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 |
