Northern Thailand’s climate

Posted by paul on April 12th, 2009 filed in tourist tips

The weather conditions in Northern Thailand are influenced by the monsoon, creating three distinct seasons. Usually arriving from India in the last week of May, the south-west monsoon lasts until November. During September rainfall is in general reaches the highest levels with an average 250 mm precipitation. However, the wet season doesn’t mean drizzling for days on end.

Over the last three years the common pattern has been: bright mornings (with better visibility than in the dry season and mountain panoramas), cloudy afternoons and subsequent rainfall, dry evenings, now and then rainfall at night. Still, weather conditions are ruled by chaotic principles so it is possible that there are rainy days and cloudy skies for, mostly short and continuous periods.

Lasting from mid-November until the beginning of May, cool air from northern China and Vietnam arrives with the north-east monsoon but no rain. Only occasional showers of rain take place in Central and Northern Thailand in this season. The heat lasts from March to May with maximum daytime temperatures often reaching 40°C. Still, it remains quite cool at night and also the early morning hours can be enjoyable, while the evenings are balmy.

Northern Thailand’s air is less humid than in Thailand’s other regions year-round. This is the most significant reason why the northern air seems more enjoyable. Moreover, the difference between daily and nightly temperatures and between the different seasons is higher than in other provinces. Make sure to bring some warm clothing along if you’re planning to visit Chiang Mai during the winter season, particularly in December and January it can get chilly. In Mae Hong Son and Chiang Rai it will be even colder!

Frost in Northern Thailand

Thailand weather guide