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January is the coldest month in Nepal, with temperatures varying across different regions. The Terai experiences mild daytime temperatures but cold nights, while the hilly regions are colder, and the Himalayas face freezing temperatures and snow. Humidity is higher in the Terai.
Terai: Mild temperatures (24-28°C max, 5-10°C min), with cold waves dropping temperatures below 9°C (Kumarjit et al., 2024; Shrestha et al., 2022).
Hilly Region: Cooler than Terai, ranging from 4-8°C.
Himalayan Region: Very cold, with minimum temperatures below -10°C and max temperatures between 4-8°C (Yasunari, 1976).
Rainfall: January is typically dry, with minimal precipitation. The Terai receives little rainfall, with most precipitation occurring during the summer monsoon (Dawadi et al., 2020), while high altitudes have low rainfall due to the rain shadow effec.
Humidity: Humidity is higher in summer in general across Nepal, but Kathmandu experiences around 84% RH in December (Regmi et al., 2021).
Things to note: Average annual temperatures have risen by 0.03°C per year since the late 1970s, especially after 2005 (Kumarjit et al., 2024). The Terai region shows decreasing minimum temperatures in winter (Shrestha et al., 2018).
Notable Weather Events
Event | Details |
Cold Waves | Increasing trend of cold waves and extreme cold days in the Terai over the past few years |
Fog | Increasing trend of fog in the Terai from November to February linked to cooling temperatures |
Western Disturbances | Affects winter precipitation, causing cold waves and fog in the Terai |
In February too, Nepal is mostly dry. The Terai experiences mild temperatures and fog, while the mountains remain cold. Cold waves and fog are also common in the Terai, affecting daily life and agriculture (Shrestha et al., 2018, 2022). This month sees minimal precipitation across the country. Visitors should pack accordingly for varying temperatures, with warm layers and caution for fog if they are visiting the Terai.
Terai: Mild temperatures in February, similar to the annual range of 24-28°C maximum and 14-18°C minimum (Kumarjit et al., 2024).
Hilly and Himalayan Region: Cold temperatures with maximums ranging from 4-8°C and minimums dropping below -10°C.
Rainfall: February remains dry, with minimal rain across the country, particularly in the Terai, where rainfall is sparse and occurs mostly during the monsoon (Awasthi & Owen, 2020).
Humidity: Humidity is typically low in February, similar to spring months, as temperature is the primary factor influencing humidity (Regmi et al., 2021; Kumarjit et al., 2024).
Things to note: Western disturbances causing cold waves and fog are still there.
Notable Weather Events
Event | Details |
Cold Waves | The Terai experiences cold waves in February, though more frequent in January |
Fog | Peaks in December-January, ends in February |
In March, temperatures rise across Nepal, with minimal rainfall and low humidity. The Terai is the warmest, the Himalayas remain cold, and the hilly region has moderate temperatures, making them ideal for outdoor activities. This month marks the transition from winter to the pre-monsoon season, bringing warmer temperatures and drier conditions.
Terai: The Terai experiences a noticeable temperature increase, with mean temperatures around 19.5°C (Joshi, 2019), consistent with its annual range of 24-28°C maximum and 14-18°C minimum (Kumarjit et al., 2024).
Hilly Region: Moderate temperatures, with an average of 18°C (Basnet, 2020).
Himalayan Region: Cold, with temperatures remaining below freezing and minimums below -10°C (Kumarjit et al., 2024; Karki et al., 2015).
Rainfall: Minimal rainfall across all regions, with the mid-mountains possibly receiving more pre-monsoon showers (Dawadi et al., 2020). Snowfall decreases as spring melt begins, and the influence of winter storms wanes (Shrestha et al., 2018).
Humidity: Humidity is generally low in March, especially compared to the monsoon season, with Kathmandu recording about 60% (Regmi et al., 2021).
Notable Weather Events
Event | Details |
Fog | Fog may still occur in the Terai during early March |
Cold Waves | Less likely than in January or February, but can still affect the Terai early in the month |
Drought | Dry conditions in March can raise the risk of drought |
Transition | Marks the shift from winter to pre-monsoon |
Snowfall | Unlikely at lower altitudes, some snowfall possible in high Himalayas early in the month, but generally, spring melt is underway |
April marks the transition from the pre-monsoon season to warmer temperatures and low rainfall. The Terai is warm and humid, the hilly regions are temperate, and the Himalayan region remains cold with some potential for snow. Extreme weather, such as heat waves and fog, can occur, and precipitation is becoming more erratic in recent years.
