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

Pokhara, Nepal JANUARY
14°
Peak season
7° to 20°
Cool & Dry
Cool and dry, part of the best window for a visit.
🧥 Light layers☀️ Sunscreen
16°
Shoulder season
9° to 23°
Mild & Pleasant
Mild and generally dry, warming up gradually.
🧥 Light layers☀️ Sunscreen
20°
Shoulder season
13° to 27°
Good for Trekking
Warm and mostly dry, one of the better months for trekking, though occasional storms are possible.
🥾 Good trekking conditions☀️ Sunscreen
23°
Shoulder season
16° to 30°
Warm with Storms
Still good for trekking, though afternoon thunderstorms become more frequent.
🥾 Good trekking conditions⛈️ Afternoon storms possible
25°
Shoulder season
19° to 31°
Rain Builds
Rain increases sharply as the monsoon approaches.
☔ Umbrella essential🥵 Heat protection
26°
Off-peak season
21° to 31°
Monsoon Arrives
Rain becomes a near-daily fixture as the monsoon fully sets in.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
26°
Off-peak season
22° to 31°
Wettest Month
The rainiest month of the year by far, among the wettest anywhere in this dataset.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
26°
Off-peak season
22° to 31°
Exceptionally Wet
Nearly as wet as July, still exceptionally rainy.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
26°
Shoulder season
21° to 30°
Still Very Wet
Still exceptionally wet, though easing slightly from the peak of the monsoon.
☔ Heavy rain gear⚠️ Flash-flood aware
23°
Shoulder season
17° to 28°
Best for Trekking
Rain drops off sharply as the monsoon withdraws, clear and excellent for trekking.
🥾 Good trekking conditions☀️ Sunscreen
18°
Peak season
12° to 24°
Dry & Clear
Among the driest months of the year, clear and comfortable.
☀️ Sunscreen✨ Best sightseeing weather
15°
Peak season
8° to 21°
Driest Month
The driest month of the year, cool and dry, part of the best window for a visit.
🧥 Light layers☀️ Sunscreen
Drag through the year Jan
⭐️
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
⭐️
Nov
⭐️
Dec
This month
Rainfall
20 mm
2 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
70%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
36 mm
4 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
68%
Comfortably humid
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
66 mm
6 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
66%
Comfortably humid
Wind
7 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
140 mm
10 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
68%
Comfortably humid
Wind
7 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
356 mm
18 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
72%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
650 mm
22 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
78%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
940 mm
26 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
841 mm
24 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
635 mm
19 rainy days this month
Sunshine
5 hrs/day
38% of daylight hours
Humidity
80%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
7 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
160 mm
8 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
74%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
15 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
70%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
10 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
70%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 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
Pokhara's best window, avoiding both the monsoon and the plains' pre-monsoon heat. November through January is historically the most comfortable stretch, mild by day and cool at night.
🌤️
Shoulder season: Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct
This tier spans February through May, plus September and October. Spring, especially March and April, and mid-October to mid-November are historically good for trekking toward the Annapurna range.
Off-peak season: Jun, Jul, Aug
The heart of the summer monsoon, and Pokhara's most exceptional season. June through August sees by far the heaviest rain of the year, with July historically the wettest month by a wide margin.
Good to know
🏔️
Nepal's rainiest city
Pokhara sits at the foot of the Annapurna Range, where southern monsoon currents are forced upward by the mountains, producing far more rain than anywhere else in Nepal.
🌧️
July and August bring exceptional rainfall
July historically averages around 940mm and August around 840mm, both far above what most cities in this dataset ever see in a single month.
🌤️
Winter rain is rare, but spring can bring storms
Rain is uncommon in winter, though some atmospheric instability, with significant thunderstorms, can appear as early as April and May.
🪂
A major hub for paragliding
Pokhara's setting above Phewa Lake, with the Annapurna range as a backdrop, has made it one of Asia's most popular paragliding destinations.
🥾
The main gateway to the Annapurna Circuit
Most Annapurna region treks, including the Annapurna Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit routes, begin and end in Pokhara.
Top attractions
1
Phewa Lake
Pokhara's scenic lake, with boating, lakeside cafes, and reflections of the Annapurna range on clear days.
2
Sarangkot
A hilltop viewpoint above the city, popular at sunrise for panoramic Himalayan views and as a paragliding launch point.
3
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
One of the most popular multi-day treks in Nepal, beginning near Pokhara and leading into the heart of the Annapurna range.
Frequently asked questions
When is monsoon season in Pokhara?
Pokhara's monsoon season historically runs from June through September, with July the wettest month, averaging around 940mm of rain, among the highest totals anywhere in Nepal.
What is the best time of year to visit Pokhara?
November through January is historically the most comfortable stretch overall, while March, April, and mid-October to mid-November are best for trekking toward the Annapurna range.
What is the least favorable time to visit Pokhara?
June through August is historically the wettest stretch of the year by a wide margin.
Which month has the most rain in Pokhara?
July is historically the wettest month, averaging around 940mm of rain.
Which month is the driest in Pokhara?
December is historically the driest month, when it almost never rains.
How hot does Pokhara get?
July and August are historically tied as the warmest months of the year on average.
Why is Pokhara so much rainier than Kathmandu?
Pokhara sits at the foot of the Annapurna Range, where southern monsoon currents are forced upward by the mountains, producing far more rain than Kathmandu or the rest of Nepal.
What should I pack for Pokhara during the monsoon?
Heavy rain gear is worth packing from June through August, given how exceptionally wet this stretch can be.
Is Pokhara good for paragliding?
Yes, it's one of Asia's most popular paragliding destinations, with the Annapurna range as a backdrop, best enjoyed outside the rainy season.
Is Pokhara the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit?
Yes. Most Annapurna region treks, including the Annapurna Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit routes, begin and end in Pokhara.