The monsoons affect Thailand weather

The weather in Thailand is tropical and the climate is generally hot and humid. Thailand’s weather is ruled by monsoons that produce three seasons in the area of Thailand north of Bangkok and two seasons in the southern peninsular region of Thailand.

North Thailand weather - three seasons

In northern Thailand the seasons are clearly defined. Between November and June the weather is mostly dry, however, this is broken up into the periods November to February and March to May. Although the NE monsoon does not directly effect the northern area of Thailand, it does cause cooling breezes from November to February. During the cool season in the north it can get quite chilly at night. The hot season is between March and June. The other northern season is from June to November and is dominated by the southwest monsoon, during which time rainfall in the north is at its heaviest.

South Thailand weather - a tropical climate

The tropical southern region of Thailand has two seasons: wet and dry. The further south you go the shorter the dry season. These seasons do not run at the same time on both the east and west side of the southern peninsular. On the west coast the southwest monsoon brings rain and storms between April and October, whilst on the east coast the most rain falls from September through to December. Temperatures are more even year-round in the south and do not drop much at night. The rainy season rarely brings things to a complete halt and is no reason to put off a visit to Thailand.

Temperature and rainfall in Thailand

The hot and dry season is from March to June and April is the hottest month across the country. At this time temperatures in Bangkok average around 34 degrees centigrade, but can often reach 40 degrees centigrade with high humidity levels. From July to October is the monsoon season when most of Thailand's annual rainfall is accumulated. Overall the southern parts of Thailand get the most rain with around 2400 mm every year, compared to the central and northern regions of Thailand, both of which see around 1400 mm. From November to February the northeast monsoon blows cool, dry air which serves as a respite from the heat. During this cool season, the temperature ranges from 18 to 32 degrees centigrade in Bangkok, while in northern and northeast Thailand, temperatures can get quite cool with morning temperatures as low as 8 degrees centigrade with the occasional 20 degree day. Nights can be particularly chilly and at high altitudes, the temperature sometimes drops below freezing.

Weather on Koh Phangan Island

Koh Phanhan (an island off the east coast of Thailand's southern peninsular) enjoys a tropical climate. Temperatures do not vary much throughout the year and do not fall much at night. On Koh Phangan Island the dry season lasts for just two months, March and April. But even at this time there is still the possibility of ‘mango showers’ (the dry season being mango season). During these two months the weather is really hot. It rains the most on the island during October and November at which time the mosquitoes and Dengue fever can become a problem. But it doesn’t rain constantly during the rainy season. In fact, on most days you will see some sunshine. Also, it is hot even when cloudy, and you can still be sunburnt if it is overcast. Between April and October is the low tidal season. It is not really possible to swim in the sea along Koh Phangan's south and west coasts during this time.

Weather at Horizon Thai Boxing Camp

At Haad Tien Bay our life is very much affected by the weather, particularly the state of the sea as access to the bay is by boat. Koh Phangan sees the SW monsoon during July to October. We may see rain during this time but the sea remains calm and there are plenty of boats. From mid-October to March is the NE monsoon. This change of wind direction means the wind is coming straight off the sea into the bay so we see relatively rough seas on the east side of the island, and it can be very windy during storms (mostly on October and November). Rough seas mean a longer journey to the bay by boat and less frequent taxi boats. Benefits of visiting us at this time include the cooler weather and the fact that it is quieter at the camp; so you will receive plenty of personal attention from our instructors. Despite the rough seas January and February are usually busy as there are many tourists on the island at this time and there is not much rain. March and April are very hot. There is no rain or wind and the sea is like a mill pond. The bay looks stunning at this time but for some the heat can be stifling.

Bangkok Weather - We provide weather reports for Bangkok.