Dehradun Weather Month by Month: Temperatures, Rain and What to Pack

Guests at our homestays ask about the weather more than anything else, usually in the form of "will it rain" or "how cold will it be". The Doon valley sits at about 650 metres between the Shivalik hills and the Himalayan foothills, which gives it a gentler climate than the plains and a wetter one than most of North India. Here is the whole year, month by month, with the numbers we quote on WhatsApp every week. For the short answer on timing, see the best time to visit Dehradun.

When does winter start in Dehradun?

Mid-November. The nights turn cold from about 15 November, mornings need a jacket by the last week of the month, and true winter runs from December to February. Fog arrives around 20 December and lifts by mid-January, the coldest nights (4 to 7°C) fall in late December and January, and afternoons stay sunny at 18 to 22°C right through. Snow never falls in the city; it lands on Mussoorie and Dhanaulti between late December and February (see does it snow in Dehradun?). Winter eases from mid-February and is over by early March.

Winter: December to February

• December: 6 to 21°C. Dry, bright afternoons, cold nights, fog after the 20th. The winterline glows over Mussoorie at sunset. Full guide to Dehradun in December.
• January: 5 to 19°C, the coldest month. Fog until mid-morning, then clear sun. Best odds of snow at Dhanaulti and on the Mussoorie ridge. Pack a proper jacket, thermals for the hills. Full guide to Dehradun in January.
• February: 8 to 23°C. Fog fades, days lengthen, the peaks look painted on. Last month for snow trips, first month the cafe terraces fill again.

Spring: March and April

• March: 12 to 28°C. Rhododendrons bloom on the Mussoorie road, mornings are cool, afternoons warm. Arguably the finest month to visit.
• April: 17 to 33°C. Warm and clear, occasional pre-monsoon thunderstorms in the evening that cool everything down. Light layers, sunscreen, a shawl for the hills.

Summer: May and June

• May: 21 to 36°C. Hot by Doon standards but still cooler than Delhi by 5 or 6 degrees. Mussoorie stays a pleasant 25°C, which is why the ridge fills up.
• June: 23 to 37°C early on, then humid as the monsoon builds. The first heavy showers arrive in the last week and the valley turns green overnight.

Monsoon: July to mid-September

• July: 23 to 32°C, roughly 600 mm of rain. Daily downpours, waterfalls at full volume, occasional road closures on the hill. Our monsoon guide covers how to enjoy it.
• August: 23 to 31°C, the wettest month. Lush, humid, dramatic clouds on the ridge. Bring waterproof shoes and patience with the Mussoorie road.
• September: 21 to 31°C. Rain tapers after the 15th, the air washes clean and the snow peaks reappear. The second half is a quiet, beautiful window before the October rush.

Autumn: October and November

• October: 15 to 29°C. Clear, dry, golden light, festival season in the bazaars. Our favourite month for day trips. The October guide has the plan.
• November: 10 to 25°C. Cool mornings, warm afternoons, no rain, no fog yet. Perfect walking weather and the start of the winter season on the ridge. Full guide to Dehradun in November.

What to pack, by season

1. 1.December to February: a warm jacket, cap, socks, thermals for Mussoorie and Dhanaulti, sunglasses for the bright afternoons.
2. 2.March to April: light layers, a shawl or fleece for evenings, sunscreen.
3. 3.May to June: cotton, a hat, and a light rain layer from mid-June.
4. 4.July to September: umbrella, quick-dry clothes, shoes with grip, a dry bag for phones on the waterfall days.
5. 5.October to November: a light jacket for mornings, nothing more. The easiest packing of the year.

The honest summary: Dehradun is pleasant in every month except the peak of the monsoon, and even that has its fans. Pick March, October or November for the classic clear-sky trip, December to February for winterline and snow runs, and message us on WhatsApp for the forecast the week you travel.