Kota weather in July: heavy rain, humid air and cloudy skies

Kota weather in July is the heart of the monsoon. It is the wettest month of the year, the sky is cloudy on most days, the air is humid, and the fierce heat of May and June gives way to warm, damp weather. The city and the Hadoti countryside turn green, but heavy rain spells can flood roads and push up water levels in the Chambal system. This guide uses the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Climatological Tables 1991-2020 for the Kota Airport observatory (station 42452) to describe a normal July.

Normals are long-term averages, not a forecast. For the coming days, see the Kota weather forecast page and IMD’s district warnings.

July at a glance: IMD climate tables

Measure (Kota Airport)	June	July	August
Mean daily maximum	40.3 C	34.3 C	32.2 C
Mean daily minimum	29.5 C	27.0 C	25.8 C
Hottest day of the month (mean)	45.2 C	39.5 C	35.6 C
Rainfall	80.3 mm	296.7 mm	269.6 mm
Rainy days (2.5 mm or more)	4.7	11.6	11.2
Days with any rain (0.3 mm or more)	6.7	15.3	15.4
Days with thunder	4.1	4.9	5.3
Relative humidity, 08:30 / 17:30 IST	50% / 33%	74% / 62%	80% / 69%
Mean cloud cover, 08:30 / 17:30 IST	2.9 / 4.2 oktas	5.7 / 6.2 oktas	5.8 / 6.2 oktas
Mean wind speed	11.1 km/h	10.5 km/h	9.0 km/h

July’s normal of 296.7 mm is more than a third of Kota’s annual rainfall of 816.2 mm. Rain falls on about half the days of the month, but rarely all day; most of the total comes from a handful of heavy spells.

What a July day feels like

A typical July day starts humid and cloudy, with temperatures in the high 20s. The afternoon warms into the low to mid 30s between showers, and the evening can bring another round of rain. The relative humidity averages 74 percent in the morning and 62 percent in the evening, so sweat evaporates slowly and the air feels close even when the temperature is moderate. On a break day with sunshine, it can feel hotter than the thermometer suggests.

The sky is the clearest sign of the season. IMD’s tables show 13 to 14 days per July with 6 or 7 oktas of cloud and 8 to 10 days completely overcast at the observation times. Truly clear days are rare.

Heavy rain and what it means

IMD describes rainfall in daily bands: heavy, very heavy and extremely heavy, based on millimetres in 24 hours. Our guide to IMD rainfall categories explains those bands and the colour-coded warnings. In Kota, a heavy-rain day typically brings:

• Waterlogging on low roads, underpasses and some residential lanes.
• Slower traffic and occasional power cuts.
• Rising inflows into the Chambal dams upstream. When reservoirs fill, gates may be opened, and the river through Kota can rise quickly. Our Kota Barrage flood season guide explains where to find official updates.

Thunder is recorded on about 4.9 days in an average July. Lightning is a real risk for people outdoors in open fields, on rooftops or by the river. See Kota lightning safety for what to do.

Health and daily life

• Mosquitoes. Standing water multiplies quickly in July. Empty cooler tanks, pots and containers at least weekly and use nets or repellent.
• Food and water. Drink safe water and be careful with street food that has been sitting out in humid heat.
• Damp. Clothes dry slowly and walls can turn damp. Ventilate rooms on dry breaks and keep documents and electronics off the floor. Our Kota humidity guide covers this.
• Students. Hostel rooms on ground floors may see water at the door in heavy spells; keep a pair of sandals, an umbrella and a waterproof bag for books.

Visiting Kota in July

July suits travellers who want to see the Chambal valley green and the gorges full. Viewpoints such as Garadia Mahadev can be beautiful after rain, but paths may be slippery and some routes can be closed after heavy rain. Plan flexible days, carry rain gear and check IMD warnings before driving out of the city. Read Kota sightseeing by season and Kota travel weather guide before you go.

Getting around in a July rain spell

Most disruption in July is short-lived and local, but it helps to plan for it:

• Trains. Heavy rain elsewhere on a route can delay trains through Kota even when the city is dry. Check live running status on NTES before you leave for the station.
• Roads. Underpasses, low crossings and roads near nullahs collect water quickly. If the depth or speed of the water is unclear, wait or take another route. Never cross a flooded causeway.
• Two-wheelers. Wet roads, potholes hidden under water and poor visibility in heavy rain make two-wheelers risky. Slow down and use a proper raincoat rather than an umbrella.
• Timing. Rain in July often eases for a few hours at a time. If you have flexibility, move a journey into a break rather than driving through the heaviest spell.

A rain-ready bag for July: a compact umbrella or raincoat, a waterproof cover for your phone and documents, a spare pair of socks and mosquito repellent.

July: the year’s most humid heat

July has Kota’s highest wet bulb temperatures: 25.4 C at 08:30 IST and 25.9 C at 17:30 IST, against air temperatures of 29.0 C and 32.1 C. With only about 6 degrees between the two at 17:30, sweat evaporates slowly, so a 32 C July evening can feel heavier than a 41 C May afternoon. See Kota wet bulb temperature. The sky is fully overcast on about 8 mornings and 10 evenings in an average July, and station air pressure is at its lowest of the year, about 970 hPa in the morning. See Kota cloud cover and Kota air pressure.

Kota’s July rain (296.7 mm) is higher than New Delhi’s (195.8 mm), though Delhi’s July days are slightly hotter; see Kota vs Delhi weather.

Related guides

• Kota weather in June for the month before
• Kota weather in August for the month after
• Kota monsoon and Kota rainfall for the full season
• Kota weather by month