Chitwan National Park - Climate

Climate- Chitwan National Park

The Park has a range of climatic seasons each offering a unique experience. The period from October to February, featuring an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, provides a pleasant climate. In contrast, temperatures during the March to June period can soar to as high as 43 degrees Celsius. The hot humid days give way to the monsoon season that typically lasts from late June until September, rivers become flooded and roads are impossible.

In late January, local villagers are allowed to cut thatch grasses to meet their needs, which offer a better viewing of wildlife for visitors. Also, between September and November and February and April, migratory birds join the residential birds and create spectacular bird watching opportunities. While the monsoon rains bring lush vegetation, most trees flower in late winter. The palash tree, known as the "flame of the forest' and silk cotton tree have spectacular crimson flowers that can be seen from a distance.

The Chitwan National Park has a tropical monsoon climate, with height humidity all through the year, and three main seasons.

Summer

March to early June are the traditional hot months, with temperatures rising progressively to a peak in May. During April, despite the heat of the day the nights can be quite cold. South - westerly winds prevail, and relative humidity is lowest in March.

Monsoon

Towards the end of May the pre-monsoon storms set in. Dark clouds mass in the afternoons, with thunder and lightning and high winds. If rain falls, it comes in late afternoon showers lasting perhaps only fifteen to twenty minutes. As May changes into June the showers come with increasing frequency.

When the monsoon proper begins, around the middle of June, it is another story. From then until late September the moisture-laden south-easterly winds weeping up from the Bay of Bengal bring heavy rain, and of the annual total of some 80 inches, more than 80 per cent falls in these three months.

Precipitation is not normally continuous, and often, in any monsoon month, there are as many dry days as wet ones. During the monsoon humidity is extremely high.

Winter

Winter lasts from October to the end of February. The northerly winds are cool, coming down from the mountains, and this is the best time of the year to see the Great Himalayan Range, the air being particularly clear in November.

January is the coldest month, with temperatures falling almost to freezing-point, especially when it rains. From late November the relative humidity touches 100 percent in the mornings, and so there is dewfall during December and January nights and sometimes when you hear the drips pouring off the trees in the morning, it is often mistaken for rain. After an especially cold morning it is hard to believe that the temperature will rise to 20-25 Celsius in the afternoon.