The climate of Sakhalin. Factors affecting the seasonality of the weather

The largest island in Russia, Sakhalin, is located off the east coast of Asia. Its shores are washed by the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan, the Tatar Strait separates the territory from the mainland, the southern and middle parts are rich in large bays, and from the eastern outskirts, characterized by a flat coastline, numerous rivers leave the sea in deep valleys. All these factors largely determine the climate of Sakhalin.

Features of the microclimate in different parts of the island

It is not surprising that in different parts of Sakhalin there is a special microclimate and a different temperature regime, because the territory of the island occupies a huge area - 76,400 km². Despite the severity of the climate, yet Sakhalin refers to the zone of monsoons of temperate latitudes.

It is the coldest in Poronaisk, Tymovsk and Okhinsky areas, where winter temperatures drop to -40-50 ° С. But in summer there is a real heat here: the thermometer can display +35 ° С.

In the north of Sakhalin, the average January temperature is -16 ... -24 ° C, in the south-from -8 to -18 ° C. August, which is the warmest month of the year, warms the northern territories to +12 ... + 17 ° C, and southern Sakhalin spoils the island's inhabitants with weather up to +16 ... +18 ° С.

Seasonal weather

Snowy Sakhalin winter lasts a long time and is accompanied by frequent snowstorms and snowstorms. The weather in Sakhalin in the winter months is severe. The island literally floods with tons of snow, which are brought one after the other cyclones. These periods can be accompanied by winds of hurricane force with powerful gusts up to 40 m / sec. The average January temperature varies from -23 ° C in the north-west and in the interior of the island to -8 ° C in the southeast.

A prolonged and rather cold spring envelops the island with fogs and unexpected snowfalls, which sometimes happen even during flowering of vegetation.

The summer of Sakhalin is very short and cool, accompanied by endless rains. This is due to the movement of ice from the Sea of Okhotsk along the east coast to the south. The average temperature in August ranges from +13 ° C in the north to +18 ° C in the southern regions.

If we talk about the most pleasant and warm season on the island, then this is the golden autumn. Soft sunny weather pleases residents and visitors of the island and disposes to rest. Surprise can only short-term August frosts, which sometimes happen in the valley of the Tymi River, as well as powerful squall winds that cause a violent storm. Here is such a shrewd weather on Sakhalin.

Precipitation mode

The climate of Sakhalin is quite wet, with a third of all precipitation occurring in the cold season in the form of heavy snowfalls.

In different areas of the island, the amount of rain and snow varies: the annual precipitation in the northern territories is 500-600 mm, in the valleys of the central part - 800-900 mm, and in the mountains of the southern regions - 1000-1200 mm.

Wind Mode

In winter, strong and cold, mainly northern and northwestern winds blow on Sakhalin. Moreover, they are the strongest on the northern extremity of the island, together with the parts of the land that protrude into the sea. Here the wind speed reaches 7-10 meters per second. Slightly weaker on the western coast of the island - 5-7 m / sec, and moderate in the east (3-5 m / sec) and in the Tymovskaya Valley (1.5-3.0 m / sec). For the summer period, a south or south-easterly wind of medium speeds is typical, which varies from 2 to 6 m / sec.

The climate of Sakhalin is strongly influenced by the combination of low-temperature regime and wind regime in winter, because this is what determines the severe weather conditions of the island.

Climatic areas

Monsoon type of climate of Sakhalin and a multi-kilometer meridional length conditionally divide the island into several climatic regions. Of these, the most comfortable for human life are the West Coast and the Western Sakhalin Mountains, the central part of the Tymovskaya Valley, where weak winds prevail and a large number of sunny days a year.

In addition, the most developed territory is southern Sakhalin, more than other areas adapted for living, recreation in the warm season, as well as agriculture.

Factors affecting the climate of the island

The climate of Sakhalin is primarily affected by the geographical position of the island between 46 ° and 54 ° N. The Siberian anticyclone dictates winter weather with strong frosts. This is especially evident in the central part with a temperate continental climate. Cyclones from the south can bring powerful storms that significantly increase the snow cover in the southern regions.

The monsoon climate, warm and humid in summer, is explained by the geographic location of the island between the Pacific Ocean and the continent of Eurasia. And the mountains determine the speed and direction of the winds, protecting the lowlands and the west coast from the cold air currents from the Sea of Okhotsk. Spring on Sakhalin is protracted, and autumn is warm.

In summer, the warm Tsushima Current of the Sea of Japan creates a contrast between the western and eastern coasts. This is also the reason why the warmest month of the year is August, and the coldest month is February.

In general, this beautiful land is surprised not only by the landscape and natural beauties, but also by the harsh climate and the inhomogeneous temperature regime.