Purnia climate
Purnia (Bihar, India) has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa). The average temperature over the year is 25 °C78 °F, and about 1,348 mm53 in of precipitation falls in an average year.
Temperature by month
Precipitation by month
Purnia climate table
| Month | High °C°F | Low °C°F | Mean °C°F | Precip. mmin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2373 | 947 | 1660 | 60.2 |
| Feb | 2882 | 1254 | 2068 | 90.4 |
| Mar | 3494 | 1864 | 2679 | 190.8 |
| Apr | 38101 | 2373 | 3187 | 522.0 |
| May | 38101 | 2678 | 3290 | 1224.8 |
| Jun | 3697 | 2781 | 3289 | 2118.3 |
| Jul | 3290 | 2679 | 2985 | 35714 |
| Aug | 3289 | 2679 | 2984 | 25310.0 |
| Sep | 3187 | 2576 | 2882 | 2369.3 |
| Oct | 3085 | 2169 | 2577 | 763.0 |
| Nov | 2780 | 1559 | 2170 | 40.2 |
| Dec | 2374 | 1051 | 1762 | 20.1 |
| Year | 38101 | 947 | 2578 | 1,34853 |
“Year” row: highest monthly high, lowest monthly low, annual mean and annual total.
| Month | Humid. | Cloud | Solar | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55% | 31% | 3.3 | 10:41 |
| Feb | 44% | 26% | 4.4 | 11:15 |
| Mar | 34% | 29% | 5.5 | 11:57 |
| Apr | 37% | 40% | 6.0 | 12:44 |
| May | 51% | 54% | 5.8 | 13:24 |
| Jun | 67% | 74% | 5.1 | 13:44 |
| Jul | 84% | 85% | 4.5 | 13:36 |
| Aug | 86% | 82% | 4.7 | 13:02 |
| Sep | 87% | 70% | 4.5 | 12:16 |
| Oct | 80% | 35% | 4.5 | 11:30 |
| Nov | 72% | 15% | 4.1 | 10:51 |
| Dec | 65% | 24% | 3.3 | 10:32 |
Humid. = average relative humidity at 2 m; cloud = average cloud amount; solar = average daily solar energy reaching the ground in kWh/m² (all-sky); daylight in hours:minutes, calculated for the 15th of each month.
What the climate of Purnia is like
The warmest month is May, with an average high of 38 °C101 °F and a low of 26 °C78 °F. The coldest is January, when highs average 23 °C73 °F and lows 9 °C47 °F. There is a clear seasonal cycle, with 16.2 °C29.1 °F between the average temperature of the warmest and the coolest month.
It is wet, with about 1,348 mm53 in of precipitation per year. The wettest three-month stretch is July–September, which brings 63% of the annual total. Months with less than 20 mm0.8 in on average: November–March. The wettest month is July (357 mm14 in), the driest is December (2 mm0.1 in).
Relative humidity ranges from 34% in March to 87% in September. The clearest skies (lowest average cloud amount, 15%) are typical of November. Average wind speed near the ground ranges from 4 km/h (2 mph) in November to 9 km/h (5 mph) in June. Daylight lasts from about 10.5 hours in December to 13.7 hours in June.
Best time to visit Purnia
Based on these averages, the most comfortable months for sightseeing and outdoor activities are November–February. Average highs then reach 23 °C73 °F to 28 °C82 °F. Precipitation is 2 mm0.1 in to 9 mm0.4 in per month.
The most challenging month is July, which is hot, with average highs of 32 °C90 °F, very wet (357 mm14 in) and humid (84% relative humidity).
Comfort score: months are ranked by how close they come to an ideal. That means an average high of 21–28 °C (70–82 °F), lows above 5 °C (41 °F), little precipitation and moderate humidity. The best-ranked months of each place are recommended, even where none meets all of these. These are general rules of thumb applied to long-term averages.
What to pack for Purnia
- Winter (December–February) — highs 2373 to 28 °C82 °F, lows 947 to 12 °C54 °F, about 6 mm0.2 in of precipitation a month. Pack light summer clothes such as T-shirts, shorts or light dresses and an extra layer for the cooler mornings and evenings.
- Spring (March–May) — highs 3494 to 38 °C101 °F, lows 1864 to 26 °C78 °F, about 64 mm2.5 in of precipitation a month. Pack very light, breathable clothing, a sun hat and plenty of water.
- Summer (June–August) — highs 3289 to 36 °C97 °F, lows 2679 to 27 °C81 °F, about 274 mm11 in of precipitation a month. Pack very light, breathable clothing, a sun hat and plenty of water and a good rain jacket or umbrella and quick-drying shoes.
- Autumn (September–November) — highs 2780 to 31 °C87 °F, lows 1559 to 25 °C76 °F, about 105 mm4.1 in of precipitation a month. Pack light summer clothes such as T-shirts, shorts or light dresses and an umbrella or light rain jacket.
How Purnia compares
The nearest larger place is Bhagalpur, about 78 km to the southwest. Compared with it, Purnia is on average 0.6 °C1.1 °F cooler. It receives 20% more precipitation (1,348 mm53 in vs 1,121 mm44 in). The difference is largest in May (1.4 °C2.4 °F cooler).
World Climates covers 382 places in India. By annual mean temperature, Purnia is the 280th warmest of them. By annual precipitation, it is the 80th wettest. See all of them on the India climate page.
Some places in other countries have a very similar pattern of temperature and rainfall. The closest matches are Biratnagar (Nepal, Cwa), Lahan (Nepal, Cwa) and Mohammadpur (Bangladesh, Cwa).
Nearby places
- Climate in Katihar 28 km · 26 °C78 °F · 1,229 mm48 in
- Climate in Kishanganj 60 km · 25 °C77 °F · 1,701 mm67 in
- Climate in Raiganj 68 km · 25 °C77 °F · 1,476 mm58 in
- Climate in Biratnagar 78 km · 26 °C79 °F · 1,394 mm55 in
- Climate in Bhagalpur 78 km · 26 °C79 °F · 1,121 mm44 in
- Climate in Saharsa 89 km · 26 °C78 °F · 1,164 mm46 in
- Climate in Malda 109 km · 26 °C78 °F · 1,317 mm52 in
- Climate in Dharan 117 km · 24 °C76 °F · 1,231 mm48 in
Frequently asked questions
What is the warmest month in Purnia?
May is the warmest month in Purnia. Its average high is 38 °C (101 °F) and its average low is 26 °C (78 °F).
What is the coldest month in Purnia?
January is the coldest month. Its average high is 23 °C (73 °F) and its average low is 9 °C (47 °F).
When does it rain the most in Purnia?
July is the wettest month with about 357 mm (14.1 in) of precipitation. December is the driest with about 2 mm (0.1 in).
What is the best time to visit Purnia?
Judging by long-term averages, the most comfortable months are November–February.
About this data
All figures are 25-year averages (January 2001 – December 2025) from the NASA POWER project. Temperature, humidity, wind and precipitation come from the MERRA-2 reanalysis (precipitation is the bias-corrected MERRA-2 product), cloud and solar values from CERES satellite data. They describe a grid cell of roughly 50–70 km, not a single weather station. So they can differ from airport records. The gaps are largest on coasts, in mountains and for rainfall. Average highs and lows are the monthly mean temperature plus/minus half of the average daily temperature range. Counts of rainy days are not part of this dataset.