Climate of Rajasthan

The climate of Rajasthan in northwestern India is generally arid or semi-arid and features fairly hot temperatures over the year with extreme temperatures in both summer and winter. The hottest months are May and June. The monsoon season is from July to September; however, rainfall remains moderate.^[1]

Indira Gandhi Canal was necessitated by water scarcity in Thar Desert, covering western part of Rajasthan.

Mount Abu is one of the coolest places in Rajasthan.

The Thar Desert near Jaisalmer.

Aerial view Udaipur and Aravali hills.

History

Under the Köppen climate classification the greater part of Rajasthan falls under Hot Desert (BWh) and remaining portions of the state falls under Hot Semi Arid (BSh); the climate of the state ranges from arid to semi-arid. Rajasthan receives low and variable rainfalls and thereby is prone to droughts. As Rajasthan is the dry and hot state, Unbelievable hailstorm covered Nagaur, Rajasthan in a thin snow-like icy blanket in December 2019. Later on, it is clarified that this is not a snowfall but a hailstorm, endorse by western disturbances. The climate has changed in winters like never before.^[2]

Seasons

Summer

Due to the Desert Geography, frequently climb above 40 to 45 degrees Celsius in most places. Due to its location, summers are the longest season in Rajasthan. In this time tourist activities are very low.

Winter

The cold weather commences early in October and ends around the end of February and sometimes the temperatures reach nearly 2-degree Celsius [*record in 1964 in JAIPUR the temperature reached 0-degree Celsius on 13 December.]

Monsoon

The state has two distinct periods of rainfall: rainfall due to the South-West Monsoon after summer and rainfall due to Western Disturbances.

Temperature

Average temperatures in various cities of Rajasthan(°C)

	Winter (Jan - Feb)		Summer (Mar – May)			Monsoon (Jun – Sep)				Post-monsoon (Oct – Dec)			Year-round
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Avg
Jaipur(Highest)[3]	22.4	25.0	31.0	37.1	40.3	39.3	34.1	32.4	33.8	33.6	29.2	24.4	31.9
Jaipur(Lowest)[3]	08.4	10.8	16.0	21.8	25.9	27.4	25.8	24.7	23.2	19.4	13.8	9.2	18.8

Precipitation

Average precipitation in various cities of Rajasthan(mm)

—	Winter (Jan – Feb)		a			Summer (Mar – May)	Monsoon 1 (Jun – Sep)				Monsoon 2 (Oct – Dec)			Year-round
City	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
Jaipur[3]	7.0	10.6	3.1	4.9	17.9	63.4	223.3	205.9	66.3	25.0	3.9	4.2	637.4

Disasters

Drought and famine

Rajasthan receives low and variable rainfalls and thereby is prone to droughts. Availability of water is less due to the absence of rivers and lakes.

Floods

Occasional floods in cities due to improper drainage occurs. Sometimes floods also occur in western Rajasthan due to impervious base rocks.

Pollution

In some industrial and urban centers pollution has been reported occasionally.

Climate data

Climate data for Jaipur (Köppen BSh)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	31.7 (89.1)	36.7 (98.1)	42.8 (109.0)	44.9 (112.8)	49.0 (120.2)	47.2 (117.0)	46.7 (116.1)	41.7 (107.1)	41.7 (107.1)	40.0 (104.0)	36.4 (97.5)	31.5 (88.7)	49.0 (120.2)
Mean maximum °C (°F)	27.2 (81.0)	31.4 (88.5)	37.1 (98.8)	41.9 (107.4)	44.3 (111.7)	43.7 (110.7)	39.4 (102.9)	36.1 (97.0)	37.5 (99.5)	36.9 (98.4)	33.1 (91.6)	28.3 (82.9)	44.8 (112.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	22.6 (72.7)	25.7 (78.3)	31.6 (88.9)	37.4 (99.3)	40.7 (105.3)	39.6 (103.3)	34.6 (94.3)	32.7 (90.9)	34.2 (93.6)	33.8 (92.8)	29.3 (84.7)	24.5 (76.1)	32.2 (90.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	8.6 (47.5)	11.4 (52.5)	16.8 (62.2)	22.2 (72.0)	26.5 (79.7)	27.7 (81.9)	26.1 (79.0)	24.8 (76.6)	23.6 (74.5)	19.6 (67.3)	14.0 (57.2)	9.5 (49.1)	19.2 (66.6)
Mean minimum °C (°F)	3.8 (38.8)	6.1 (43.0)	11.3 (52.3)	16.7 (62.1)	20.9 (69.6)	22.2 (72.0)	23.1 (73.6)	22.3 (72.1)	20.8 (69.4)	15.2 (59.4)	9.1 (48.4)	4.8 (40.6)	3.5 (38.3)
Record low °C (°F)	−2.2 (28.0)	−2.2 (28.0)	3.3 (37.9)	9.4 (48.9)	15.6 (60.1)	19.1 (66.4)	20.6 (69.1)	18.9 (66.0)	15.0 (59.0)	11.1 (52.0)	3.3 (37.9)	0.0 (32.0)	−2.2 (28.0)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	5.9 (0.23)	10.2 (0.40)	4.4 (0.17)	7.1 (0.28)	12.2 (0.48)	61.9 (2.44)	190.5 (7.50)	203.4 (8.01)	79.6 (3.13)	19.4 (0.76)	1.9 (0.07)	3.8 (0.15)	600.3 (23.63)
Average rainy days	0.6	0.9	0.7	0.9	1.3	4.2	9.4	9.8	4.8	1.2	0.2	0.3	34.3
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST)	37	29	21	17	19	33	60	67	50	31	34	39	36
Average dew point °C (°F)	6 (43)	7 (45)	7 (45)	8 (46)	12 (54)	19 (66)	24 (75)	24 (75)	21 (70)	13 (55)	9 (48)	6 (43)	13 (55)
Average ultraviolet index	5	7	9	11	12	12	12	12	10	8	6	5	9
Source 1: India Meteorological Department[4][5][6] Time and Date (dewpoints, 2005-2015)[7]
Source 2: Weather Atlas[8]

