Kathmandu's weather and temperature varies widely according to the season, with very cold and harsh winters and mostly cool summers.  The area's high elevation, around 1300 meters, means that it never quite gets as warm as other locations at the same latitude.  Kathmandu's summers see a great deal of rainfall and are also very humid.  The period from May to September sees most of the city's rainfall for the entire year, more than triple the amount of what the other months receive combined.  The city's wet summers create the lush, green countryside which surrounds it, an aspect which has lent Nepal the nickname "The Switzerland of Asia". 

Visitors generally come to the city during the summer months, when they can best enjoy the city's attractions and historic sites.  However, some people are attracted to the region during the winter months for its skiing and snowboarding.  For an up to date weather forecast on Kathmandu, visit the BBC's Weather Centre.