Terai: High temperatures range from 24-28°C, with nighttime lows from 14-18°C (Kumarjit et al., 2024).
Hilly Region: Moderate temperatures, cooler than the Terai (Karki et al., 2015, Kumarjit et al., 2024).
Himalayan Region: Cold, with mean max temperatures between 4-8°C and min temperatures below -10°C (Kumarjit et al., 2024).
Rainfall: April is dry, part of the pre-monsoon season. Terai sees minimal rainfall, with some pre-monsoon rains (Awasthi & Owen, 2020).
Humidity: Humidity is generally low, contributing to comfortable weather, particularly in the Terai (Regmi et al., 2021; Devkota et al., 2022).
Things to note: Average annual temperatures are rising, with a significant increase since 2005 (Bhandari & Dixit, 2022; Kattel & Yao, 2013).
Notable Weather Events
Event | Details |
Heat Waves | Can occur in the Terai as temperatures rise |
Fog | Possible in the Terai during early mornings |
Snow | Snowfall possible in the higher Himalayan altitudes |
Cold Waves | Less common in April, but can still affect the Terai |
May marks the transition to the monsoon season, with rising temperatures, minimal rainfall, and increasing humidity. The Terai gets pretty warm, while the Himalayan region remains cold. Trekking is possible at lower elevations, but rising heat and humidity can make it challenging. High-altitude areas remain cold with potential snow.
Terai: High temperatures range from 24-28°C, with a mean of 24.4°C (Kumarjit et al., 2024; Joshi, 2019).
Hilly Region: Temperatures are moderate and cooler than the Terai, averaging 20°C (Karki et al., 2015).
Himalayan Region: Cold, with max temperatures from 4-8°C and minimums reaching upto -6°C (Kumarjit et al., 2024).
Rainfall: Similar to April, May gets minimal rainfall as part of the pre-monsoon season.
Humidity: Humidity increases in May (Regmi et al., 2021) and Kathmandu's humidity is around 61.8%.
Notable Weather Events
Event | Details |
Heatwaves | Can occur in the Terai due to high temperatures and low rainfall |
Thunderstorms | Isolated pre-monsoon thunderstorms are possible |
Snow | Snow is still present in high-altitude areas |
June marks the start of the monsoon season, bringing increased rainfall, humidity, and higher temperatures, particularly in the Terai. The Himalayan region remains relatively cool, while all regions experience a significant rise in precipitation. Travelers should prepare for potential disruptions due to heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides, packing waterproof clothing and sturdy shoes.
Terai: High temperatures, averaging 30.9°C, with some relief as the monsoon begins. Temperatures range from 24-28°C (Joshi, 2019; Kumarjit et al., 2024).
Hilly Region: Moderate temperatures, cooler than the Terai, and influenced by the monsoon (Karki et al., 2015), averaging 25-27°C.
Himalayan Region: Cooler temperatures than the other two regions (Kumarjit et al., 2024), averaging 12-16°C.
Rainfall: Rainfall increases dramatically as the monsoon begins in mid-June, contributing to about 80% of Nepal's annual rainfall (Awasthi & Owen, 2020; Sharma et al., 2020).
Humidity: Humidity rises with the monsoon, reaching around 79.29% in Kathmandu (Regmi et al., 2021).
Things to note: Temperature peaks before the monsoon, followed by a slight decrease (Joshi, 2019).
Notable Weather Events
Event | Details |
Monsoon Variability | The start of monsoon can be erratic, with possible delays or early arrivals |
Heavy Rainfall | Leads to flooding and landslides, particularly in hilly areas |
July is the peak of the monsoon season in Nepal, marked by heavy rainfall, high humidity, and warm temperatures. As usual, the Terai experiences the highest temperatures and humidity, while the Himalayan region remains cooler. Tourists should prepare for potential disruptions due to floods and landslides, especially in hilly areas.
Terai: Warm and humid, with average maximum temperatures around 30.1°C and average temperatures between 24-28°C (Joshi, 2019).
Hilly Regions: Moderate temperatures, higher rainfall, and high humidity, averaging 25-27°C.
Himalayan Region: The average temperature is about 15°C.
