Pangong Tso experiences a tundra-like, cold desert climate (Köppen climate classification: *ET* or *BWk* depending on the exact locale). Due to its high altitude, the weather is extreme, arid, and cold throughout the year.
Summer (May to September) is the only practical time to visit, featuring relatively pleasant daytime temperatures ranging from 10°C to 25°C (50°F to 77°F). However, as soon as the sun sets, temperatures rapidly drop to near freezing, even in the middle of summer.
Winter (October to April) is brutally cold, with temperatures plummeting to between -10°C and -30°C (14°F to -22°F). During this time, despite its high salinity, the lake freezes solid due to the extreme and sustained sub-zero temperatures. Rainfall is exceptionally rare, as the lake falls in the rain shadow of the Great Himalayas; most precipitation occurs as snow. The combination of intense high-altitude UV radiation, biting winds, and low oxygen levels requires visitors to acclimatize properly to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
