Climate/Weather

The country can be divided into three distinct climatic zones corresponding broadly to the three main geographical divisions. The southern belt has a hot, humid climate while central Bhutan has a cool temperate climate. The northern region has severe alpine climate and is perpetually under snow. Rainfall can differ within relatively short distances due to rain shadow effects. Heavy rainfalls are experienced during the months of July and August being the monsoon season. Rain is available also in June and September though not as heavy as in July and August.

An estimate of average monthly temparature patterns is given below for different places in Bhutan.

AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPARATURES (IN 0C) OF PLACES IN WESTERN BHUTAN

PARO

THIMPHU

PUNAKHA

WANGDUE

Months

Max

Min

Max

Min

Max

Min

Max

Min

JAN

9

-5

12

+3

15

+7

15

+7

FEB

15

+5

17

0

19

+7

21

+7

MAR

18

+6

14

+5

22

+8

23

+9

APR

19

+7

19

+9

25

+10

25

+13

MAY

22

+13

19

+14

26

+15

26

+13

JUN

24

+14

24

+15

27

+17

28

+18

JUL

25

+16

25

+17

29

+19

29

+19

AUG

26

+15

26

+17

30

+11

29

+20

SEP

20

+11

21

+16

26

+11

27

+20

OCT

18

+9

19

+11

25

+11

26

+19

NOV

16

+3

17

+6

22

+12

21

+11

DEC

13

+4

15

0

19

+9

18

+2

AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPARATURES (IN 0C) OF PLACES IN CENTRAL (TRONGSA & JAKAR), EASTERN (MONGAR & TRASHIGANG) AND SOUTHERN (PHUENTSHOLING) BHUTAN

TRONGSA

JAKAR

MONGAR

TRASHIGANG

PHUENTSHOLING

Months

Max

Min

Max

Min

Max

Min

Max

Min

MaX

MIN

JAN

11

+1

8

+1

20

+10

15

+4

21

+16

FEB

14

+1

13

+1

23

+10

17

+5

21

+16

MAR

15

0

16

+5

24

+9

18

+5

25

+17

APR

17

+4

16

+6

24

+16

21

+9

26

+19

MAY

20

+5

9

+8

27

+20

24

+12

29

+24

JUN

20

+13

20

+12

29

+21

26

+15

31

+24

JUL

21

+15

21

+13

28

+22

27

+16

30

+24

AUG

20

+15

22

+14

29

+21

26

+16

30

+25

SEP

13

+13

21

+13

27

+20

25

+15

31

+26

OCT

20

+13

19

+10

27

+18

22

+11

29

+22

NOV

18

+11

15

+2

25

+13

17

+13

26

+18

DEC

14

+2

14

+5

24

+7

16

+15

23

+14