Climate of Himachal Pradesh
There is a huge variation in the climatic conditions of Himachal Pradesh due to variation in altitude (360–6500 metres). The climate varies from hot and sub-humid tropical (450–900 metres) in the southern low tracts, warm and temperate (900–1800 metres), cool and temperate (1800–2400 metres) and cold glacial and alpine (2400–4800 metres) in the northern and eastern high elevated mountain. Pollution is affecting the climate of almost all the states of India.
By October, nights and mornings are very cold. Snowfall at elevations of nearly 3000 m is about 3km and lasts from December start to March end. About 4500 m, is perpetual snow.
The spring season starts from mid February to mid April. The weather is pleasant and comfortable in the season.
The rainy season start at the end of the month of June. The landscape lushes green and fresh. During the season streams and natural springs are replenished. The heavy rains in July and August cause erosion, floods and landslides. Of all the state districts, Dharamshala receives the highest rainfall, nearly about 3400 mm. Spiti is the driest area of the state (rainfall below 50mm). The reason is that it is enclosed by high mountains on all sides.[1]
| Altitude | Up to 800 m | 800m-1,600m | 1,600m-2,700m | 2,700m-3,600m |
| Type of area | Valley areas and foothills | Hilly and mountain ranges | Alpine zone | Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur range |
| Climatic conditions | Sub tropical | Slightly warm temperature | Cool temperature with humidity | Dry and extremely cold conditions |
| Rainfall in mm. | 1,500 | 1,500-3000 | 1,000-1,500 | 500 |
| % of total geographical area | 30% | 10% | 25% | 35% |
| % of total cultivated area | 56% | 30% | 10% | 5% |
Rainfall
The average annual rainfall is 1,251(mm). The rainy season start at the end of the month of June. The landscape lushes green and fresh. During the seasonal streams and natural springs are replenished. The heavy rains in July and August cause erosion, floods, and landslides. Of all the state districts, Dharamshala receives the highest rainfall, nearly about 3400 mm. Spiti is the driest area of the state (rainfall below 50mm).
Climate data
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record high °C (°F) | 24.7 (76.5) |
28.0 (82.4) |
33.4 (92.1) |
36.2 (97.2) |
38.6 (101.5) |
38.6 (101.5) |
42.7 (108.9) |
37.8 (100.0) |
34.8 (94.6) |
34.6 (94.3) |
28.6 (83.5) |
27.2 (81.0) |
42.7 (108.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 16.0 (60.8) |
17.8 (64.0) |
22.5 (72.5) |
26.9 (80.4) |
30.8 (87.4) |
30.9 (87.6) |
27.5 (81.5) |
26.6 (79.9) |
26.8 (80.2) |
25.6 (78.1) |
22.0 (71.6) |
18.4 (65.1) |
24.4 (75.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 5.9 (42.6) |
7.3 (45.1) |
10.7 (51.3) |
14.8 (58.6) |
19.0 (66.2) |
20.5 (68.9) |
19.7 (67.5) |
19.2 (66.6) |
17.8 (64.0) |
14.2 (57.6) |
10.2 (50.4) |
7.1 (44.8) |
13.9 (57.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −1.9 (28.6) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
2.4 (36.3) |
7.3 (45.1) |
8.4 (47.1) |
12.6 (54.7) |
14.3 (57.7) |
14.1 (57.4) |
11.2 (52.2) |
8.0 (46.4) |
4.8 (40.6) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 83.6 (3.29) |
128.3 (5.05) |
111.3 (4.38) |
65.7 (2.59) |
72.4 (2.85) |
279.0 (10.98) |
859.0 (33.82) |
942.3 (37.10) |
377.7 (14.87) |
52.6 (2.07) |
18.8 (0.74) |
36.6 (1.44) |
3,027.3 (119.19) |
| Average rainy days | 4.5 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 10.7 | 22.0 | 23.0 | 13.9 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 102.3 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) | 67 | 67 | 58 | 55 | 50 | 59 | 81 | 85 | 78 | 65 | 64 | 66 | 66 |
| Source: India Meteorological Department[2][3][4] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Shimla (Köppen Cwb) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 21.4 (70.5) |
22.6 (72.7) |
25.8 (78.4) |
29.6 (85.3) |
32.4 (90.3) |
31.5 (88.7) |
28.9 (84.0) |
27.8 (82.0) |
28.6 (83.5) |
25.6 (78.1) |
23.5 (74.3) |
20.5 (68.9) |
32.4 (90.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 10.9 (51.6) |
11.9 (53.4) |
15.8 (60.4) |
20.5 (68.9) |
24.1 (75.4) |
24.8 (76.6) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.0 (71.6) |
22.1 (71.8) |
20.3 (68.5) |
16.7 (62.1) |
13.5 (56.3) |
18.8 (65.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) |
3.7 (38.7) |
7.0 (44.6) |
11.4 (52.5) |
14.6 (58.3) |
16.2 (61.2) |
15.9 (60.6) |
15.5 (59.9) |
14.1 (57.4) |
11.1 (52.0) |
