Russia's largest island, 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 go into the sea along deep ravines. All these factors largely determine the climate of Sakhalin.
Features of the microclimate in various 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, Sakhalin still belongs to the monsoon zone of temperate latitudes.
It is coldest in Poronaysky, Tymovsky and Okha districts, where winter temperatures drop to -40-50 ° С. But in the summer there is real heat: the thermometer column can show +35 ° C.
In the north of Sakhalin, the average January temperature is -16 … -24 ° С, in the south - from -8 to -18 ° С. August, which is the warmest month of the year, warms up the northern territories to + 12 … + 17 ° С, and southern Sakhalin pampers the inhabitants of the island with the weather up to + 16 … + 18 ° С.
Seasonal weather
Snowy Sakhalin winter lasts a long time and is accompanied by frequent snowstorms and blizzards. The weather on Sakhalin in the winter months is severe. The island literally floods with tons of snow, which are brought one after another by cyclones. These periods can be accompanied by hurricane-force winds with powerful gusts of up to 40 m / s. The average January temperature varies from -23 ° C in the northwest and in the interior of the island to -8 ° C in the southeast.
A long and rather cold spring envelops the island with fogs and unexpected snowfalls, which sometimes occur even during periods of flowering vegetation.
Sakhalin's summer 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 of the year on the island, then this is a golden autumn. The mild sunny weather pleases the residents and guests of the island and offers relaxation. Only the short-term August frosts, which sometimes occur in the Tymy river valley, as well as powerful heavy winds, causing a severe storm, can surprise. Here is such obstinate weather on Sakhalin.
Precipitation
The climate of Sakhalin is quite humid, and a third of all precipitation falls on the cold season in the form of heavy snowfalls.
In different regions of the island, the amount of rain and snow is not the same: 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 winds blow on Sakhalin, mainly north and northwest winds. Moreover, they are the strongest at the northern tip of the island, along with land stretches that protrude into the sea. Here the wind speed reaches 7-10 meters per second. They are slightly weaker on the west coast of the island - 5-7 m / s, and moderate in the east (3-5 m / s) and in the Tymov valley (1.5-3.0 m / s). The summer period is characterized by a southerly or southeastern wind of medium speeds, which ranges from 2 to 6 m / s.
The combination of the low temperature regime and the wind regime in winter is strongly influenced by the climate of Sakhalin, since this is what determines the severe weather conditions of the island.
Climatic areas
The monsoon type of climate in Sakhalin and the multi-kilometer meridional extent conditionally divide the island into several climatic regions. Of these, the west coast and the West Sakhalin mountains, the central part of the Tymov valley, where light winds and a large number of sunny days prevail, are the most comfortable for people's livelihoods.
In addition, the most developed territory is southern Sakhalin, more than other areas adapted for life, recreation in the warm season, as well as agriculture.
