Climate Insights for Kathmandu

The climate in Kathmandu is temperate. The average annual temperature is 17°C and approximately 2976mm of precipitation falls per year. July is the wettest month, receiving around 817mm of rainfall. Kathmandu is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: August, June, July. The coldest months are January, December, February, when temperatures can drop to 5°C.

Temperatures in Kathmandu vary considerably across the year, with a 21°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. The warmest month is August, when average highs reach 26°C and the mean temperature sits around 23°C. January is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 5°C and an average of 9°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 9°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 4°C shift in average temperatures.

Kathmandu is a very wet location, receiving approximately 2976mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 248mm per month. The wettest month is July, averaging 817mm of rainfall. August and June also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is November, with just 16mm. That's 801mm less than July, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic.

Kathmandu is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 7km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is April, averaging 8km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in July, with average winds dropping to 6km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 2km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently spring in Kathmandu, which began on March 20, 2026. Kathmandu is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in August at around 26°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 5°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 90 days from now.

The best time to visit Kathmandu is during March and April, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 81mm per month. By contrast, August can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 26°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to 5°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Kathmandu based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.