As I brainstormed for a topic to write about for this week’s Cultural Tidbits Monday, I stumbled upon an article about Sochi Russia weather and its “330 days of sunshine.” I was confused. Even more confused I was as I kept on reading, learning that Sochi is also known as a city of 3 seasons. No winter? But… isn’t it RUSSIA?! That’s when I knew I had to write about it.
So today’s article won’t be so much about culture, but more so about geography. Either way, we will learn why Sochi Russia weather is quite pleasant most of the year–even as this Black Sea resort town will be the host of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Sochi Russia weather makes it a premier resort town in the Black Sea (Fabio – Miami, Flickr)
Location
Located in western Russia, just north of the disputed territory Abkhazia, Sochi is one of the longest cities in the world (source). It spreads out 147 km along the Black Sea and its unique subtropical climate makes it one of the warmest cities in its latitude. To put it in perspective: Sochi’s latitude is comparable to Boston, Massachusetts in the US.
Location of Sochi, Russia (NormanEinstein, Wiki Commons)
Sochi Russia weather year-round
Sochi Russia weather is quite ideal for most vacationers in the region. Water temperatures average 76° F (24.4° C) between June and October, while air temperatures range between 79° and 81° F (26° – 27° C). Conversely, between January and April, temperatures average 52° F (11° C) during the day and 39° F (4° C) at night. To a Puerto Rican like me, those are some chilling numbers. However, to an European or fellow Russian, that’s “mild winter” weather at best.
But why IS this, though?! Sochi’s weather is mild year-round because it borders a warmer inland sea (vs a cold ocean), plus it’s very close to Turkey and the Middle East, which are warmer even in winter. Moreover, the surrounding mountains shelter the city from the freezing wind chills and temperatures of northern neighbors, making it the perfect seaside resort.
Sochi, Russia beach (Socialism Expo., Flickr)
Sochi and the Winter Olympics
Now, how could Sochi’s humid subtropical climate allow it to clinch the XXII Olympic Winter Games host “title”? The Greater Caucasus Mountains Range is in its vicinity. Average temperatures in the mountains fluctuate between 35° – 32° F (2° – 0° C) in January and April–and we know we can get way lower than that once you go to a peak. Ah, voilá!
“Krasnaya Polyana: About 25 miles inland from Sochi” (RIA Novosti archive, Mikhail Mokrushin on WIki Commons)
Now that I know more about the pleasant Sochi Russia weather and its beautiful coastline, I’ll definitely add the resort town to my travel bucket list. What about you?
Maria, you are a very pretty and sexy Latina. Sochi is warm because it is the southernmost area of Russia, it borders on a warm inland sea (not a cold ocean), and if you look at the map it’s very close to Turkey and the Middle East, which are warmer even in winter. Plus the mountains do shelter the city from the colder weather to the north, which is why it’s a seaside resort. Stay cute Maria.
thanks for all of that info, Henry! And for the compliments… hehe 🙂
I had never heard of Sochi until this Olympics. I think it is so beautiful there and reminds me a lot of southern California where I live. We have our beaches and inland areas with palm trees, then the local mountains with the pine trees and snow in winter. I’m in the inland area, about 40 miles from the beach, and also 30-60 miles from our local mountains, then 60 miles from Palm Springs, so our summers are warmer, but winter temps are comparable, except this winter which wasn’t a winter for us. In a winter where our mountains would get lots of snow I could look out the window from my house and see the beautiful snow-capped mountains. Big Bear Mtn. which is less than 50 miles from here has an elevation of 8,000+ feet; whereas, mountains further up the state top that by quite a bit. I believe Sochi would be a lovely place to visit.
oh that’s true! Good analogy to compare Sochi with some parts of California 🙂
I read the piece on Sochi and was surprised by its climate and weather. What was missing was an explanation about why a city so far North can have a semi-tropical climate!
that’s a good question James! I have been looking around and there isn’t a specific explanation as to why Sochi’s climate is subtropical.
I do know, however, that it is located at same latitude as Nice, France — which happens to have a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. However, since Sochi receives more cold winds from the north, it isn’t as warm as Nice. But that’s about it!
I’ll assume that the mountains around it protect Sochi from otherwise extreme Russian weather.
The warmest neighborhoods of any Winter Olympics destination in the history of the games are warmer than anything Sochi has to offer (Metro Vancouver, Canada).
Specifically, as defined by a warmer mean air temperature (average temperature between day and night), unlike Sochi, Russia – the winter seasons in the Lighthouse Park region of Metro Vancouver, where the last Winter Olympics were held, are NORMALLY warmer than the winter seasons in some suburbs of Dallas, Texas.
thanks for the additional information Mark. However, seems like you missed the point of my blog post. 😉
What I wanted to show with this Sochi Russia weather article was that most people think of Russia as a dim and cold, cold place, when this is clearly not the case in every city.
I didn’t claim that Sochi, Russia was the warmest Winter Olympics host in history 😉 Cheers
Oh man, I agree completely! Sochi is definitely on my travel bucket list now. Recently I have really wanted to learn more about and travel to the Baltic region. I watched a nature documentary on Montenegro and have been itching to explore ever since. Sochi sounds like a wonderful oasis to check out after exploring the chilly regions.
sounds like a plan Megan! Let us know about that trip once you go 😉
YES… let us know my dear…
thanks to Henry, we got this: “Sochi is warm because it is the southernmost area of Russia, it borders on a warm inland sea (not a cold ocean), and if you look at the map it’s very close to Turkey and the Middle East, which are warmer even in winter. Plus the mountains do shelter the city from the colder weather to the north, which is why it’s a seaside resort” 🙂
I had no idea it is so nice and warm city! If you say Russia I imagine a snow, ice… and snow and ice… I thought it is not a good place for visiting. Thank you for your post, you changed my mind. I think it is a nice place for next holidays… isn’t it?
My same surprise. I wonder if Puerto Ricans skin will still find the city a bit cold…hehe. Very likely! 😛
What a beautiful beach! Coming from a large country (Canada) I get how there can be so many different climates in one country. People think Canada is just one big sheet of ice (I am exaggerating…a bit:), but it isn’t. Like Russia, the climate depends where you are 🙂
but I believe it can be pretty cold anywhere in Canada if I visit during the winter, right? or do certain regions in Canada get milder winters?
Glad to see it can be nice in Sochi. Despite their reputation for good weather, our cruise ship visited on one of the darkest, drearest days we’ve ever seen (and coming from Seattle, we know dark and dreary). . .it was a depressing stop. You’ve put a different face to this place – thanks.
aww really? That’s too bad! You’ll have to go back on that cruise now 😉
I knew the Winter Olympics were going to be in Russia, but I didn’t know exactly where. I had pictured Moscow. This sounds like a very interesting place. Now to figure out how to score tickets to the Games.
that’s yet another item on my travel bucket list: to go to the Olympics one year!
Hi, This is one area I do not know much about. Looking at the map made me realize how many countries border onto the Black Sea. I enjoyed seeing the photo of Sochi Russia – very interesting.
Never heard of it either! I feel alittle silly, but you learn things every day!
I thrive to teach and learn myself while keeping up this blog, so happy to read this! 🙂
Very interesting! I’ve never heard of Sochi and would think its weather would be horrible in the winter! It makes sense though. Russia is very big so having varied climates seems logical.
My thoughts exactly before writing this post, Debbie. I didn’t even think about Russia’s sheer size equaling varied climates. Since Russia’s entire landmass is located in high latitudes, I still thought mild weather was impossible