Nepal Climate – July 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lalitpur, Bharatpur, and Birgunj
Summary
Nepal experienced its 3rd warmest July on record as average temperatures reached 20.38°C, standing 1.6°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. The unusual warmth coincided with intense monsoon downpours that triggered landslides and highway blockages across central and western districts, even as Pacific waters maintained a moderate El Niño forecast to peak at Very Strong in September to November. is expected to keep rainfall and flood risks elevated in the coming weeks.
This month in numbers
In July 2026, Nepal posted an average temperature of 20.38°C, making it the 3rd warmest such month since records began in 1940. This reading represents a 1.6°C anomaly above the long-term baseline, trailing only the all-time record of 20.66°C set in July 2024. Globally, land areas mirrored this excessive heat, recording their 3rd warmest July on record with an identical 1.6°C anomaly above baseline.
What changed
Looking at the broader season, the May to July period averaged 18.59°C in Nepal, which is 0.6°C above the historical norm and ranks as the 18th warmest May to July window on record. Worldwide, land temperatures over the same three-month span reached 14.34°C, marking the 2nd warmest May to July on record globally. This summer heat follows Nepal's warmest year on record in 2025, when annual temperatures reached 13.95°C as part of a long-term regional warming trend of 1.03°C.
What’s driving change?
The elevated temperatures in the Himalayan region are driven significantly by , a mechanism causing high-altitude mountain environments to heat faster than surrounding lowlands as snow cover recedes. Climate variability in the region is also influenced by , where atmospheric warming creates erratic rainfall patterns. Globally, tropical Pacific conditions remain in a moderate El Niño phase, tracked on our live monitor at ENSO, which historically aligns with warmer conditions across South Asia.
Looking ahead
Seasonal models from climate agencies indicate that the active El Niño will intensify over the coming months, with a 93% probability of reaching a Very Strong El Niño peak between September and November.
Sources:
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Climate Map – Global
Source: NOAA Climate at a Glance (countries & continents) · Met Office (UK) · US states & climate regions. Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline. See methodology.
Typical Climate – Nepal
Köppen Cwb · TemperateNepal has a temperate climate (Köppen Cwb: Subtropical highland), with both a warm/cold cycle and a wet/dry cycle through the year. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 19.9°C, while January is the coldest at 3.9°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1542mm, concentrated mostly in the wet season.
Monthly climate normals (2016–2025) - bar colour and height show average temperature, the shaded area shows average monthly precipitation.
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Long-Term Trends
Combined Timeline – Nepal
Precipitation, Sunshine, Frost and Snow are converted to standard deviations from their own average so they can share an axis with Temperature.
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Heatwave Days – Nepal
Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - days in a 6+ day run above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that time of year.
Data: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5-derived). Refreshed roughly 1-2x/year, ~7-8 months behind present.
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Nepal
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Monthly Temperature – Nepal
Latest month is provisional and may be revised by the data provider in the next update cycle.
Background lines show the last 40 years (plus the record year and its opposite, wherever they fall).
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Records – Nepal
Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP) - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm/cold + wet/dryKöppen Cwb · TemperateNepal has both a clear warm/cold cycle (±7.6°C) and a wet/dry cycle (36× wet:dry ratio). Both sides of the annual rhythm are shown below.
Monthly precipitation climatology. A “wet month” exceeds the baseline monthly mean (dashed gold line). Biggest month-to-month shift: Aug (-79 mm, -19%).
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Climate Systems
Loading ENSO tracker…
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
Data Sources
Data Sources for Nepal
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
Country-level temperature anomaly, sourced from Copernicus ERA5 and Hadley HadCRUT5.
Annual country and global CO₂ emissions, from the Global Carbon Project.
Monthly rainfall - Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (DWD) preferred, World Bank CCKP/CRU TS fallback where GPCC lacks direct coverage.
Frost Days and Heatwave Days (Warm Spell Duration Index), ERA5-derived. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal.
Monthly snow water-equivalent, Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (DWD).
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Nepal changing?
Nepal is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
What is the climate like in Nepal?
Nepal has a temperate climate (Köppen Cwb: Subtropical highland), with both a warm/cold cycle and a wet/dry cycle through the year. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 19.9°C, while January is the coldest at 3.9°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1542mm, concentrated mostly in the wet season.
Where does the climate data for Nepal come from?
Climate data for Nepal comes from Our World in Data, sourcing Copernicus ERA5 and HadCRUT5 (national temperature anomaly) and the Global Carbon Project via Our World in Data (CO₂ emissions), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Nepal climate data cover?
The Nepal climate profile covers Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lalitpur, Bharatpur and surrounding areas. Temperature, rainfall and emissions data for Nepal
How often is the Nepal climate update refreshed?
The Nepal climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.
What counts as a Heatwave Day on the Nepal climate page?
Heatwave Days use the Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - the WMO/ETCCDI-standard heatwave measure: days that are part of a run of 6 or more consecutive days above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that calendar day. The 90th-percentile threshold varies by time of year (a hot day in January is judged differently to one in July) but is fixed to the 1961-1990 baseline for every year shown - it does not shift as the climate warms, which is why Heatwave Days trend upward over time.
Does the Nepal climate page include frost and snow data?
Yes. Frost Days (days with a minimum temperature below 0°C, World Bank CCKP) and snow water-equivalent (GPCC) are shown alongside temperature and precipitation, each measured against the 1961-1990 baseline where a like-for-like historical comparison is available.