Nepal is a mountainous, landlocked country located in Asia that is home to eight of the top ten tallest mountains on earth. The country spans an area of 147,181 square kilometers and has a population of about 30 million people. It shares borders with the self-governing region of Tibet to the north and India to the east. Kathmandu acts as the capital of Nepal. With such high altitudes, one can’t help but ask, does it snow in Nepal?
Nepal experiences different weather conditions depending on the altitude. Nepal experiences a warm temperate climate between 4,000 feet (1219.2 meters) and 7000 feet (2133.6 meters). Temperatures tend to cool between 14,000 (4267.20 meters) and 16000 (4876.8 meters), resulting in an alpine climate. It starts to snow beyond 8,500 feet as temperatures are constantly below zero degrees.
When Does it Snow in Nepal?
Snow in Nepal falls from December through February, where temperatures almost reach below freezing point.
Snow in December
December is the first month of winter; places like Kathmandu experience an average low temperature of 38.7 degrees Fahrenheit (3.7 degrees Celsius). The total accumulation of 0.52 inches (13.2 millimeters) of precipitation is recorded during the month.
At the hilly Daman village, snow is a common sight.
Snow in January
Kathmandu temperatures drop slightly in January, with an average low of 36.3 degrees Fahrenheit (2.4 degrees Celsius) being recorded.
Kathmandu aggregates 0.57 inches (14.4 millimeters) of precipitation in January.
It snows heavily in Daman village and other high-altitude regions such as Kalinchowk and Shivapuri, near Kathmandu.
Snow in February
Temperatures start to rise as Nepal prepares to transition to the spring season; Kathmandu records an average low of 40.1 degrees Fahrenheit (4.5 degrees Celsius) in February.
Rain pelts the area of Kathmandu for three days, and a total accumulation of 0.74 inches (18.7 millimeters) of precipitation is recorded in February.
Where does it Snow in Nepal?
Snow falls at higher elevations and on top of mountain peaks with an altitude of above 8500 feet (2600 meters).
Snow in Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal and sits at an elevation of 4,600 feet (1,400 meters), sandwiched between some of the tallest mountains on earth. It covers an area of 49.45 square kilometers and is home to a population of 1.5 million.
The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of 51.4 degrees Fahrenheit (10.8 degrees Celsius), and temperatures may drop to lows of 15.4 degrees Fahrenheit (-9.2 degrees Celsius) at night. Despite the low temperatures at night, it does not snow in Kathmandu.
Kathmandu receives about 57.28 inches (1454.9 millimeters) of precipitation per year.
Ski Resorts in Nepal
Nepal has some of the tallest snow-covered mountains in the world. With the right investments in ski resorts, these peaks would make some of the best skiing sceneries globally, but due to economic problems faced by the country, the skiing scene is not developed.
Ski Resort Kalinchok – Kuri
The ski resort Kalinchok – Kuri is located at Kuri village in Kalinchok between 3,375 and 3,390 meters above sea level.
The resort has 200 meters of slope available for skiing and snowboarding. The resort is served by one ski lift that carries 500 passengers per hour.
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