Rainfall in Kargil
Kargil gets 35% of its rain from the monsoon, June to September, and March is its wettest month. In 2025 it got 553 mm, 11% above average (normal).
Month-wise rainfall in Kargil
Average rain in each month, 2006–2025.
| Month | Average rain | Share of the year |
|---|---|---|
| January | 50 mm | 10% |
| February | 52 mm | 10% |
| March | 59 mm | 12% |
| April | 56 mm | 11% |
| May | 37 mm | 7% |
| June | 37 mm | 7% |
| July | 49 mm | 10% |
| August | 51 mm | 10% |
| September | 35 mm | 7% |
| October | 21 mm | 4% |
| November | 28 mm | 6% |
| December | 22 mm | 4% |
Yearly rainfall in Kargil since 2006
Lighter bars are dry years, 20% or more below average (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016), when wells and borewells are drawn hardest. The last ten years averaged 34% more rain than the ten before.
What Kargil's rain is worth to a building
Every millimetre of rain on a square metre of roof is a litre of water. A 100 m² roof in Kargil sheds about 42,330 litres in an average year, most of it in a few wet months. Sent into a recharge pit, it refills the ground instead of flooding the street.
Your building: how much can you recharge?
1 mm of rain on 1 m² is 1 litre. The surface factor allows for water lost to splash, evaporation and first-flush.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average annual rainfall in Kargil?
About 498 mm a year, averaged over 2006–2025 from NASA POWER satellite and weather-model data for the centre of the district. The wettest year in that time was 2019 (729 mm) and the driest was 2009 (307 mm).
Which month gets the most rain in Kargil?
March, with 59 mm in an average year, followed by April and February. October is the driest month (21 mm).
How much of Kargil's rain falls in the monsoon?
35% of a normal year's rain falls from June to September. 5 months average 50 mm or more.
How much did it rain in Kargil in 2025?
553 mm, which is 11% above the 2006–2025 average, or "normal" in the India Meteorological Department's terms.
Is rainfall in Kargil increasing or decreasing?
The last 10 years averaged 34% more rain than the 10 before them. Year-to-year swings are still bigger than that change.
How much rainwater can a house in Kargil harvest?
A 100 m² (about 1,076 sq ft) concrete roof in Kargil sheds about 42,330 litres in an average year: area × rainfall × 0.85 for splash and evaporation. Sent into a recharge pit, that refills the ground under the house instead of running into the drain.
Rainfall from NASA POWER (bias-corrected satellite and weather-model rainfall) at the centre of Kargil district. It reads close to, but not exactly the same as, India Meteorological Department rain-gauge totals, and rain varies within a district.