Bhutan's generally dry spring starts in early March and lasts until mid-April. Summer weather then commences in mid-April with occasional showers and continues to late June.
The Indian summer monsoon lasts from late-June through late-September and is mostly confined to the southern border region of Bhutan. It brings forth heavy rain and high humidity, to the southern region. These rains bring between 60 and 90 percent of the western region's rainfall.
Autumn, from late September or early October to late November, follows next. It is characterized by bright, sunny days and some early snowfalls at higher elevations.
From late November until March, winter sets in, covering frost throughout much of the country. Snowfall is common above elevations of 3,000 meters. The winter northeast monsoon brings thunderous claps of winds at the highest altitudes along mountain passes, thus giving Bhutan its name – Drukyul – which translates to "Land of the Thunder Dragon".
Precipitation
Annual precipitation ranges widely in different parts of the country. The northern border region to Tibet gets about forty millimeters of precipitation a year, which is primarily snow. In the temperate central regions, a yearly average of around 1,000 millimeters is common, while 7,800 millimeters per year has been registered at some locations in the humid subtropical south, thus the thick tropical forests, or savannas.
The capital, Thimphu, experiences dry winter months (December through February) with almost no precipitation until March, where rainfall averages 20 millimeters a month. This increases steadily thereafter to a high of 220 millimeters in August for a total annual rainfall of nearly 650 millimeters.
Average Temperatures in Bhutan
It should be noted that average temperatures are recorded from valley floors. There can be considerable divergences from the recorded figures depending upon elevation.
|
Month |
Values.in.Celsius
|
...Paro... |
...Thumphu... |
...Punakha... |
...Trongsa... |
...Bumthang... |
...Mongar... |
...Trashigang... |
|
January |
Max
Min
|
9.4
-5.8
|
12.3
-2.6
|
17.0
4.3
|
13.0
-0.2
|
10.8
-5.1
|
15.5
8.2
|
20.4
10.5
|
|
February |
Max
Min
|
13.0
1.5
|
14.4
0.6
|
19.0
7.8
|
13.9
0.4
|
10.0
-1.4
|
15.9
8.3
|
21.7
11.5
|
|
March |
Max
Min
|
14.5
0.6
|
16.4
3.9
|
22.8
10.4
|
16.7
4.4
|
16.2
3.5
|
20.0
11.6
|
24.8
14.4
|
|
April |
Max
Min
|
17.6
4.6
|
20.0
7.1
|
26.2
12.9
|
20.1
6.6
|
18.7
3.9
|
22.8
14.0
|
28.3
17.0
|
|
May |
Max
Min
|
23.5
10.6
|
22.5
13.1
|
29.1
17.7
|
21
11.6
|
21.3
9.5
|
25.1
17.4
|
30
22.6
|
|
June |
Max
Min
|
25.4
14.1
|
24.4
15.2
|
29.2
20.1
|
22.2
13.6
|
22.5
13.5
|
26.1
19.5
|
30.7
22.6
|
|
July |
Max
Min
|
26.8
14.9
|
25.9
15.6
|
30.4
20.5
|
25.3
15.3
|
24.1
13.6
|
27.1
19.8
|
31.5
23.1
|
|
August
|
Max
Min
|
25.3
14.7
|
25.0
15.8
|
29.1
20
|
23.8
15
|
23.0
13.7
|
25.4
19.6
|
30.2
22.7
|
|
September |
Max
Min
|
23.4
11.7
|
23.1
15
|
27.5
19.1
|
22.6
14.2
|
21.6
12.1
|
24.7
19.4
|
30.0
21.9
|
|
October |
Max
Min
|
18.7
7.4
|
21.9
10.4
|
26.1
14.7
|
21.8
11.7
|
19.5
5.9
|
22.7
15.8
|
29.1
17.7
|
|
November |
Max
Min
|
13.9
1.4
|
17.9
5.0
|
22.6
9.6
|
19.8
6.4
|
16.1
-0.5
|
19.9
11.2
|
26.1
13.6
|
|
December |
Max
Min
|
11.2
-1.7
|
14.5
-1.1
|
19.1
6.3
|
18.2
2.5
|
12.3
-2.3
|
17.7
9.5
|
23.0
11.6
|