Lhasa, at the heart of Tibet, features a high-altitude semi-arid climate with mild, sunny summers and cold, dry winters. The city experiences dramatic temperature swings between day and night, low annual rainfall, and over 3,000 hours of sunshine each year. With clear skies and unique seasonal contrasts, Lhasa is a captivating destination for culture and adventure year-round.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Lhasa’s climate is shaped by its elevation at 3,650 metres, resulting in four distinct seasons and significant daily temperature variation. Summers (June–August) are mild and comfortable, with average highs of 22–24°C and lows of 10–12°C. July and August are the warmest and wettest months, yet even then, rainfall is moderate (120–135 mm/month) and usually falls at night, leaving days mostly sunny. The sun is intense due to the thin atmosphere, and the UV index is very high, so sun protection is essential. Even at the height of summer, nights remain cool, and daytime temperatures rarely exceed 29°C.
Winters (December–February) are cold and extremely dry, with average highs of 7–9°C and lows of -8 to -6°C. Despite the chill, days are often sunny and pleasant, with minimal rainfall (less than 1 mm/month) and humidity as low as 15–20%. Snow is rare and melts quickly. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with mild to cool temperatures (10–20°C in May/September), rapidly changing weather, and clear blue skies. Annual precipitation is low, averaging 400–460 mm, and the city enjoys over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. Winds are generally light to moderate (7–12 km/h), but can be brisk in winter and early spring. The large difference between day and night temperatures means layered clothing is always recommended.
| Average climate data for Lhasa, China | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 7 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 23 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -9 | -6 | -2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 2 | -4 | -8 | -9 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 28 | 71 | 116 | 122 | 67 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 427 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 19 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 92 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 27 | 26 | 27 | 38 | 45 | 52 | 62 | 65 | 65 | 49 | 37 | 33 | 44 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Average UV index | 5 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 10 |
The best time to visit Lhasa is from May to October, especially in late spring and early autumn, when temperatures are mild (15–24°C), skies are clear, and rainfall is minimal. These months offer ideal conditions for sightseeing, trekking, and enjoying the city’s vibrant culture, with comfortable weather and stunning mountain views.
The least favourable time to visit Lhasa is from late November to early March, when temperatures are coldest, nights can drop below -8°C, and the air is extremely dry. While days are sunny, the harsh cold and risk of altitude-related discomfort may limit some outdoor activities, though the city remains tranquil and atmospheric.
Lhasa has a high-altitude semi-arid climate with mild, sunny summers and cold, dry winters. Rainfall is low, and the city enjoys over 3,000 hours of sunshine annually, with large temperature swings between day and night.
The best time to visit Lhasa is from May to October, when temperatures are mild, skies are clear, and rainfall is minimal. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable weather for sightseeing and trekking.
No, Lhasa receives low annual rainfall (400–460 mm), with most rain falling at night during the summer monsoon (June–September). Days remain mostly sunny, even in the wettest months.
Winter highs in Lhasa are 7–9°C, but nights can drop to -8°C or lower. Despite the cold, days are sunny and dry, and snow is rare. Layered clothing is essential for warmth.
Yes, the sun is very strong due to the high altitude and thin atmosphere. Lhasa enjoys over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. Sun cream, sunglasses, and hats are highly recommended year-round.
Pack layers for large day-night temperature swings, sun protection, moisturiser for dry air, and a rain jacket for summer evenings. Even in summer, nights can be cold, so warm clothing is always needed.
Snow is rare in Lhasa and usually melts quickly due to strong sunlight. Most winter precipitation falls as light rain or snow, but the city remains dry and sunny for most of the season.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is June (23.1 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (7.2 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 15.8 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (10.4 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-9.1 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 1.4 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is August (122 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is January (0.8 mm). Over the whole year there are 426.9 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is August (20.1 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is January (0.6 days). Over the whole year there are 92.4 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is August (65 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is February (26.4 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 43.9 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 10 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is October (Average sunshine: 9.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 6.9 h). Over the whole year there are 7.8 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are April, May, June, July, August and September (UV index: 12). The months with the lowest average UV index are January and December (UV index: 5). Over the whole year the average UV index is 9.5.
