Imphal :: Climate

 

Imphal, the capital city of Manipur is located at an elevation of 2578 feet (786 meters) above the sea-level. It is situated in the extreme eastern part of India. Imphal is known for its cool dry winters, moderate monsoon and a warm summer. In other words, the city has a typical sub-tropical climate. The city gets 1320 mm (52 inches) of rain; if you are someone who loves the rains, the best time to visit this hilly city is in June. July turns to be the hottest month, where temperatures can rise up to 78 degrees F(25 degrees C). January is often, the coldest month in Imphal with the average temperature dipping to 4 degrees Celsius.

The climate of Imphal and Manipur is largely affected by the hilly topography of this region. The state is actually sandwiched between hills from all areas. The north-eastern area is the usually the place where you can benefit from a more pleasant weather but during the winters, it can turn out to be somewhat chilly. There have been instances where temperatures have dipped to below 0 degrees C, leading to frost formation and snowfall.

The topography and the soil cover of Imphal can be divided into two major types: the hill prone red ferruginous soil and the alluvium in the valley. The soil comprises little rock fragments, sandy clay and sand. The top part of the soil on the steeply mountains are thin, the plains especially the one that are in flood-prone areas and delta region, is surprisingly thick. The soil on the steep hill slopes, being of thin quality is subjected to heavy erosion resulting in the formation of gullies and arid rock slopes. The usual pH value swings between 5.4 and 6.8.

The best time to visit Imphal, if you are looking from the climatic perspective, is from October through February. This is the time when the weather is bright and sunny without being excessively hot. Rains lash the city from May all through October-mid. The downpour can vary between light drizzles and heavy lashes of rain. The South Westerly winds carry moisture from Bay of Bengal and move towards Manipur, bringing in humidity while the eastern Himalayan ranges are responsible for the rains in the state. The entire state including the city is thankful to the rain because it is known to enhance the productivity of the soil and help in irrigation.

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