| Basically, the Tibetan climate is not as harsh as many people imagine it to be. Tibet has a dry, cold climate with an average annual temperature of 1Co (34Fo). Temperatures in the mountains and plateaus are especially cold, and strong winds are common year round. The river valleys experience a more moderate climate. Lhasa and central Tibet have an average temperature of 0Co (32Fo) in December and an average of 17Co (60Fo) in June. The daily temperature range is great. On a typical summer day, the temperature can rise from 3Co (37Fo) before sunrise to 27Co (81Fo) by midday. In general, temperatures in Tibet frequently drop suddenly after sunset. The average annual precipitation is 381 mm (15 in), with the largest amount falling in the southeast. The best time of year to be in Tibet is from April to the beginning of November, after which temperatures start to plummet. The central Tibet, including Lhasa, Gyantze, Shigatze and Tsedang, generally has very mild weather from April to November, though July and August can be rainy - these two months usually see around half of Tibet's annual rainfall. October and November often bring some dazzling clear weather and daytime temperatures can be quite comfortable at Tibet's lower altitude. The coldest months are from December to February. It is not impossible to visit Tibet in winter. The low altitude valleys of Tibet (around Lhasa, Shigatse and Tsedang) see very little snow. Spring does not really get under way until April, though March can have warm sunny days and is not necessarily a bad month to be in Tibet. http://www.china-tour.cn/cityguides/Tibet_climate.htm |
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