Is It Monsoon in Shimla, India? Rainfall and Weather by Month

Shimla, India JANUARY
7Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
3Β° to 12Β°
Cold & Snowy
One of the coldest months of the year, with periods of snow and unsettled weather.
πŸ§₯ Heavy layers❄️ Snow possible
9Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
4Β° to 13Β°
Cold, Some Snow
Still cold, with the year's heaviest snowfall alongside spells of bad weather.
πŸ§₯ Heavy layers❄️ Snow likely
12Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
8Β° to 17Β°
Rainy Spring
Milder than winter, but among the rainiest months as air masses collide.
πŸ§₯ Warm layersβ˜” Umbrella handy
17Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
12Β° to 22Β°
Driest Spring Month
The driest month of spring, with warm, clear days becoming more common.
πŸ§₯ Light layersβ˜€οΈ Sunscreen
20Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
15Β° to 25Β°
Warm & Stormy
Can get genuinely hot on clear days, with temperatures that have topped 30Β°C, though thunderstorms increase as the month goes on.
πŸ§₯ Light layersβ›ˆοΈ Thunderstorms possible
21Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Off-peak season
17Β° to 25Β°
Thunderstorm Season
The warmest month of the year on average, with frequent, sometimes strong thunderstorms.
β˜€οΈ Sunscreenβ›ˆοΈ Thunderstorms likely
20Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Off-peak season
17Β° to 23Β°
Peak Monsoon
Among the rainiest months of the year, with fog forming often and a real risk of landslides during heavy spells.
β˜” Heavy rain gear⚠️ Landslide risk
19Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Off-peak season
16Β° to 23Β°
Wettest Month
The wettest month of the year, cool, cloudy, and prone to landslides and flooding during the heaviest rain.
β˜” Heavy rain gear⚠️ Landslide risk
19Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
14Β° to 23Β°
Monsoon Eases
Rain tapers off as the month goes on, with drier, clearer weather returning by the end.
β˜” Umbrella handy🌀️ Improving
16Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Peak season
12Β° to 21Β°
Driest & Sunniest
The driest, sunniest stretch of the year, mild by day and cool at night.
πŸ§₯ Light layers✨ Best sightseeing weather
13Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Peak season
8Β° to 18Β°
Cool & Clear
Still dry and sunny, though nights turn noticeably colder than October.
πŸ§₯ Warm layers✨ Best sightseeing weather
10Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Peak season
6Β° to 14Β°
Cold but Dry
Generally the driest month of winter, cold, and occasionally the start of the snow season.
πŸ§₯ Heavy layers❄️ Snow possible
Drag through the year Jan
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
⭐️
Oct
⭐️
Nov
⭐️
Dec
This month
Rainfall
79 mm
5 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
60%
Comfortably humid
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
84 mm
6 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
55%
Comfortably humid
Wind
7 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
79 mm
6 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
55%
Comfortably humid
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
58 mm
4 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
47%
Dry, comfortable air
Wind
9 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
81 mm
7 rainy days this month
Sunshine
9 hrs/day
69% of daylight hours
Humidity
40%
Dry, comfortable air
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
193 mm
10 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
55%
Comfortably humid
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
328 mm
16 rainy days this month
Sunshine
3.5 hrs/day
27% of daylight hours
Humidity
80%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
351 mm
16 rainy days this month
Sunshine
3.5 hrs/day
27% of daylight hours
Humidity
88%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
5 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
165 mm
8 rainy days this month
Sunshine
5.5 hrs/day
42% of daylight hours
Humidity
75%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
30 mm
2 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
55%
Comfortably humid
Wind
6 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
15 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
7.5 hrs/day
58% of daylight hours
Humidity
50%
Dry, comfortable air
Wind
5 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
25 mm
2 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
55%
Comfortably humid
Wind
5 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
β˜…β˜…β˜… peak season, β˜…β˜…β˜† decent shoulder months, β˜…β˜†β˜† true off-peak, based on rain frequency, heat, and haze.
Seasons at a glance
🌟
Peak season: Oct, Nov, Dec
Shimla's driest, sunniest stretch, cool and clear after the monsoon. October and November are the year's most reliable months overall, while December, though colder and occasionally snowy, is the driest pick within winter.
🌀️
Shoulder season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep
This tier spans real variety. January and February are cold, with periods of snow and unsettled weather. March brings the first rains of spring, while April, the driest spring month, and May, warmer but increasingly stormy, lead into the monsoon. September is still fairly wet as the rains wind down.
β˜”
Off-peak season: Jun, Jul, Aug
The core of the monsoon, mild but rainy, with June's thunderstorms giving way to the year's heaviest rain in July and August. Landslides and flooding are a real risk during the worst spells.
Good to know
πŸš‚
A UNESCO World Heritage railway
The Kalka-Shimla Toy Train winds 96km up from the plains through 103 tunnels and over 969 bridges, dropping about 1,500m along the way.
✈️
No major airport nearby
Shimla has a small local airport with limited flights; most visitors arrive by road or the toy train from Kalka, both reached from Delhi or Chandigarh.
❄️
Snow is possible but not guaranteed
About a meter of snow falls in an average year, mostly in January and February, though warmer winters have made snowfall less reliable.
πŸ”οΈ
A former summer capital
Built at 2,200m elevation, Shimla served as the summer capital of British India and is now the summer capital of Himachal Pradesh.
⚠️
Monsoon landslide risk
Heavy rain in July and August can trigger landslides and flooding, occasionally disrupting roads and the toy train line.
Top attractions
1
The Ridge
A wide, open promenade at the heart of Shimla, connecting to Mall Road and Scandal Point, popular for evening strolls with views over the surrounding hills.
2
Jakhu Temple
A Hanuman temple at Shimla's highest point, marked by a 108-foot statue of the deity, reachable by a short hike or cable car with panoramic mountain views.
3
Kalka-Shimla Toy Train
A UNESCO World Heritage narrow-gauge railway climbing from Kalka to Shimla through more than a hundred tunnels, considered one of the most scenic train rides in the world.
Frequently asked questions
When is monsoon season in Shimla?
Shimla's monsoon season runs roughly from July through September, with August historically the wettest, averaging around 351mm of rain across 16 days.
What is the best time of year to visit Shimla?
October and November are historically Shimla's most reliable months overall, dry, sunny, and cool after the monsoon, while December, though colder, is the driest pick within winter.
What is the least favorable time to visit Shimla?
August, the wettest month of the year, historically brings heavy rain along with a real risk of landslides and flooding.
Which month has the most rain in Shimla?
August is historically the wettest month, averaging around 351mm of rain across 16 days.
Which month is the driest in Shimla?
November is historically the driest month, averaging around 15mm of rain.
How hot does Shimla get?
June is historically the warmest month of the year on average.
What should I pack for Shimla during the rainy season?
An umbrella and rain gear are worth having from around July through September, and warm layers are worth packing year-round given the altitude.
Does Shimla get snow?
It's possible but not guaranteed. About a meter of snow falls in an average year, mostly in January and February, though warmer winters have made snowfall less reliable.
Is landslide risk a concern in Shimla?
Yes. Heavy rain in July and August can historically trigger landslides and flooding, occasionally disrupting roads and the toy train line.
Is the Kalka-Shimla railway worth riding?
It's a UNESCO World Heritage narrow-gauge railway that climbs 96km from the plains through 103 tunnels and over 969 bridges, considered one of the most scenic train rides in the world.