
DecemberDec4911°2°5.0 h626

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

36.71° N, 67.11° E · 361 m · Asia/Kabul

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Mazar-i-Sharif

The best time to visit Mazar-i-Sharif 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.

Mazar-i-Sharif through the seasons

How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.

Mazar-i-Sharif in spring

Mar – May

82

Excellent

  • 18–31 °C by day
  • 8 h of sun a day
  • 19 rainy days in all

Mazar-i-Sharif in summer

Jun – Aug

50

Fair

  • 36–38 °C by day
  • 11 h of sun a day
  • 1 rainy days in all

Mazar-i-Sharif in autumn

Sep – Nov

82

Excellent

  • 16–31 °C by day
  • 8 h of sun a day
  • 8 rainy days in all

Mazar-i-Sharif in winter

Dec – Feb

45

Fair

  • 10–12 °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 Mazar-i-Sharif for you.

Sunshine
Little rain

Your best months: April, October

Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.

Compare two months in Mazar-i-Sharif

Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.

vs.

October and April bring similar holiday weather to Mazar-i-Sharif (score 96 and 92). In April, days are 1 °C warmer than in October. April has 4 more rainy days.

October vs. April, Mazar-i-Sharif
MonthOctoberApril
Weather score96better92
Day high24°25°
Night low12°12°
Sunshine7.7 h7.8 h
Rainy days2better6
Rainfall7 mmbetter39 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

Mazar-i-Sharif month by month

The typical weather for every month at a glance.

38January10° · 5 h

In January, Mazar-i-Sharif is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 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 Mazar-i-Sharif.

Mazar-i-Sharif in January
49February12° · 5 h

In February, Mazar-i-Sharif 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 Mazar-i-Sharif.

Mazar-i-Sharif in February
80March18° · 6 h

In March, Mazar-i-Sharif 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 an excellent month for a holiday in Mazar-i-Sharif.

Mazar-i-Sharif in March
92April25° · 8 h

In April, Mazar-i-Sharif 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 Mazar-i-Sharif.

Mazar-i-Sharif in April
75May31° · 9 h

In May, Mazar-i-Sharif 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 Mazar-i-Sharif.

Mazar-i-Sharif in May
50June36° · 11 h

In June, Mazar-i-Sharif 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 Mazar-i-Sharif.

Mazar-i-Sharif in June
50July38° · 12 h

In July, Mazar-i-Sharif is very hot: daytime highs average 38 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °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 Mazar-i-Sharif.

Mazar-i-Sharif in July
50August36° · 11 h

In August, Mazar-i-Sharif is very hot: daytime highs average 36 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °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 Mazar-i-Sharif.

Mazar-i-Sharif in August
75September31° · 10 h

In September, Mazar-i-Sharif 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 Mazar-i-Sharif.

Mazar-i-Sharif in September
96October24° · 8 h

In October, Mazar-i-Sharif is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °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 Mazar-i-Sharif.

Mazar-i-Sharif in October
75November16° · 6 h

In November, Mazar-i-Sharif is mild: 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 Mazar-i-Sharif.

Mazar-i-Sharif in November
49December11° · 5 h

In December, Mazar-i-Sharif is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °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 Mazar-i-Sharif.

Mazar-i-Sharif in December
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Mazar-i-Sharif compared

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Mazar-i-Sharif vs. Balkh

In October the holiday weather in Mazar-i-Sharif and Balkh is about equally good (score 96 vs. 96). During the day it is about as warm in Balkh as in Mazar-i-Sharif.

Mazar-i-Sharif vs. Balkh, in October
in OctoberMazar-i-SharifBalkh
Holiday score9696
Daytime high24°24°
Sunshine8 h8 h
Rainy days22
Best timeApr, OctApr, Oct

Through the year

OctoberMazar-i-Sharif 24°Balkh 24°
Mazar-i-SharifBalkh
Go to Balkh
Ranking

Afghanistan in October: the best places

In October, Mazar-i-Sharif ranks 2 of 6 destinations in this country.

  1. Herat25°97
  2. 2Mazar-i-SharifThis page24°96
  3. 3Balkh24°96
  4. 4Kabul21°95
  5. 5Kandahar28°92
  6. 6Jalalabad28°90
All destinations: Afghanistan

Planning a trip to Mazar-i-Sharif

Weather for your travel dates

Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.

Mazar-i-Sharif 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.

Mazar-i-Sharif has its best school-holiday weather during October half-term (score 96) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 44).

  • Easter holidays

    Mar – Apr

    88

    Excellent

    • 23 °C by day
    • 7.3 h of sun a day
    • 7 rainy days a month

    Good for: Sightseeing & walks

  • May half-term

    May – Jun

    70

    Good

    • 32 °C by day
    • 9.7 h of sun a day
    • 3 rainy days a month
  • Summer holidays

    Jul – Aug

    50

    Fair

    • 36 °C by day
    • 11.1 h of sun a day
    • 0 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Peak heat

  • October half-term

    Oct

    96

    ExcellentBest holidays

    • 24 °C by day
    • 7.7 h of sun a day
    • 2 rainy days a month

    Good for: Sightseeing & walks

  • Christmas holidays

    Dec – Jan

    44

    Fair

    • 11 °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 5 min
Distance
5,430 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 Mazar-i-Sharif

When is the best time to visit Mazar-i-Sharif?

The best time to visit Mazar-i-Sharif 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 Mazar-i-Sharif?

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 38 °C and nights around 25 °C. January is the coolest month at 10 °C.

When does it rain most in Mazar-i-Sharif?

The wettest month is March with 53 mm of precipitation. The driest month is August with 0 mm.

How many hours of sunshine does Mazar-i-Sharif get?

Mazar-i-Sharif gets around 2,900 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 11.6 hours a day; in January there are 5.0 hours a day.

What time zone is Mazar-i-Sharif in?

Mazar-i-Sharif uses the time zone Asia/Kabul, at UTC+4:30 all year.

How long is the flight from London to Mazar-i-Sharif?

A nonstop flight from London to Mazar-i-Sharif takes about 7 h 5 min, for a straight-line distance of about 5,430 km.

Which school holidays are best for Mazar-i-Sharif?

Mazar-i-Sharif has its best school-holiday weather during October half-term (score 96) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 44). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 88, May half-term 70, Summer holidays 50, October half-term 96, Christmas holidays 44.

Near Mazar-i-Sharif

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Places with a climate like Mazar-i-Sharif

Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Mazar-i-Sharif's – good alternatives.

  1. 81% similar98BukharaUzbekistan23°Best time: Mar – Apr, Oct
  2. 81% similar97AshgabatTurkmenistan23°Best time: Apr – May, Sep – Oct
  3. 80% similar97HeratAfghanistan25°Best time: Mar – Apr, Oct – Nov
  4. 77% similar93AleppoSyria27°Best time: Mar – May, Oct – Nov