Is It Monsoon in Kathmandu, Nepal? Rainfall and Weather by Month

Kathmandu, Nepal JANUARY
11°
★★★
Peak season
3° to 19°
Cold Nights, Mild Days
Cold at night, mild and sunny by day, part of the best window overall.
🧥 Warm layers for evenings☀️ Sunscreen
14°
★★★
Shoulder season
6° to 22°
Sunny & Mild
Sunshine is frequent, warming up gradually from January.
🧥 Light layers☀️ Sunscreen
17°
★★★
Shoulder season
9° to 26°
Good for Trekking
Warm and sunny, one of the best months for trekking before the heat peaks.
🥾 Good trekking conditions☀️ Sunscreen
21°
★★★
Shoulder season
12° to 28°
Warm & Sunny
Still excellent for trekking, warm with plenty of sunshine.
🥾 Good trekking conditions☀️ Sunscreen
23°
★★★
Shoulder season
16° to 29°
Hottest Month
The hottest month of the year, with the first thunderstorms building ahead of the monsoon.
🥵 Heat protection☔ Light rain jacket
24°
★★★
Off-peak season
19° to 29°
Monsoon Arrives
The monsoon sets in, hot and increasingly humid.
☔ Umbrella essential🥵 Heat protection
25°
★★★
Off-peak season
21° to 29°
Wettest Month
The rainiest, cloudiest month of the year, making mountain views hard to come by.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
25°
★★★
Off-peak season
20° to 29°
Very Wet
Nearly as wet as July, humid with cloud cover most days.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
24°
★★★
Shoulder season
19° to 28°
Rain Eases
Rain eases noticeably from the peak of the monsoon, though the sky can still be cloudy.
☔ Umbrella handy🥵 Heat protection
21°
★★★
Shoulder season
14° to 27°
Best for Trekking
The monsoon withdraws early in the month, leaving clear skies and excellent trekking conditions.
🥾 Good trekking conditions☀️ Sunscreen
16°
★★★
Peak season
8° to 23°
Driest Month
The driest month of the year, clear and comfortable, ideal for mountain views.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
12°
★★★
Peak season
4° to 20°
Cool & Dry
Cool at night and dry, part of the best window overall.
🧥 Warm layers for evenings☀️ Sunscreen
Drag through the year Jan
⭐️
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
⭐️
Nov
⭐️
Dec
This month
Rainfall
15 mm
2 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
72%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
25 mm
3 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
65%
Comfortably humid
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
41 mm
4 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
59%
Comfortably humid
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
66 mm
7 rainy days this month
Sunshine
9.5 hrs/day
73% of daylight hours
Humidity
59%
Comfortably humid
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
130 mm
12 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
66%
Comfortably humid
Wind
9 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
239 mm
17 rainy days this month
Sunshine
5.5 hrs/day
42% of daylight hours
Humidity
76%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
9 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
385 mm
23 rainy days this month
Sunshine
3 hrs/day
23% of daylight hours
Humidity
83%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
9 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
345 mm
23 rainy days this month
Sunshine
3 hrs/day
23% of daylight hours
Humidity
84%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
211 mm
15 rainy days this month
Sunshine
4 hrs/day
31% of daylight hours
Humidity
82%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
46 mm
4 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
75%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
5 mm
0 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
73%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
10 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
5.5 hrs/day
42% of daylight hours
Humidity
72%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
★★★ peak season, ★★☆ decent shoulder months, ★☆☆ true off-peak, based on rain frequency, heat, and haze.
Seasons at a glance
🌟
Peak season: Jan, Nov, Dec
Kathmandu's best window, avoiding both the monsoon and the intense pre-monsoon heat. November through January is historically the most comfortable stretch, cold at night but mild and sunny by day.
🌤️
Shoulder season: Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct
This tier spans February through May, plus September and October. Spring, especially March and April, and the first half of October are historically good for trekking, before and after the monsoon.
☔
Off-peak season: Jun, Jul, Aug
The heart of the summer monsoon. June through August sees the heaviest rain of the year, with July historically the wettest month and the cloudiest skies, making the Himalayan peaks hard to spot.
Good to know
🥶
Winter nights can drop below freezing
The average January temperature is around 11°C, but nights can occasionally drop to 0°C or below; the coldest recorded night was -3.5°C in January 1978.
❄️
It practically never snows in the city itself
Despite cold nights, snow in Kathmandu is exceptionally rare, though it can fall on nearby hills like Shivapuri, Phulchowki, and Daman, all above 2,300 meters.
🏔️
Autumn offers the clearest mountain views
October and November are historically the least rainy months, when the atmosphere is clear enough to see snow-capped peaks from great distances.
🌧️
July brings the heaviest rain of the year
Kathmandu's monsoon peaks in July, historically averaging around 385mm, with the sky often cloudy from July through September.
🌡️
The hottest days come just before the monsoon
Highs around 35°C are typical in May, just before the summer monsoon arrives and brings some relief from the peak heat.
Top attractions
1
Kathmandu Durbar Square
A UNESCO World Heritage complex of palaces and temples at the historic heart of the old royal city.
2
Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)
An ancient hilltop stupa overlooking the Kathmandu Valley, one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Nepal.
3
Boudhanath Stupa
One of the largest stupas in the world, the spiritual center of Kathmandu's Tibetan Buddhist community.
Frequently asked questions
When is monsoon season in Kathmandu?›
Kathmandu's monsoon season historically runs from June through September, with July the wettest month, averaging around 385mm of rain.
What is the best time of year to visit Kathmandu?›
November through January is historically the most comfortable stretch overall, while March, April, and mid-October to mid-November are best for trekking specifically.
What is the least favorable time to visit Kathmandu?›
June through August is historically the wettest, cloudiest stretch of the year.
Which month has the most rain in Kathmandu?›
July is historically the wettest month, averaging around 385mm of rain.
Which month is the driest in Kathmandu?›
November is historically the driest month, when it almost never rains.
How hot does Kathmandu get?›
May is historically the hottest month, with highs typically around 35°C, just before the monsoon arrives.
Does it snow in Kathmandu?›
Practically never in the city itself, despite cold winter nights, though nearby hills above 2,300 meters, like Shivapuri and Phulchowki, can occasionally see snow.
What should I pack for Kathmandu?›
Warm layers, a jacket, hat, and scarf for cold winter nights, and a light raincoat or umbrella for the summer monsoon.
When is the best time to see the Himalayas from Kathmandu?›
Autumn, especially October and November, is historically the clearest and least rainy time, when snow-capped peaks are visible from great distances.
Is Kathmandu the capital of Nepal?›
Yes. Kathmandu, at 1,400 meters, is Nepal's capital and largest city, home to landmarks including Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, and Boudhanath Stupa.