Heavy, unseasonal rain began in western Nepal on 17 October 2021 and spread east over the following days, in what should have been the dry, clear heart of the autumn trekking season. Floods and landslides struck 23 districts; more than 100 people died and dozens went missing. The worst day was 20 October.
In short: The rain was linked to a low-pressure system from the Bay of Bengal. Roads and bridges were damaged, crops destroyed just before harvest, and trekkers in several regions were stranded for days.
Autumn is not always dry
Most of October is clear, but late storms happen, as in 2014 and 2025. Keep spare days, watch forecasts, and follow your guide's advice on passes. See Nepal in October.