Climate data for Jodhpur (Köppen BWh/BSh)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	31.2 (88.2)	36.0 (96.8)	41.6 (106.9)	45.0 (113.0)	48.9 (120.0)	47.8 (118.0)	42.6 (108.7)	40.3 (104.5)	42.5 (108.5)	40.6 (105.1)	37.5 (99.5)	32.3 (90.1)	48.9 (120.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	24.5 (76.1)	27.4 (81.3)	33.4 (92.1)	38.4 (101.1)	41.2 (106.2)	40.0 (104.0)	35.2 (95.4)	33.5 (92.3)	34.9 (94.8)	35.8 (96.4)	31.2 (88.2)	26.9 (80.4)	33.5 (92.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	9.6 (49.3)	11.7 (53.1)	17.3 (63.1)	22.6 (72.7)	26.5 (79.7)	27.8 (82.0)	26.4 (79.5)	25.4 (77.7)	23.9 (75.0)	20.1 (68.2)	14.7 (58.5)	11.2 (52.2)	19.8 (67.6)
Record low °C (°F)	1.8 (35.2)	0.7 (33.3)	4.4 (39.9)	15.6 (60.1)	15.4 (59.7)	20.0 (68.0)	21.0 (69.8)	21.2 (70.2)	18.4 (65.1)	12.5 (54.5)	5.8 (42.4)	1.7 (35.1)	0.7 (33.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	4.0 (0.16)	4.0 (0.16)	1.3 (0.05)	4.8 (0.19)	17.4 (0.69)	40.0 (1.57)	120.5 (4.74)	111.8 (4.40)	49.9 (1.96)	6.9 (0.27)	1.9 (0.07)	0.5 (0.02)	362.9 (14.29)
Average rainy days	0.3	0.6	0.3	0.6	1.2	2.1	6.5	5.9	2.6	0.6	0.2	0.0	21.0
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST)	27	24	22	19	20	33	52	58	45	29	32	33	32
Average dew point °C (°F)	6 (43)	7 (45)	7 (45)	8 (46)	12 (54)	19 (66)	24 (75)	24 (75)	21 (70)	13 (55)	9 (48)	6 (43)	13 (55)
Mean monthly sunshine hours	303.8	291.0	288.3	279.0	285.2	132.0	96.1	120.9	180.0	232.5	270.0	294.5	2,773.3
Mean daily sunshine hours	9.8	10.3	9.3	9.3	9.2	4.4	3.1	3.9	6.0	7.5	9.0	9.5	7.6
Average ultraviolet index	5	7	9	11	12	12	12	12	10	8	6	5	9
Source 1: India Meteorological Department (sun 1971–2000)[9][10][11][12] Time and Date (dewpoints, 2005-2015)[13]
Source 2: Weather Atlas[14]

