Climate - Chittagong (Bangladesh)

The climate of Chittagong (or Chattogram), the second largest city in Bangladesh, is tropical, influenced by the monsoon, with a dry season from November to March and a rainy season from May to October.
The city is located in southeastern Bangladesh, at 22 degrees north latitude, near the estuary of the Karnaphuli River, on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Since the coast is exposed to the southwest, it directly receives the humid currents brought by the monsoon, in fact, the rains are very abundant, especially from June to August.
In winter, from December to February, the night temperature can drop to 12/13 °C (53/55 °F) or even below.
From March the temperature rises, and there can be very hot periods. From the end of March to the beginning of June, the temperature can reach or exceed 36/37 °C (97/99 °F). In late April 2014, it reached 39.6 °C (103.3 °F).
During this period, showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon occur, which become gradually more frequent and intense, to the point that May is a very rainy month.
The actual monsoon runs from June to early October. In this period, the rains are very abundant, and the sky is often cloudy.



Chittagong is in the path of tropical cyclones. Typically, cyclones occur from April to December, with two intensity peaks before and after the monsoon (from late April to early June and in October-November). Chittagong was destroyed by the Bangladesh cyclone of late April 1991, one of the most catastrophic in history, but was also hit hard by Cyclone Bhola in early November 1970, which was just as intense but reached the mainland a little further to the west in East Pakistan (the name Bangladesh had at that time).

Best Time

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The best time to visit Chittagong is winter, between mid-December and February. Typically, in November and in the first half of December, the weather is good, and it's hot but not too much, but we cannot exclude that some cloud banks can still form, or that a cyclone, maybe outside of the normal season, can arrive. In March and April, it's hot, and thunderstorms, sometimes intense, can develop.

Chittagong - Climate data

In Chittagong, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 20.7 °C (69.2 °F), that of the warmest month (May) is of 29.2 °C (84.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Chittagong, precipitation amounts to 2890 millimeters (113.8 inches) per year: it is therefore very abundant. It ranges from 7 mm (0.3 in) in the driest month (January) to 735 mm (28.9 in) in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.
At Chittagong, the sea temperature ranges from 22.5 °C (72 °F) in January to 30 °C (86 °F) in June. Here are the average sea temperatures.
In Chittagong, there are on average around 2475 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Chittagong - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coolest month of the year, the weather in Chittagong is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.7 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 15.4 °C (59.8 °F) and a maximum of 25.9 °C (78.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F).
Precipitation amounts to only 7 mm (0.3 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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In February, the weather in Chittagong is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 23.4 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 18.1 °C (64.5 °F) and a maximum of 28.6 °C (83.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23 °C (74 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Chittagong is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 26.5 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 21.9 °C (71.4 °F) and a maximum of 31.1 °C (88 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18 °C (64.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 26 °C (79 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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In April, the weather in Chittagong is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 28.4 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 24.8 °C (76.6 °F) and a maximum of 32.1 °C (89.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 20.5 °C (69 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 135 mm (5.3 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28.5 °C (83 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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In May, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Chittagong is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 29.2 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 25.8 °C (78.4 °F) and a maximum of 32.6 °C (90.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (71.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 315 mm (12.4 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 29.5 °C (85.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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In June, the weather in Chittagong is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 28.9 °C (84 °F), with a minimum of 26.2 °C (79.1 °F) and a maximum of 31.7 °C (89 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 590 mm (23.2 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 30 °C (85.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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In July, the weather in Chittagong is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 28.5 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 25.9 °C (78.7 °F) and a maximum of 31.1 °C (88 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 24 °C (74.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 735 mm (28.9 in), distributed over 19 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 29 °C (84.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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In August, the weather in Chittagong is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 28.7 °C (84 °F), with a minimum of 26 °C (78.7 °F) and a maximum of 31.4 °C (88.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 23 °C (74 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 515 mm (20.3 in), distributed over 17 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 29 °C (84 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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In September, the weather in Chittagong is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 28.9 °C (84 °F), with a minimum of 25.9 °C (78.6 °F) and a maximum of 31.8 °C (89.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 240 mm (9.4 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 29 °C (84 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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In October, the weather in Chittagong is usually very hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 28.3 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 25.1 °C (77.1 °F) and a maximum of 31.6 °C (88.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 22.5 °C (72 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 200 mm (7.9 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 29 °C (84.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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In November, the weather in Chittagong is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 25.7 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 21.4 °C (70.5 °F) and a maximum of 30 °C (85.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17.5 °C (63.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (3 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 27 °C (81 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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In December, the weather in Chittagong is usually warm. The average temperature is of 22.0 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 17.2 °C (63 °F) and a maximum of 26.8 °C (80.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 14 mm (0.6 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 24.5 °C (76 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.