Rainfall: July is one of the wettest months. The central region has the highest precipitation, about 2700 mm/year (Joshi, 2019). The southern slopes of the Himalayas receive 80% of their annual rainfall during the monsoon.
Humidity: Humidity is very high, peaking in July and August and Kathmandu's humidity is similar to June’s (Regmi et al., 2021).
Notable Weather Events
Event | Details |
Extreme Rainfall | Common, leading to floods and landslides in hilly areas |
Peak Monsoon | Characterized by heavy rainfall and high humidity |
Landslides and Floods | Heavy rain raises the risk of landslides and floods |
August continues the monsoon season with high rainfall, humidity, and warm temperatures. The central region receives the highest rainfall. Tourists should still expect disruptions due to heavy rainfall and flooding and should pack waterproof clothing and sturdy shoes.
Terai: Warm, humid, with average maximum temperatures around 30.3°C (Joshi, 2019).
Hilly Regions: Moderate temperatures, significant rainfall, and high humidity. Average similar to July.
Himalayan Region: High altitudes remain much cooler than the other regions. Average similar to July.
Rainfall: August is one of the wettest months, with heavy monsoon rains. Central Nepal receives around 2700 mm/year, with the southern Himalayas getting 80% of their annual rainfall during the monsoon (Bista, 2023; Karki et al., 2015).
Humidity: Humidity is very high, peaking at 86.36% in Kathmandu (Regmi et al., 2021).
Notable Weather Events
Event | Details |
Active Monsoon | Continued heavy rainfall and high humidity |
Floods and Landslides | Still a significant concern in hilly and mountainous areas |
September marks the transition from the monsoon season, with decreased rainfall but still significant precipitation, especially early in the month. Humidity remains high, and temperatures are warm across regions. Travel plans of visitors should remain flexible due to potential disruptions from sporadic heavy rain, flooding, and landslides. Temperatures decrease slightly towards the end of the month as the monsoon wanes.
Terai: Average temperature is about 25°C (Kumarjit et al., 2024).
Hilly Regions: Milder temperatures with moderate humidity, averaging 18°C.
Himalayan Region: Cooler temperatures averaging 12-15°C across the region, with much lower temperatures at high altitudes.
Rainfall: Rainfall decreases from peak monsoon levels but remains significant. The monsoon withdraws by the end of September (Gautam, 2013) and the central region receives the highest precipitation (Kumarjit et al., 2024).
Humidity: Humidity remains high but decreases slightly compared to peak monsoon months. In Kathmandu, average humidity is 84.68% in September (Regmi et al., 2021).
Notable Weather Events
Event | Details |
Active Monsoon | Continued heavy rainfall and high humidity |
October marks the transition to drier, cooler weather after the monsoon. Rainfall decreases significantly, but sporadic heavy rain events remain possible. Temperatures become more moderate, and humidity decreases.
Terai: Average temperature is about 20°C (Kumarjit et al., 2024).
Hilly Regions: Milder temperatures with moderate humidity. Ranges between 15-20°C.
Himalayan Region: Cooler temperatures, especially at higher altitudes. Mean temperature is about 10-14°C during daytime and even colder at night.
Rainfall: Rainfall decreases significantly in October, marking the dry season (Bista, 2023) and average rainfall in Kathmandu is 95.9 mm (Joshi, 2019). While October is generally dry, unseasonal heavy rainfall has occurred, as seen in October 2021 (Bhandari & Dixit, 2022).
Humidity: Humidity decreases compared to the monsoon months. Average humidity in October is 78.06% (Regmi et al., 2021).
Notable Weather Events
Event | Details |
Unseasonal Rainfall | Sporadic heavy rainfall can still occur, as shown by October 2021’s event |
Post-Monsoon Transition | The key event is the shift to the post-monsoon period with reduced rainfall and humidity |
November in Nepal features dry weather, decreasing temperatures, and minimal rainfall as the country enters the post-monsoon season. Rainfall is low, making the month ideal for trekking and outdoor activities. However, fog in the Terai region can reduce visibility, especially in the mornings and evenings.
Terai: Temperatures drop, with annual minimums ranging from 18-20°C (Kumarjit et al., 2024).
Hilly Regions: Temperatures decrease with cooler days and nights. Average is around 10-15°C.
Himalayan Region: Cold temperatures and possible snow at higher altitudes. Average is about 8-10°C during daytime. Nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing at higher altitudes.
