v256.0 · climate · IN · verified 2026-04
India climate profile
Climate profile for India — Köppen climate zones, seasonal temperature + rainfall, humidity, extreme weather, climate-change trajectory, air quality, best months for visiting + relocation, water security, and recent climate-policy changes.
Climate classification (Köppen)
Highly varied — Tropical wet (Am, Aw), Tropical dry (BSh), Subtropical (Cwa), Mountain (Dwc), Alpine (ET) · Monsoon-dominated
Temperature + rainfall by season
| Winter temperatures | Delhi NCR: 14°C avg (7-22°C, foggy Dec-Jan) · Mumbai: 24°C (18-31°C) · Bengaluru: 22°C (15-28°C, pleasant) · Chennai: 25°C (20-30°C) · Hyderabad: 22°C (15-30°C) · Kolkata: 19°C (14-26°C) · Shimla/Manali: 5°C (0-12°C, snow) |
| Summer temperatures | Delhi NCR: 33°C avg (25-42°C, heatwaves 48°C+) · Mumbai: 30°C (26-34°C, humid) · Bengaluru: 26°C (20-32°C, mild) · Chennai: 32°C (28-38°C, humid) · Hyderabad: 32°C (25-39°C) · Rajasthan: 40°C+ (50°C records) |
| Annual rainfall | Delhi: 800 mm · Mumbai: 2,400 mm · Bengaluru: 970 mm · Chennai: 1,400 mm · Hyderabad: 800 mm · Kolkata: 1,800 mm · Cherrapunji NE: 11,800 mm (world's wettest) · Concentrated Jun-Sep SW monsoon |
| Humidity | Coastal cities 70-90% summer monsoon · Interior 30-60% dry · Delhi 30-95% (extreme range) |
Climate zones within the country
Himalayan north — alpine + mountain · Indo-Gangetic plains — subtropical, hot summer/cool winter · Western desert (Rajasthan) — hot arid · Western Ghats + coast — tropical wet · Deccan plateau — semi-arid · Eastern coast — tropical · South tip — tropical rainforest · Northeast — heavy monsoon
Extreme weather + risks
| Extreme weather events | SW Monsoon flooding (Kerala 2018, Assam recurrent, Mumbai/Chennai recurrent, Wayanad July 2024 400+ deaths) · Cyclones east coast Bay of Bengal (Yaas 2021, Biparjoy 2023, Dana 2024) · Heatwaves Delhi/Rajasthan/UP (52.9°C Phalodi 2024 record) · Earthquakes Himalayan zone |
| Air quality | POOR seasonal — Delhi NCR PM2.5 200-400+ µg/m³ Oct-Feb (post-Diwali + stubble-burning + winter inversion, hazardous) · Mumbai 30-80 µg/m³ · Bengaluru 30-70 µg/m³ · Outside winter Delhi PM2.5 60-100 µg/m³ |
| Water security | STRESSED — many cities critically water-stressed (Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai) · Climate-Change-driven monsoon-irregularity · Aquifer depletion severe (Indo-Gangetic, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka) · Day Zero scenarios discussed |
Climate change trajectory
Annual mean +0.7°C since 1901 · Projected +2-5°C by 2100 (regional variation) · Monsoon irregularity increasing · Glacier retreat Himalayan · Sea-level rise threatening Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai · Heatwave frequency intensifying
Best months for visiting + relocation
| Best for visiting | Oct-Mar for most plains + south · Apr-Jun Himalayan + hill stations · Avoid Delhi Oct-Feb (air quality), avoid Rajasthan May-Jun (heat) · Kerala Jun-Sep monsoon attractive · Goa Nov-Feb |
| Best for relocation | Sep-Nov + Feb-Apr arrival ideal (avoid monsoon Jun-Aug + winter air quality) |
Recent changes (2023-2026)
2024-25: Wayanad landslides July 2024 (400+ dead) · Phalodi 52.9°C record May 2024 · Cyclone Dana Bengal Oct 2024 · Delhi GRAP Stage 4 air quality emergency Nov 2024 · Glacier retreat continuing · Climate Action Plan 2070 net-zero commitment · 500 GW renewable target 2030
Source: official India meteorological agency · Last verified 2026-04
See also: India country profile · climate atlas