Thimphu, Bhutan Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Thimphu
Thimphu is genuinely wet: 132.3 inches (3360 mm) falls in an average year, across 292 days that carry about 11.5 mm each when they come. Temperatures are the calmer variable, running 49°F (9°C) to 71°F (22°C) between January and July.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 71°F (22°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 49°F (9°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 80°F (26°C) high · 8°F (-13°C) low
- Wettest month: July (31 rainy days) · Sunniest: April (10.4 h sun/day)
- Climate type: oceanic
- Annual swing: 14°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 9°C
- Snow: about 32 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 1
- Average humidity: 83%
Temperatures through the year
January bottoms out at 49°F (9°C) in daylight, 30°F (-1°C) after dark. Warmth peaks in July: highs of 71°F (22°C), lows of 59°F (15°C). Relative humidity averages 83% across the year, more humid than 94% of the 3496 cities in our dataset.
Rain, sun and snow
Sunshine averages 9.1 hours a day over the year, peaking in April at 10.4 hours. The wettest month is July (24.9 inches (633 mm) across 31 days) and the driest January. Snow falls on roughly 32 days a year, mostly November through April. Average lows drop to freezing in one month of the year, January. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 80°F (26°C) and bottoms at 8°F (-13°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.
How Thimphu compares
- Annual precipitation is 132.3 inches (3360 mm) - wetter than any other city in our 3496-city dataset.
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 292 days a year - more wet days than any other city in our 3496-city dataset.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 49° | 30° | 16 | 3.2 in | 9.2 h/day | 10.6 h | 51% | 72% |
| February | 51° | 34° | 20 | 5.0 in | 9.1 h/day | 11.2 h | 71% | 79% |
| March | 57° | 39° | 26 | 7.6 in | 10.0 h/day | 11.9 h | 83% | 81% |
| April | 63° | 45° | 26 | 8.5 in | 10.4 h/day | 12.8 h | 88% | 82% |
| May | 66° | 50° | 29 | 13.0 in | 10.1 h/day | 13.5 h | 95% | 86% |
| June | 70° | 56° | 29 | 19.5 in | 8.8 h/day | 13.9 h | 98% | 90% |
| July | 71° | 59° | 31 | 24.9 in | 7.0 h/day | 13.7 h | 99% | 92% |
| August | 71° | 59° | 30 | 20.1 in | 7.8 h/day | 13.1 h | 97% | 89% |
| September | 69° | 56° | 29 | 15.1 in | 8.6 h/day | 12.3 h | 96% | 90% |
| October | 64° | 49° | 24 | 8.2 in | 9.5 h/day | 11.5 h | 78% | 84% |
| November | 59° | 42° | 17 | 4.1 in | 9.6 h/day | 10.7 h | 57% | 79% |
| December | 53° | 36° | 15 | 3.2 in | 9.1 h/day | 10.4 h | 47% | 75% |
Thimphu month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Thimphu's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 9.2 h
- Daylight
- 10.6 h
- Snow
- 11 days
February
- Rain
- 20 days
- Sunshine
- 9.1 h
- Daylight
- 11.2 h
- Snow
- 10 days
March
- Rain
- 26 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
- Snow
- 5 days
April
- Rain
- 26 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.8 h
May
- Rain
- 29 days
- Sunshine
- 10.1 h
- Daylight
- 13.5 h
June
- Rain
- 29 days
- Sunshine
- 8.8 h
- Daylight
- 13.9 h
July
- Rain
- 31 days
- Sunshine
- 7.0 h
- Daylight
- 13.7 h
August
- Rain
- 30 days
- Sunshine
- 7.8 h
- Daylight
- 13.1 h
September
- Rain
- 29 days
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
October
- Rain
- 24 days
- Sunshine
- 9.5 h
- Daylight
- 11.5 h
November
- Rain
- 17 days
- Sunshine
- 9.6 h
- Daylight
- 10.7 h
December
- Rain
- 15 days
- Sunshine
- 9.1 h
- Daylight
- 10.4 h
- Snow
- 5 days
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Thimphu
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Thimphu stays on the cool side of mild, with daytime highs averaging 62°F (17°C) and nights around 45°F (7°C); rain falls on around 81 of the 90 days, plus about 6 snowy days. Daylight is generous - around 10.2 hours of sun a day.
Summer (June through August)
Through summer, Thimphu is mild and warm: 71°F (22°C) by day, 58°F (14°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 90 of the 90 days.
Fall (September through November)
Fall is mild here - highs near 64°F (18°C), nights near 49°F (9°C), and rain falls on around 70 of the 90 days.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Thimphu is brisk and cold, with daytime highs averaging 51°F (11°C) and nights around 33°F (1°C); rain falls on around 50 of the 90 days, plus about 26 snowy days.
Climate questions, answered
How humid does Thimphu get?
How cold does Thimphu get in winter?
How many rainy days does Thimphu get in a year?
How hot does Thimphu get in summer?
What should I pack for Thimphu?
Best time to visit Thimphu
The best time to visit Thimphu is generally April to September, when warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 68°F (20°C), with rain on about 29 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in April.
Pack for Thimphu with a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here. Even in July, lows of 59°F (15°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Thimphu temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.