Understanding Nepal’s climate zones, seasons, and altitude

In Nepal, you don’t need to travel far to step into different weather—just climb a mountain. The country seems built for stark contrasts: heat and humidity in the south, and within a few dozen kilometers, frost and snow at altitude.

Five belts — one Nepal

Nepal is small on the map, yet its climate reads like an entire continent. From the lowest point to the highest, the difference exceeds 8,000 meters. Along that rise, you pass through five distinct weather zones.

It starts with the Terai—the southern plains. It is hot for most of the year. In summer the temperature easily tops 40 °C, and the monsoon makes it feel even more stifling. Winter is milder, not truly cold, hovering around 7 to 23 °C.

Next come the hills and valleys, including the Kathmandu area. Here the climate is temperate: warm in summer, cool in winter, with no severe freezes. Depending on the season, temperatures range from 2 to 35 °C.

Climb higher and the air sharpens. Mountain districts feel genuinely chilly; winters can be harsh and summers brief and cool. The rule is simple: the higher you go, the colder it gets. Above 4,400 meters begins the realm of snow and ice—true glaciers where even summer can dip below zero.

Scientists note that with every kilometer of elevation, the temperature drops by about 6 °C. In other words, if it is 30 °C in the lowlands, it can be freezing on a nearby summit. The contrast is hard to miss.

How the seasons shift

Nepal counts not four seasons but five: spring, summer, the rainy monsoon, autumn, and winter. From June to September the monsoon brings heavy downpours. It sustains farming yet often triggers floods and landslides. The rest of the year is the dry season, with clearer skies and cleaner air.

Where people live and how climate shapes life

Most people settle in the lowlands and on the hills, where it is easier to grow food, build homes, and live comfortably. High in the mountains life is tougher—cold, remote, resource‑scarce. Those areas more often host summer herding or travelers, while permanent villages are fewer.

These zones strongly shape daily life. In one belt you can cultivate rice and bananas; in another, only potatoes—or nothing at all. The country’s verticality defines its options.

What is happening to the climate now

According to a report by Nepal’s government, 2023 was among the warmest years since 1981. Hot days are becoming more frequent, and rainy seasons are growing less predictable. Change is especially rapid in the south, which is getting hotter, and in the mountains, where glaciers are melting.

These shifts carry real risks: floods, landslides, and water shortages. If temperatures continue to rise, the impact on people and nature will be significant. The warning signs are already in plain view.

Takeaway

Nepal is a remarkable place where, in just a few hours, you can move from the tropics to permafrost. That makes it compelling for travelers and invaluable for scientists. Yet the same variety is increasingly vulnerable to climate change. Understanding how the country is changing is a first step toward keeping it safe.