Climate

Most of Tibet experiences a dry, cold climate with average annual temperatures just above freezing.  In Lhasa this May and June, the daily temperature may rise from a chilly 37 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning to 80 degrees by noon, then drop suddenly after sunset. The average annual precipitation is 15 inches, with the largest amount falling in the southeast.

Tibet poses many challenges for the people who live or visit there. This region has less oxygen, more sunlight, longer hours of daylight, lower temperatures, less precipitation, and more changeable weather than most people are used to. In addition, Tibet endures extremely strong winds. Sabriye Tenberken tells us that many of the causes for blindness in the regions of Tibet are due to dust and high ultra-violet light radiation, soot in houses caused by heating with coal and/or yak dung, and lack of vitamin A (found in milk, eggs and dark fruits and vegetables) at an early age.