Without the moderating influence of a large body of water, the climate of the Aral region has become more continental. Both winter and summer temperatures are more extreme, thus shortening the growing season and causing some farmers to switch from cotton to rice (a crop which is even more water intensive.) Summers are an average of 2 degrees Celsius warmer, and winters are about 2 degrees Celsius colder. Now there are 4 months of winter instead of 3. The overall humidity in the region has decreased. The shoreline and shallow parts of the sea are frozen from mid-December through March. Regional vegetation loss may have increased albedo, possibly reducing precipitation. The cotton harvest is declining due to the shortened growing season and decreased soil fertility.

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