Climate data for Bikaner (Köppen BWh/BSh)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	32.9 (91.2)	37.2 (99.0)	42.8 (109.0)	47.2 (117.0)	49.4 (120.9)	48.9 (120.0)	47.8 (118.0)	43.4 (110.1)	43.9 (111.0)	42.2 (108.0)	38.5 (101.3)	33.5 (92.3)	49.4 (120.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	23.4 (74.1)	26.6 (79.9)	32.4 (90.3)	38.4 (101.1)	42.0 (107.6)	41.6 (106.9)	38.6 (101.5)	37.3 (99.1)	37.6 (99.7)	36.2 (97.2)	31.1 (88.0)	25.6 (78.1)	34.2 (93.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	7.3 (45.1)	10.9 (51.6)	16.7 (62.1)	22.6 (72.7)	27.4 (81.3)	29.3 (84.7)	28.4 (83.1)	27.2 (81.0)	25.7 (78.3)	20.2 (68.4)	13.6 (56.5)	8.3 (46.9)	19.8 (67.6)
Record low °C (°F)	−4.0 (24.8)	−2.5 (27.5)	−0.6 (30.9)	8.3 (46.9)	13.7 (56.7)	17.8 (64.0)	20.5 (68.9)	20.6 (69.1)	16.5 (61.7)	7.6 (45.7)	0.6 (33.1)	−2.8 (27.0)	−4.0 (24.8)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	6.2 (0.24)	9.0 (0.35)	8.4 (0.33)	7.4 (0.29)	29.4 (1.16)	39.6 (1.56)	92.5 (3.64)	54.5 (2.15)	25.6 (1.01)	12.3 (0.48)	1.0 (0.04)	2.4 (0.09)	288.4 (11.35)
Average rainy days	0.7	1.0	0.9	1.1	1.8	2.3	5.0	3.5	2.0	0.4	0.2	0.2	19.1
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST)	33	27	20	15	17	27	45	47	37	25	30	35	30
Average dew point °C (°F)	3 (37)	5 (41)	7 (45)	9 (48)	13 (55)	19 (66)	23 (73)	23 (73)	20 (68)	12 (54)	8 (46)	5 (41)	12 (54)
Average ultraviolet index	5	6	7	9	9	9	8	8	8	7	6	4	7
Source 1: India Meteorological Department[15][16] Time and Date (dewpoints, 2005-2015)[17]
Source 2: Weather Atlas[18]

Climate data for Jaisalmer (Köppen BWh/Bsh)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	35.8 (96.4)	37.8 (100.0)	42.3 (108.1)	45.8 (114.4)	48.0 (118.4)	49.2 (120.6)	47.0 (116.6)	43.3 (109.9)	43.3 (109.9)	42.2 (108.0)	38.8 (101.8)	34.4 (93.9)	49.2 (120.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	23.8 (74.8)	27.3 (81.1)	33.3 (91.9)	39.1 (102.4)	41.9 (107.4)	40.9 (105.6)	38.1 (100.6)	36.6 (97.9)	37.1 (98.8)	36.5 (97.7)	31.3 (88.3)	25.4 (77.7)	34.3 (93.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	7.4 (45.3)	10.8 (51.4)	18.1 (64.6)	21.8 (71.2)	24.8 (76.6)	25.8 (78.4)	25.3 (77.5)	25.0 (77.0)	24.2 (75.6)	19.4 (66.9)	14.0 (57.2)	8.8 (47.8)	18.6 (65.5)
Record low °C (°F)	−5.9 (21.4)	−4.4 (24.1)	3.4 (38.1)	10.6 (51.1)	15.1 (59.2)	17.2 (63.0)	20.1 (68.2)	19.1 (66.4)	12.9 (55.2)	8.3 (46.9)	2.0 (35.6)	−0.6 (30.9)	−5.9 (21.4)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	1.3 (0.05)	5.2 (0.20)	3.3 (0.13)	7.2 (0.28)	17.2 (0.68)	31.0 (1.22)	79.2 (3.12)	92.2 (3.63)	39.3 (1.55)	3.0 (0.12)	0.7 (0.03)	2.1 (0.08)	271.6 (10.69)
Average rainy days	0.2	0.6	0.4	0.5	0.6	1.2	5.3	6.2	2.4	0.3	0.1	0.2	17.0
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST)	31	26	22	19	21	29	45	50	39	26	27	31	31
Average dew point °C (°F)	7 (45)	10 (50)	13 (55)	14 (57)	17 (63)	22 (72)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	18 (64)	13 (55)	9 (48)	16 (61)
Average ultraviolet index	5	6	8	8	9	8	8	8	8	7	6	4	7
Source 1: India Meteorological Department[19][20] Time and Date (dewpoints, 2005-2015)[21]
Source 2: Weather Atlas[22]

See also

• Climate of India
• Loo
• Thar Desert