Midnapore
is located at 22°15'N 87°39'E / 22.25, 87.65 and is 23 metres
above sea-level.
The climate follows a hot tropical monsoon weather
pattern. Summers last from April to mid-June with diurnal highs
ranging from the upper 30s°C to the mid 40s°C and lows in
the low 30s°C. Daily heat is often followed by evening rains
known as kalboishakhis or dust-storms (loo) Monsoon rains can last
from mid-June to late August or even September with rains from the
southeast monsoon contributing the lions-share of the annual rainfall
of around 1500 mm. Winters last for 2 to 3 months and are mild;
typical lows are from 8 °C - 14 °C. Allergies are common
in winter and spring due to the high content of particulate dust
in the air.
Soils near the Kangsabati River are alluvial with
a high-degree of clay or sand, whereas soils towards Rangamati are
lateritic. Vegetation incluces eucalyptus and sal forests on the
northwest side of town. The sal forests form part of the Dalma Bengal-Jharkhand
Range. Arabari, the forest range which was the site of India's first
Joint Forest Management scheme, is only 30 km away. Elephant attacks
on humans are common in this area, although the town itself has
never been attacked. Hordes of marauding elephants attacking human
habitation in villages in Midnapore district have come as close
to the town as Gurguripal, 6 km away.