7.8 (46.0) |
5.1 (41.2) |
10.4 (50.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −10.6 (12.9) |
−8.5 (16.7) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
1.4 (34.5) |
7.8 (46.0) |
9.4 (48.9) |
10.6 (51.1) |
5.0 (41.0) |
0.2 (32.4) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−12.2 (10.0) |
−12.2 (10.0) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 66.4 (2.61) |
75.3 (2.96) |
81.2 (3.20) |
60.8 (2.39) |
90.3 (3.56) |
181.9 (7.16) |
329.8 (12.98) |
320.4 (12.61) |
142.3 (5.60) |
36.7 (1.44) |
18.4 (0.72) |
24.2 (0.95) |
1,427.7 (56.21) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 42 (17) |
43 (17) |
7 (2.8) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
7 (2.8) |
99 (39.6) |
| Average rainy days | 4.2 | 5.6 | 6.1 | 4.8 | 7.0 | 9.6 | 17.0 | 15.7 | 8.2 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 83.7 |
| Average snowy days | 4.2 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 11.2 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) | 67 | 65 | 57 | 47 | 48 | 62 | 85 | 88 | 79 | 63 | 61 | 60 | 65 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 8 (46) |
12 (54) |
15 (59) |
16 (61) |
19 (66) |
23 (73) |
26 (79) |
26 (79) |
24 (75) |
19 (66) |
13 (55) |
10 (50) |
18 (64) |
| Average ultraviolet index | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Source 1: India Meteorological Department (snow 1990–2010)[5][6][7] Time and Date (dewpoints, 2005-2015)[8] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weather Atlas[9] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Sundar Nagar (Köppen Cwa) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 27.7 (81.9) |
30.5 (86.9) |
35.0 (95.0) |
39.9 (103.8) |
41.4 (106.5) |
42.1 (107.8) |
39.2 (102.6) |
35.1 (95.2) |
34.1 (93.4) |
33.6 (92.5) |
31.2 (88.2) |
26.8 (80.2) |
42.1 (107.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 17.8 (64.0) |
19.8 (67.6) |
24.7 (76.5) |
30.1 (86.2) |
33.8 (92.8) |
34.1 (93.4) |
30.9 (87.6) |
30.2 (86.4) |
30.3 (86.5) |
28.5 (83.3) |
24.3 (75.7) |
19.5 (67.1) |
27.0 (80.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) |
5.1 (41.2) |
9.0 (48.2) |
13.0 (55.4) |
17.1 (62.8) |
20.0 (68.0) |
21.8 (71.2) |
21.5 (70.7) |
18.6 (65.5) |
11.8 (53.2) |
6.3 (43.3) |
3.0 (37.4) |
12.5 (54.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −2.7 (27.1) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
0.5 (32.9) |
9.6 (49.3) |
11.4 (52.5) |
16.5 (61.7) |
15.1 (59.2) |
10.2 (50.4) |
5.4 (41.7) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 61.9 (2.44) |
72.4 (2.85) |
78.1 (3.07) |
50.5 (1.99) |
83.1 (3.27) |
176.6 (6.95) |
348.8 (13.73) |
314.3 (12.37) |
137.1 (5.40) |
35.7 (1.41) |
13.2 (0.52) |
35.5 (1.40) |
1,407.4 (55.41) |
| Average rainy days | 4.0 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 3.9 | 6.3 | 9.2 | 14.9 | 13.8 | 7.1 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 75.4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) | 54 | 48 | 42 | 34 | 37 | 49 | 71 | 76 | 69 | 54 | 53 | 57 | 54 |
| Source: India Meteorological Department[10][11] | |||||||||||||
References
- ^ "Climate of Himachal Pradesh".
- ^ "Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Station: Dharamshala Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1981–2010. India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 243–244. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- ^ "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M68. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- ^ "Station: Shimla Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1981–2010. India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 703–704. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M71. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
- ^ Tyagi, Ajit; Singh, O.; Singh, Manmohan; Bhan, S. "Climate of Shimla" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ "Climate & Weather Averages in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India". Time and Date. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Climate and monthly weather forecast Shimla, India". Weather Atlas. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Station: Sundernagar Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1981–2010. India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 725–726. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- ^ "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M72. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
