The monsoon is the dominant feature of India's climate and helps to divide the year into four seasons: rainy (June to September); moist (October to November); dry cool (December to March); and hot (April to May).

India's weather varies widely. Villages in the Great Indian Desert may experience less than 13 centimeters (5 inches) of rainfall yearly, while some areas near Bangladesh average about 1,140 centimeters (450 inches) yearly. Winter snowfall is normal for the northern mountains and valleys, but for most of India, scorching spring dust storms and severe hailstorms are more common.

The northern half of the country is subject to frost from November through February, but by May a temperature as high as 49° c (120°F) in the shade may be recorded.

Almost one-fourth of the land is forested. Valuable commercial forests are mainly restricted to the eastern Himalayas, the Western Ghats, and the Andaman Islands. Pine, oak, bamboo, juniper, deodar, and sal are important tree species of the Himalayas. Sandalwood, teak, rosewood, mango, and Indian mahogany are found in the southern Peninsula.