Tibet Weather in April

 

Plateau Climate of Tibet

At an average altitude of 4,000 meters above sea level, the Tibetan Plateau is the highest plateau in the world. As a typical feature of high-altitude location, Tibet has thinner air, lower air pressure and less oxygen. Since Tibet is within the middle latitude areas (26°50'～36°53'), even in winter, it gets a lot of solar radiation. Also, about 80% of its rain in a given year occurs at nighttime. Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, has been granted the name of “city of sunlight” because of all the solar radiation it receives. The annual temperature range is small, while the variation of daily temperature is large between day and night. The dry season (wind season) starts from November and lasts until April of the following year while the rainy season comes around July and August.

Tibet Weather Condition in April

Compared with March, April gets 3°C or 4°C warmer and shows a real tint of Tibet spring. Most days in April are sunny and dry. Even though it is still the wind season, the wind is much milder in comparison to the wind conditions in February and March, which means the felt temperature has a smaller difference from the actual temperature. In conclusion, the central parts of Tibet, inclusive of Lhasa, Shigatse, Shannan, would welcome the pleasant spring; the colder northern Tibet (Nagqu) and western Tibet (Ngari) would also become more bearable, referring to the temperature. Nyingchi, the warmest prefecture of Tibet, in April, would turn into a large wild garden teeming with peach blossoms and other refreshing plants.

Average Temperature: 1°C to 16°C
Season: The Dry Season (wind season)
Precipitation: 8mm

Past Weather Data in April, in Tibet
Cities/Data	Lhasa	Shigatse	Nyingchi	Shannan	Ngaqu	Ngari	Chamdo
Ave. High	17°C	16°C	17°C	Very similar with Shigatse	Travel Disruption is till likely to happen due to melting snow	9°C	Not open for foreign tourists
Ave. Low	3°C	1°C	4°C			-5°C
Precipitation	11 mm	6 mm	53 mm			2 mm
Humidity	29%	23%	57%			24%
Sunrise (April 1st)	7:45AM	7:54AM	7:32AM			8:27AM
Sunset (April 1st)	8:13PM	8:22PM	8:00PM			8:59PM
Length of Day	12h28m	12h28m	12h28m			12h31m
(April 1st)
Note: The above information is collected from historical data, so differing weather pattern may occur.

Top Five Destinations for Tibet Travel in April

Lhasa/Shigatse/Shannan (Tsetang): Located in the central region of Tibet, where there is a sense of historical and cultural significance, Lhasa, Shigatse and Shannan (with the largest town of Tsetang) are popular destinations for going on a culture trip and are suitable for visiting all year round based on the relatively clement climate in this region. April is still considered the low season for Tibet travel because there are fewer tourists and reduced travel expenses during this time there. This will definitely make your holiday in April much more pleasant because you won’t need to waste your energy waiting in long lines. For this reason, you’ll have a better chance of having a quality time.

Highlights in Lhasa: the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery
Must-see in Shigatse: Tashilhunpo Monastery
The first palace of Tibet in Shannan: Yungbulakang Palace
The average temperatures in this region: 1°C~17°C

Potala Palace in April

Mount Everest: It is very dry, and it rarely snows. Sunny days dominate the whole month, which means you’ll have a better chance of seeing the peak clearly. Besides, April is also one of the best months for climbing.

The average temperatures in this region: -5°C~10°C
Wind scale: Light breeze

Tibet-side Everest Base Camp

Mount Kailash: Located in the southwest region of Tibet, which is one of Tibet’s coldest regions, Mount Kailash in April is still very cold all day and night. But since the wind gets less harsh and most days are sunny because of spring sunlight, April is a good time for sightseeing and trekking in the Mount Kailash region.

The average temperatures in this region: -7°C~6°C

Trek around Mt. Kailash in April

Nyingchi Peach Blossom and the Scenic Spots around:

Nyingchi has the most beautiful spring of Tibet. Every March and April, the peach trees in Nyingchi come into full blossom and decorate the landscape with dreamy light pink. These peach trees grow wildly along the transparently clean rivers, outside the yard of Tibetan households, amid the paths among the barley patches. The natural images randomly and perfectly consist of snowy mountains, evergreen forests, white marshmallow clouds, blue sky, glaciers, and aquamarine-coloured lakes. They are just as beautiful as fairyland.

The average temperatures in Nyingchi: 3°C~17°C

Yamdrok Lake: In April, Yamdrok Lake has completely thawed. There is almost no rain at all throughout this month. You’ll get to see clear skies and a stunningly beautiful lake in varying green colors of azure, turquoise green, dark green, or emerald green due to the movement of the clouds above.  

Average temperature: -8°C~7°C
Wind: It can be very windy on the mountain pass.

Namtso Lake: Namtso Lake in April is still partially frozen and won’t thaw completely until May. It is very windy at the lakefront. But with the clear and sunny weather, it is still a good time to visit Namtso Lake in April. The only hazard that should be considered is the roads leading to the Namtso Lake region might be blocked occasionally due to the melting snow.

Average temperature: -8°C~8°C

Weather-based Tips for Traveling Tibet in April

1. Packing essentials for all seasons of Tibet：Warm clothing (as the temperature drops precipitously at night no matter which season it is); skin protection items like sunscreen, neckerchief, sunglasses, etc. (since the UV radiation is strong all year round on the Tibetan Plateau); medicines for the Tibet tour prescribed by your GP.
2. Additional Packing for April in Tibet: Scarf/neckerchief, beanie, gloves. The wind can still get rough at the mountain passes. The felt temperature could be lower than the temperature measured.
3. Basic outdoor equipment should be prepared if you plan to take a trekking tour at Mount Kailash or Mount Everest (as April is actually the first month of the year when it is feasible to trek at the former two locations).
4. Travel Route: We highly recommend that you start your trip from Nyingchi to Tibet in April for two reasons: 1) Sitting at 2,800 meters above sea level, Nyingchi has around 1,000 meters of lower altitude than most of the popular travel destinations in Tibet, hence it’s wise to acclimatize to the altitude in Nyingchi first before heading to other places; 2) In April, the blooming peach blossoms in Nyingchi are an incredible dreamlike scene to witness, making it definitely worth the visit. In addition, Nyingchi is the culture corridor between Tibet and Sichuan, where 85% of the population is comprised of Kham Tibetan.