Rainfall: November is dry, with the monsoon season fully retreated. Average rainfall in Kathmandu is 15.4 mm (Joshi, 2019).
Humidity: Humidity continues to decrease. Average humidity in Kathmandu is 78.7% (Regmi et al., 2021).
Notable Weather Events
Event | Details |
Fog | November marks the start of the fog season in the Terai |
Low Rainfall | Generally stable and dry, with no significant extreme weather |
In December, Nepal experiences cold, dry weather with minimal rainfall. The Terai region is affected by fog, reducing visibility, especially in the mornings and evenings [Bista, 2023; Shrestha et al., 2022]. Temperatures drop across the country, with very cold conditions in the Himalayan region and frequent snowfall at higher altitudes [Kumarjit et al., 2024; Awasthi & Owen, 2020].
Terai Region: Temperatures range from 14–18°C, dropping below 10°C, even reaching 7.5°C at times (Kumarjit et al., 2024; Shrestha et al., 2022).
Hilly Regions: Cold temperatures persist, with chilly days and nights. Average daytime temperature ranges around 10°C and nighttime dropps below zero.
Himalayan Region: Temperature drops below -10°C, with snowfall common at higher altitudes (Kumarjit et al., 2024).
Rainfall: December is one of Nepal’s driest months, with very little rainfall as the monsoon season ends (Bista, 2023).
Humidity: Humidity levels are low throughout the country, following a decreasing trend from November into December (Regmi et al., 2021).
Notable Weather Events
Event | Description |
Dry Conditions | December marks one of the driest months in Nepal, with minimal rainfall across the country |
Fog | Significant fog events reduce visibility, especially in the mornings and evenings, especially in Terai |
Cold Waves | Cold waves impact health, crops, and livestock, especially in the Terai, which is worsened by fog |
References
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Basnet, K. (2020). Analysis of climate change trends in the lower Kaski region, Nepal. Himalayan Journal of Applied Science and Engineering, 2(1), 10-23.
Bhandari, P. B., & Dixit, D. (2022). Missed opportunities in utilization of weather forecasts in Nepal. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 79, 103153.
Bhandari, B., & Dixit, A. (2022). Missed opportunities in utilization of weather forecasts in Nepal.
Bista, B. (2023). Climate variability in Nepal. SAINSMAT: Journal of Applied Sciences, Mathematics, and Its Education, 12(1), 8–20.
Dawadi, B., Acharya, R. H., Lamichhane, D., Pudasainee, S., & Shrestha, I. K. (2020). A short note on linkage of climatic records between Terai and mid-mountain of central Nepal. Journal of Geographical Research, 3(4), 29-33. https://doi.org/10.30564/jgr.v3i4.2323
Devkota, K., Sharma, S., Thapa, A., & Bhattarai, D. (2022). Influence of seasonal weather variables and habitat type on numbers of colonies of the giant honeybee, Apis dorsata, in a subtropical region of Nepal. Apidologie, 53, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-022-00912-x
Dimri, A. P., & Chevuturi, A. (2016). Western disturbances – An Indian meteorological perspective. Springer.
Gautam, D. K., & Pradhananga, R. D. (2024). Verification and bias correction of rainfall and temperature forecasts over the Babai River Basin of Nepal.
Gautam, R. (2013). Impact of climate change on monsoon rainfall in Nepal. Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.
Gautam, R., & Regmi, R. (2013). Summer monsoon rainfall variability in Nepal. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology, 13(1), 7-14.
Joshi, K. (2019). Assessing socio-economic impact of climate change in Lamjung district of Nepal. Environmental Research Communications, 1(3), 031004.
Joshi, P. (2019). Climate change and its impact on agricultural land use in Nepal. Environmental Research Communications, 1(3), 031004.
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Karki, R., Talchabhadel, R., Aalto, J., & Baidya, S. K. (2015). New climatic classification of Nepal. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 125(3-4), 799-808. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-015-1519-3
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Regmi, A., Sah, H. K., Adhikari, B., & Pandit, D. (2021). Trend analysis of rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity over Kathmandu, Nepal. Journal of Nepal Physical Society, 7(4), 71-79. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnphyssoc.v7i4.42934
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Shrestha, S., Moore, G. A., & Peel, M. C. (2022). Cold waves in Terai region of Nepal and farmer’s perception of the effect of fog events and cold waves on agriculture. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 151(1), 29-45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-022-04262-7
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19 Dec 2024
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