Climate - Lhasa (Tibet)

The climate of Lhasa is temperate semi-arid, with cold, dry winters and pleasantly warm, rainy summers.
The city is the capital of Tibet and is located in southwest China, at 3,650 meters (12,000 feet) above sea level.
Winter nights are freezing, and on colder nights, the temperature can reach -15 °C (5 °F), but it almost always exceeds freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) during the day. It should be remembered that we are at a low latitude (29 degrees north), so the sun is quite strong even in winter, which here is the sunniest season. Being that the air is dry, the cold is usually bearable, except when the wind blows. Despite the fact that the winter is dry, light snowfalls may sometimes occur.
Summer in Lhasa is mild, quite cold at night, about 10.5/11 °C (51/52 °F), and pleasantly warm during the day: the average is 23.5 °C (74 °F) in June, but the almost tropical sun, especially at so high an altitude, is very strong in summer, so it feels warmer in the sun. In the hottest days, the temperature can reach 29/30 °C (84/86 °F) from May to August.

Best Time

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The best time to visit Lhasa is summer, from June to August, as it is the mildest of the year. However, since it is also the rainiest season, you can choose the months of May and September, in which the temperatures are a little lower but the rains are rarer.

Lhasa - Climate data

In Lhasa, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 0.3 °C (32.6 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 17.1 °C (62.7 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Lhasa, precipitation amounts to 460 millimeters (18.1 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest month (December) to 135 mm (5.3 in) in the wettest one (August). Here is the average precipitation.
In Lhasa, there are on average around 3005 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Lhasa - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Lhasa is usually cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 0.3 °C (33 °F), with a minimum of -7.4 °C (18.6 °F) and a maximum of 8.1 °C (46.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11.5 °C (11.5 °F). However, it dropped to -14.6 °C (5.7 °F) in January 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F). However, it reached 20.5 °C (68.9 °F) in January 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 22%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In February, the weather in Lhasa is usually cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 2.8 °C (37 °F), with a minimum of -4.6 °C (23.7 °F) and a maximum of 10.2 °C (50.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9 °C (16 °F). However, it dropped to -12.7 °C (9.1 °F) in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 20.9 °C (69.6 °F) in February 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 21%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In March, the weather in Lhasa is usually quite cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 6.1 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of -0.9 °C (30.4 °F) and a maximum of 13.1 °C (55.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -10.2 °C (13.6 °F) in March 1994.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in March 1999.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 24%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In April, the weather in Lhasa is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 9.4 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 2.7 °C (36.8 °F) and a maximum of 16.2 °C (61.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29 °F). However, it dropped to -4.4 °C (24.1 °F) in April 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 25.9 °C (78.6 °F) in April 2009.
Precipitation amounts to only 9 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 31%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In May, the weather in Lhasa is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 13.5 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) and a maximum of 20.2 °C (68.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.2 °C (31.6 °F) in May 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (78.5 °F). However, it reached 28.9 °C (84 °F) in May 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 37%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In June, the weather in Lhasa is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.0 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 10.6 °C (51.2 °F) and a maximum of 23.4 °C (74.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to 2 °C (35.6 °F) in June 1996.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C (81.5 °F). However, it reached 29.9 °C (85.8 °F) in June 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Lhasa is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.1 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 11.2 °C (52.1 °F) and a maximum of 22.9 °C (73.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 5.3 °C (41.5 °F) in July 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80.5 °F). However, it reached 30.4 °C (86.7 °F) in July 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 19 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In August, the weather in Lhasa is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.4 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 10.7 °C (51.3 °F) and a maximum of 22 °C (71.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 4.9 °C (40.8 °F) in August 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (78.5 °F). However, it reached 29.3 °C (84.7 °F) in August 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 135 mm (5.3 in), distributed over 20 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In September, the weather in Lhasa is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 14.9 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 9 °C (48.1 °F) and a maximum of 20.8 °C (69.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (40.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) in September 1997.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75.5 °F). However, it reached 27.1 °C (80.8 °F) in September 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In October, the weather in Lhasa is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 10.6 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 3.4 °C (38.2 °F) and a maximum of 17.7 °C (63.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.5 °C (23.9 °F) in October 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (72 °F). However, it reached 25.2 °C (77.4 °F) in October 2020.
Precipitation amounts to only 9 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 38%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In November, the weather in Lhasa is usually quite cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 5.2 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of -2.7 °C (27.2 °F) and a maximum of 13.1 °C (55.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C (20 °F). However, it dropped to -10 °C (14 °F) in November 1994.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17.5 °C (64 °F). However, it reached 24 °C (75.2 °F) in November 1999.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 28%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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In December, the weather in Lhasa is usually cold. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 1.5 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -6.6 °C (20.1 °F) and a maximum of 9.6 °C (49.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10 °C (13.5 °F). However, it dropped to -15.1 °C (4.8 °F) in December 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15.5 °C (60 °F). However, it reached 20.1 °C (68.2 °F) in December 2011.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 80% of the time.
The average humidity is 24%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).