Afghanistan Climate – June 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Kunduz
This month in numbers
Afghanistan experienced its warmest April–June period on record, with an average temperature of 20.74°C, marking an anomaly of +3.3°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. This ranks as the 1st warmest in 86 years of records. June 2026 alone saw an average temperature of 23.96°C, an anomaly of +1.4°C, making it the 15th warmest June on record. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest June for land temperatures, with an anomaly of +1°C, while the April–June period ranked as the 2nd warmest globally for land temperatures, also with an anomaly of +1°C.
What changed
The past three months (April–June 2026) have been exceptionally warm for Afghanistan, setting a new record for the warmest such period. This regional trend significantly outpaces the global land temperature anomaly for the same period, which was +1°C. Afghanistan's 3-month anomaly of +3.25°C places it 16th globally out of 234 regions for the warmest anomalies. This prolonged warmth follows a pattern of above-average temperatures seen throughout the year, with February, March, April, and May all recording positive anomalies.
What’s driving change?
The elevated temperatures in Afghanistan are being driven by a combination of factors, including the broader trend of and the influence of ENSO. A prolonged heatwave has been affecting South Asia since April 2026, with Afghanistan experiencing prolonged extreme heat, particularly in its southern regions. This heatwave is driven by strong high-pressure systems trapping hot air. Additionally, Afghanistan has been grappling with a severe and prolonged drought, with groundwater levels at record lows due to five consecutive years of drought, exacerbating the impact of high temperatures. The country has also experienced significant flash flooding across northern and north-eastern provinces since late May, affecting numerous families and resulting in fatalities. More information on extreme weather events can be found at Extreme Weather tracker.
Looking ahead
Above-average temperatures are forecast for July–September 2026, and strong El Niño conditions are expected to intensify through at least January 2027, typically bringing above-average precipitation to northern, central, and northeastern areas from October to April.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Afghanistan
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Afghanistan – Monthly Temperature – All Years
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Records – Afghanistan
Our World in Data / NOAA - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm/cold + wet/dryKöppen BSk · AridAfghanistan has both a clear warm/cold cycle (±13.5°C) and a wet/dry cycle (17× wet:dry ratio). Both sides of the annual rhythm are shown below.
Monthly rainfall climatology. A “wet month” exceeds the baseline monthly mean (dashed gold line). Biggest month-to-month shift: Nov (+9 mm, +63%).
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Rainfall & Precipitation
Rainfall & Rain Days – Totals
Headline: anomaly vs the 1961–1990 mean. Small figure: the actual value. Rank: position in the full record (1st = highest ever). Record: highest (or lowest) value on record with its year.
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
Data Sources
Data Sources for Afghanistan
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Afghanistan changing?
Afghanistan is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for Afghanistan come from?
Climate data for Afghanistan comes from Our World in Data, sourcing Copernicus ERA5 and HadCRUT5 (national temperature anomaly) and the Global Carbon Project via Our World in Data (CO₂ emissions), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Afghanistan climate data cover?
The Afghanistan climate profile covers Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif and surrounding areas. Temperature, rainfall and emissions data for Afghanistan
How often is the Afghanistan climate update refreshed?
The Afghanistan climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.