Climate Insights for Kathmandu

The climate in Kathmandu is temperate. The average annual temperature is 14°C and approximately 2948mm of precipitation falls per year. July is the wettest month, receiving around 985mm 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, February, December, when temperatures can drop to 0°C. Light snow can occur between January and October.

Temperatures in Kathmandu vary considerably across the year, with a 24°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. August is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 24°C with a mean of 20°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to 0°C and the daily average is 5°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 10°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 5°C shift in average temperatures.

Kathmandu is a very wet location, receiving approximately 2948mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 246mm per month. The wettest month is July, averaging 985mm of rainfall. June and September also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is November, with just 13mm. That's 972mm 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. Light snowfall can occur between January and October, totalling around 43cm annually. January is the snowiest month with approximately 9cm.

Kathmandu is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 1km/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 1km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in September, with average winds dropping to 1km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 0km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently summer in Kathmandu, which began on June 21, 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 24°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 0°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 52 days from now.

The best time to visit Kathmandu is during April, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 16°C with modest rainfall averaging 38mm per month. By contrast, August can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 24°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to 0°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

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. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. 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.