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How cold are winters in the Amur River basin?

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Topographic map of the Amur River basin and its drainage network, covering parts of northeastern China, eastern Russia, Mongolia, and North Korea. The map uses color shading to indicate elevation, shows major rivers and tributaries, surrounding mountain ranges, swamps, marshes, and lakes, and includes a locator inset of the region within Asia. Major cities, railways, and dams are also marked. — Amur River The Amur River basin and its drainage network.

The Amur River basin experiences dry, frigid winters dominated by polar, continental air masses.1

Mean temperatures in January vary significantly across the region:
* Harbin (on the Sungari River): −4 °F (−20 °C)1
* Northern interior parts: −27 °F (−33 °C)1

These cold conditions cause the river to become icebound, with ice forming in the second half of October. The upper reaches typically freeze by early November, while the lower reaches freeze in the second half of the month. The river remains icebound until the spring, with the lower sections opening at the end of April and the upper sections in May.2