Thimphu, Bhutan Climate & Monthly Averages

Bhutan 🇧🇹 · oceanic climate
Annual avg
53°
Hottest month
July
Coldest month
January
Rainy days / yr
292
Sunshine
9.1 h/day
Right now: 57° and mist - see live conditions

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

Monthly averages for Thimphu based on 2015–2024 weather data.
MonthHighLow Rain daysPrecipitation SunshineHumidity
January 49° 30° 16 3.2 in 9.2 h/day 72%
February 51° 34° 20 5.0 in 9.1 h/day 79%
March 57° 39° 26 7.6 in 10.0 h/day 81%
April 63° 45° 26 8.5 in 10.4 h/day 82%
May 66° 50° 29 13.0 in 10.1 h/day 86%
June 70° 56° 29 19.5 in 8.8 h/day 90%
July 71° 59° 31 24.9 in 7.0 h/day 92%
August 71° 59° 30 20.1 in 7.8 h/day 89%
September 69° 56° 29 15.1 in 8.6 h/day 90%
October 64° 49° 24 8.2 in 9.5 h/day 84%
November 59° 42° 17 4.1 in 9.6 h/day 79%
December 53° 36° 15 3.2 in 9.1 h/day 75%

Thimphu month by month

Thimphu weather in January

January brings highs around 49°F (9°C), lows near 30°F (-1°C), about 16 wet days and roughly 11 snowy days - typically the coldest month and the driest month of the year in Thimphu.

Thimphu weather in February

February brings highs around 51°F (10°C), lows near 34°F (1°C), about 20 wet days and roughly 10 snowy days.

Thimphu weather in March

March brings highs around 57°F (14°C), lows near 39°F (4°C), about 26 wet days and roughly 5 snowy days.

Thimphu weather in April

April brings highs around 63°F (17°C), lows near 45°F (7°C), about 26 wet days - typically the sunniest month of the year in Thimphu.

Thimphu weather in May

May brings highs around 66°F (19°C), lows near 50°F (10°C), about 29 wet days.

Thimphu weather in June

June brings highs around 70°F (21°C), lows near 56°F (14°C), about 29 wet days.

Thimphu weather in July

July brings highs around 71°F (22°C), lows near 59°F (15°C), about 31 wet days - typically the hottest month and the wettest month of the year in Thimphu.

Thimphu weather in August

August brings highs around 71°F (22°C), lows near 59°F (15°C), about 30 wet days.

Thimphu weather in September

September brings highs around 69°F (21°C), lows near 56°F (13°C), about 29 wet days.

Thimphu weather in October

October brings highs around 64°F (18°C), lows near 49°F (9°C), about 24 wet days.

Thimphu weather in November

November brings highs around 59°F (15°C), lows near 42°F (5°C), about 17 wet days.

Thimphu weather in December

December brings highs around 53°F (12°C), lows near 36°F (2°C), about 15 wet days and roughly 5 snowy days.

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?
Relative humidity averages 83% across the year, which reads as very humid. The most comfortable stretch falls in the drier half of the year.
How cold does Thimphu get in winter?
January nights average 30°F (-1°C). Frost and occasional ice are part of the season.
How many rainy days does Thimphu get in a year?
About 292 days bring measurable precipitation, totalling 132.3 inches (3360 mm). That works out at roughly 11.5 mm on an average wet day.
How hot does Thimphu get in summer?
July averages 71°F (22°C). Summers here stay temperate rather than hot.
What should I pack for Thimphu?
It depends on the month: July runs to 71°F (22°C) while January holds at 49°F (9°C). The full month-by-month breakdown is in the packing notes above.

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)

Highest recorded
80°
in August
Lowest recorded
in January
Annual precipitation
132.3"
Snowy days / yr
32

Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.