Weather in Nepal
Nepal experiences a wide range of climates due to its varied topography. The country has a broadly temperate climate marked by monsoon season, during which about 80% of the annual rainfall occurs. Outside of June to September, visitors can enjoy warm spring and autumn conditions, as well as cooler winters.
With approximately 75% of the land made up of mountains, Nepal is one of the most topographically diverse countries on the planet. To understand the weather in Nepal, we must examine its different climate zones based on altitude.
Geographical Zones of Nepal
The Plain (The Terai)
The Terai region (Butwal, Nawalparasi, Siddharthanagar, Nepalganj, Birganj, Janakpur, Biratnagar, Dhangadhi etc) lies in the southern part of Nepal. With an altitude ranging from 75m to 300m, it experiences a tropical savanna climate similar to that of the Indo-Gangetic plain in northern India.
Winter days are sunny and mild, pleasantly warm during daylight hours but cool at night, occasionally becoming cold. From mid-March to mid-June, before the monsoon, temperatures become very hot exceeding 37℃ and reaching up to 45℃ in some areas.
The Biratnagar weather begins to withdraw by early October in the west and about a week later in the east. After this, sunny weather returns. Although October remains hot, humidity decreases and nighttime temperatures become cooler. The average temperatures in January and April are 15℃ and 40℃, respectively.
The Hilly Region
The Hilly Region (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lalitpur) lies between the Terai and the Himalayas, comprising the Mahabharat and Chure Hills. The region's altitude ranges from 600m to 4,877m, with mild summers (20℃ to 35℃) and cold winters (-4℃ to 2℃). Average temperatures in January and July are 13.5℃ and 26℃, respectively.
Kathmandu Valley
The Kathmandu Valley, situated at 1,200m to 2,300m above sea level in the Hilly Region, features deciduous monsoon forests. As Nepal's cultural capital, it enjoys favorable weather year-round in its warm temperate zone.
Pokhara
Pokhara, a popular tourist destination, sits at an altitude of 837m to 1,740m and experiences a humid subtropical climate. During winter and spring, the weather in Pokhara features clear, sunny skies.
While the Pokhara Valley itself doesn't receive snow, its surrounding hills occasionally experience snowfall at higher elevations.
The Himalayan Region
The mountain region lies in the Northern part, in the subalpine and alpine zones, with altitudes ranging from 3,000m to 8,848.86m (home to the world's highest peak, Mt. Everest). The temperature decreases by 0.2℃ to 1.2℃ for every 100m rise in elevation.
The Himalayan region's climate varies dramatically, from humid subtropical in the lower zones to cold, dry desert conditions in the Northern areas. The south-western sides of the higher mountains receive heavy monsoon rainfall, while the north-western areas maintain a cold and dry climate.
At higher elevations, permanent ice and snow cover the mountains. While exposed areas receive substantial rainfall, the leeward sides receive significantly less precipitation. Upper Mustang and Manang, sheltered from the monsoon rains, experience the lowest annual rainfall in Nepal.