Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, sits high in a valley of the eastern Himalayas in the west of the country, at around 2,300–2,600 metres above sea level, at approximately 27.47°N, 89.64°E. Its considerable altitude tempers its subtropical latitude, giving it a cool highland climate (Köppen Cwb) — mild summers and cold winters — with the year shaped above all by the summer monsoon, which divides it into a wet and a dry season.

Summer, from June to September, is mild and the monsoon season, with highs around 23–25°C and comfortable nights, kept from becoming hot by the altitude. The southwest monsoon brings frequent, sometimes heavy rain, thick cloud and high humidity, greening the valley; the pre-monsoon months of April and May are warmer and drier, and among the pleasantest times of year before the rains build.

Winter, from December to February, is cold, dry and sunny, with January the coldest month — highs around 12–13°C but nights that regularly fall below freezing, near -3 to -5°C, bringing frost. Snow falls occasionally in the city and more often on the surrounding peaks. The clear, dry, sunny winter days offer the best mountain views, though the nights are sharply cold.

Thimphu receives on the order of 600–650 mm of precipitation a year, the great majority delivered by the summer monsoon between June and September, when July and August are the wettest; the winter and early spring are dry and sunny. Heavy monsoon rain can trigger landslides and flooding in the steep Himalayan terrain. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Thimphu's weather is governed by its Himalayan-valley setting and the monsoon: the surrounding mountains block cold northern air in winter and wring rain from the humid monsoon air in summer, while the high altitude keeps summers mild and winters cold and frosty. Autumn, after the rains clear, brings crisp, clear air prized for mountain views, and the large day-to-night temperature swing is a hallmark of the elevated valley.

To follow any single measurement in Thimphu more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.