The city area is characterized by insufficient precipitation, what is accounted for by the fact that it is situated far from seas and oceans. Precipitation is distributed during the year very unevenly and is connected with seasonal atmospheric circulation.

            The mean annual precipitation is 409 mm. A considerable share of it falls in the period from March to June. According to long-term observations, the driest period is from July to September (11%). Occasional catastrophic showers are possible; they may cause mudflows. For example, in 1930 70 mm of precipitation fell in one day. There are often periods without precipitation, which in certain years last more than 4 months. In spring and summer time that leads to drought. The most severe droughts were in 1938 and 1982.