Climate and Clothing

CLIMATE
It is difficult to accurately generalise the climate of Bhutan because of the variations in elevations and seasons. Southern Bhutan has a tropical climate with hot humid monsoons. Spring in the higher valleys (mid-March to May) has warm days (20 °C) and cool nights. June marks the beginning of summer when day temperatures warm up to 27 - 29 °C. By July, the rainy season starts and continue till mid-September. The autumn months of September to November are ideal for trekking with clear skies and mild weather. In December temperatures fall, but the days are warm and the clear, azure winter skies serve a striking background to the snow-capped peaks. On a sunny day, temperatures reach about 16-18 ° C. The nights, however, are cold with temperatures falling below freezing.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE CHART

PLACES

JAN
MAX-MIN
FEB
MAX-MIN
MAR
MAX-MIN
APR
MAX-MIN
MAY
MAX-MIN
JUN
MAX-MIN
JUL
MAX-MIN
AUG
MAX-MIN
SEP
MAX-MIN
OCT
MAX-MIN
NOV
MAX-MIN
DEC
MAX-MIN

PARO

9.4     -5.8 13.4    1.5 14.5    0.6 17.6    4.6 23.5  10.6 25.4  14.1 26.8  14.9 25.3  14.7 23.4  11.7 18.7    7.4 13.9    1.4 11.2   -1.7

THIMPHU

12.3   -2.6 14.4    0.6 16.4    3.9 20.0    7.1 22.5  13.1 24.4  15.2 18.9  13.4 25.0  15.8 23.1  15.0 21.9  10.4 17.9    5.0 14.5   -1.1

PUNAKHA

16.1    4.2 19.6    5.3 21.2    9.2 24.4  11.9 27.2  14.8 31.2  19.5 32.0  21.6 31.4  19.8 29.9  20.4 27.8  18.9 22.3  13.0 15.0    7.9

WANGDI

17.0    4.3 19.0    7.8 22.8  10.4 26.2  12.9 29.1  17.7 29.2  20.1 18.4  16.2 29.1  20.0 27.5  19.1 26.1  14.7 22.6    9.6 19.1    6.3

TRONGSA

13.0   -0.2 13.9    0.4 16.7    4.4 20.1    6.6 21.0  11.6 22.2  13.6 25.3  15.3 23.8  15.0 22.6  14.2 21.8  11.7 19.8    6.4 18.2    2.5

BUMTHANG

10.8   -5.1 10.0   -1.4 16.2    3.5 18.7    3.9 21.3    9.5 22.5  13.5 14.1  10.9 23.0  13.7 21.6  12.1 19.5    5.9 16.1   -0.5 12.3   -2.3

MONGAR

15.5    8.2 15.9    8.3 20.0  11.6 22.8  14.0 25.1  17.4 26.1  19.5 16.1  15.8 25.4  19.6 24.7  19.4 22.7  15.8 19.9  11.2 15.7    9.5

TASHIGANG

20.4  10.5 21.7  11.5 24.8  14.4 28.3  17.0 30.0  20.6 30.7  22.6 31.5  23.1 30.2  22.7 30.0  23.9 29.1  17.7 26.1  13.6 23.0  11.6

CLOTHING
Cottons and light woolens in summer (June-Sep). Heavy woolens and jackets the rest of the year. Rain gear for the monsoons (June-Aug) and comfortable shoes.