Bhutan
Bhutan Weather & Climate: Monthly Averages
Monthly climate averages for Bhutan, temperatures, rainfall and the best time to visit.
Bhutan
Climate overview of Bhutan
Because of its location in the Himalayas, Bhutan is often mistakenly thought to be cold. In winter it is indeed cold on the high peaks, but at the moderate altitudes it generally only comes to light or sometimes moderate frosts during the night. Even during the winter months, daytime temperatures easily reach 4°C (39°F) to 10°C (50°F). Locally, it can even get much warmer.
Bhutan has a distinct dry season, which runs from November through March. April and October are transition months between the dry season and the monsoon. The wet season lasts from May through mid-September and is synonymous with summer. During this period almost all of the annual rainfall falls. This can cause inconvenience in many forms, including floods and mudslides. Some roads in Bhutan become temporarily impassable during the monsoon season, requiring closure.
If you want to travel around Bhutan we would pick two specific periods for this. The first period is from early March to the second half of April. The weather is then fine in large parts of the country, with the note that it can still be mean cold in the highest mountain areas, especially during the night. A second good period to travel to Bhutan is between mid-October and mid-November. The monsoon is then over and the serious cold does not yet present itself in the higher regions.
Popular cities by month
Compare cities per month. Toggle cities on/off.
Thimphu
Paro
Punākha
Wangdiphodrang
Drugyel Dzong
Day temperature (°C)
Monthly rainfall (mm)
Climate map
Average daily temperature, monthly rainfall & sunshine hours across cities.
Avg day temp (°C)
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32°
Compare popular cities
Average daytime and nighttime temperatures, yearly rainfall and sunshine.
| Thimphu | 15°C (59°F) – 27°C (81°F) | -2°C (28°F) – 17°C (63°F) | 618 mm (24 in) | — |
| Paro | 5°C (41°F) – 18°C (64°F) | -8°C (18°F) – 11°C (52°F) | 2472 mm (97 in) | — |
| Punākha | 7°C (45°F) – 20°C (68°F) | -4°C (25°F) – 12°C (54°F) | 3274 mm (129 in) | — |
| Wangdiphodrang | 9°C (48°F) – 21°C (70°F) | -1°C (30°F) – 14°C (57°F) | 3422 mm (135 in) | — |
| Drugyel Dzong | 3°C (37°F) – 16°C (61°F) | -11°C (12°F) – 9°C (48°F) | 2359 mm (93 in) | — |
FAQ
What is the best time to visit Bhutan?
The warmest month in Thimphu is August, with daytime highs of 27°C (81°F). Thimphu is the sunniest destination, with 0 hours of sunshine in January. Bhutan has a distinct dry season from November to April. Explore Bhutan weather by month for a detailed breakdown.
What temperatures can I expect in Bhutan?
Thimphu is the warmest destination, reaching 27°C (81°F) in August with nights around 17°C (63°F). Drugyel Dzong is the coolest, with January daytime highs of just 3°C (37°F) and nights dropping to -11°C (12°F). Temperatures vary significantly between regions and seasons. See the city comparison for a full overview.
How much rain does Bhutan get?
Rainfall varies across Bhutan. Drugyel Dzong is the wettest, receiving 2359 mm (93 in) per year, with July the wettest month at 540 mm (21 in). Thimphu is the driest at 618 mm (24 in) per year. Use the climate map to explore rainfall patterns across regions.
How sunny is Bhutan?
Thimphu is the sunniest destination in Bhutan, enjoying 0 hours of sunshine per year, with January the brightest month at 0 hours. Overcast skies are common, especially during winter months. Compare sunshine across cities in the charts above.
What is the climate like across Bhutan?
Thimphu has warm summers reaching 27°C (81°F) in August and mild winters dropping to 15°C (59°F), with 0 hours of sunshine and 618 mm (24 in) of rain per year. Paro has mild summers reaching 18°C (64°F) in August and cold winters dropping to 5°C (41°F), with 0 hours of sunshine and 2472 mm (97 in) of rain per year. Punākha has pleasant summers reaching 20°C (68°F) in August and cold winters dropping to 7°C (45°F), with 0 hours of sunshine and 3274 mm (129 in) of rain per year. Explore the climate charts and comparison table for more cities.
Places in Bhutan
Select a city to see its average temperature, precipitation and hours of sunshine over the year.
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