Climate of Manipur

The climate of Manipur is largely influenced by the topography of this hilly region which defines the geography of Manipur. Situated at an elevation of 790 meters above the sea level, the state of Manipur is wedged between hills from all sides. This north eastern corner of India is blessed with a generally amiable climate though the winters can be a little chilly. The maximum temperature recorded in the summer months of Manipur is 32 degree Celsius. In winter the mercury often falls to sub Zero temperature making it frosty in the wintertime. Snowfall sometimes occurs in some hilly regions due to the Western Disturbance.

Though the state of Manipur is sub-tropical in location it falls in the high pressure zone on the North of the Tropic 23 of Cancer thereby having the characteristics of more or less the tropical climate in the western part and south east corner of the state. But due to favourable elevation, pattern of precipitation and absence of frost except on the high hills the climate in the rest of the area is sub-tropical type.

Four months from November to February constitute the winter season and six months from April to September the summer season, March and October being the transitional months. The temperature, throughout the year, is comfortable ranging from a minimum temperature of 0°C to 10°C and a maximum temperature of 22.5®C to 43°C. The lowest and the highest temperatures at Imphal are recorded in the months of December or January and June respectively.

The coldest month in Manipur is January and July experiences the maximum summer temperature. The ideal time for tourism in the state, in terms of climate of Manipur, is from the months of October till February, when the weather remains bright and sunny without the scorch of the sum. The hilly state is drenched in rains from the months of May and continues till the middle of October. It receives an average rainfall of 1467.5mm, annually. However, the rain distribution varies from 933 mm in Imphal to 2593 mm in Tamenglong. The downpour ranges from light drizzles to heavy showers. The normal rainfall of Manipur enriches the soil and helps in agricultural processes and irrigation. The South Westerly Monsoon picks up moisture from the Bay of Bengal and heads towards Manipur, hits the Eastern Himalaya ranges and produces a massive amount of rain in the state.

The hilly region is much cooler as compared to that of the Central Plain. Fogs appear, in the months of winter, in the plain and deep valleys of the hilly regions with thick frost on the hilltops. The geographical location of Manipur near the Bay of Bengal, the source of clouds and its characteristic ranges of hills which trap the congested clouds of the South-West Monsoon results in heavy rainfall over the area during the summer.

The rainy season commences with the on set of South West Monsoon from the month of April and continues up to September. The rainfall in Manipur as a whole is considerable in quantity and well distributed over time and space. However, a good percentage of the annual rainfall is contributed by the rains during the summer. The average annual rainfall at 24 Imphal is about 1189.5.

The relative humidity ranges from 92 to 100 and it is the characteristic of the region.

Therefore, the climate of Manipur is characterized by high humidity and heavy rains from April to September. Moreover, there are isolated rains even in the winter. Such a climate is an index of thick forest growth. Besides, the nature of topography and certain other factors like differential exposure to the sun, humidity, wind, vegetation etc. have resulted in the creation of a microclimatic condition in Manipur particularly in the hilly regions (Ansari, 1976).