Climate and Weather in Kham

Today's weather in Kham and some nearby towns

(note: Kangding=Dartsendo, Dawu=Daofu, Dege=Derge, Sertar=Seda, Barkam=Ma'erkang, Garze=Ganzi, Qamdo=Chamdo=Changdu).

The climate in Kham

SUMMER

Kham shares with southwest China a monsoonal climate that brings heavy precipitation in June, July, August, and sometimes September. Therefore you'll find that summers in Kham, although warmer than winters by far, tend to be damp and changable. The relatively high humidity keeps day-night temperature fluctuations to a modest level. Compact storms move swiftly, showering swaths of land with brief but intense thundershowers, and sometimes hail. When the sun comes out, it's shirtsleeve weather; otherwise you'll want a jacket.

WINTER

Winters in Kham and Tibet are a steady succesion of cold, dry, clear days. When the sun shines, it can get so warm you might be tempted to take your coat off. At night, however, the thermometer plunges well below freezing. Precipitation is rare, but if it does occur, it falls as snow and accumulates, blocking passes and making travel difficult.

REGIONAL VARIATIONS

Kham is large enough for major weather variations and big storms to slip between the weather stations you see linked above. Often when Kangding is cloudy and cold, towns a few hours west (on the other side of Tseto la) are warm and sunny, even though their elevation is higher. In general, the climate becomes dryer as you head west.