 Thailand
weather forecast:
local weather in Phuket, Thailand
 
Southern Thailand
Weather Calendar
Southern Thailand has two weather seasons:
high season and low season. High season begins in November and features
higher percentage occupancy in hotels and higher prices for goods
and services. In Phuket, the change in prices can be pretty dramatic.
The weather is generally clear and sunny. The coolest weather is
in late December through early January. Peak high season is the
Christmas-New Year period. It's crowded and more expensive.
Low season features wind predominantly from the southwest.
Storms which originate in Antarctica, pass by Sumatra on the way
to Phuket. There are periods of one or two weeks during which it
rains at least a little on most days. These are actually prime kayaking
conditions. Cloudy days are cooler, making paddling more comfortable.
Conditions often change by the hour. We put on sun screen in the
morning and watch approaching rain fronts in the afternoon. It's
beautiful!
The good news is that PaddleAsia specializes in finding out-of-the-way
destinations. We much prefer to see the natural world sans
the crowds!
Here's the month-by-month
weather breakdown:
| January |
This
is a peak "high season" month. This means
that the hotels, vendors, street merchants and everyone else
are asking their highest prices. Negotiating is difficult.
If you don’t like crowds, this might not be the best
time to come to Phuket. However, since we get away from the
crowds, this is still a great time to go paddling.
The weather is perfect.
The average temperature during this period is approximately
75ºF to 89ºF (24ºC to 32ºC.) That’s why it’s so
appealing tourists. Most countries are experiencing cold weather
this month. There is very little chance of rain, though it
can happen during El Nino years. Even then, it won’t
amount to much.
The prevailing wind is from the
Northeast. The other side of the Malay peninsula
is experiencing their rainy season.
The migratory birds are
all here! |
| February |
|
This month is
the same as January as far as weather and crowds
go. The average temperature during this period is approximately
75ºF to 89ºF (24ºC to 32ºC.)
Many orchids are in bloom
towards the end of the month. The migratory birds are still
here.
|
| March |
High
season is tapering off this month. There seems
to be less people and negotiating on prices is possible, especially
with street vendors and small shops.
The average temperature
during this period is still approximately 75ºF to 89ºF (24ºC
to 32ºC.) It gets a little hotter at the end of the month
sometimes.
There are occasional brief showers
some years. This is a great time for paddling. The showers
merely give you a little break from the sun.
Some of the migratory birds
start departing for colder climates near the end of the month.
Many species of orchids are in
bloom in both saltwater and freshwater areas.
|
| April |
|
Mid-April through
October is known as the "low season".
The seasons are the opposite on the east coast (the Gulf
of Siam side.) Ko Samui for example, has its high season
during Phuket’s low season.
This is a transitional month.
The previously Northeastern monsoon
winds gradually start moving around
to eventually come from the Southwest. Somewhere around
the middle of the month, you can count on some heavy showers.
The second half of the month is usually pretty wet. Frequent
thunder showers occur. They are often quite heavy and often
brief. It seldom rains all day.
April and May are the hottest
months of the year. The temperatures range from
80ºF to 95ºF (27ºC to 36ºC.)
In the middle of the month,
the Thais celebrate Songkran, the water festival. Everyone
splashes and throws water on everyone else. It’s certainly
something to see, even if only once. Driving a motorcycle
is extremely dangerous due to slippery road and getting
ice cold water thrown at high velocity at you while you’re
driving.
On the aesthetic side,
low season storms can be absolutely stunning. The colors
are often breathtaking. The sunsets are ineffable. The power
of nature is at its best.
The middle of the month
is the official end of high season. Negotiating prices becomes
easier.
Birds are
very active during this month in preparation
for breeding. Some migratory species have left.
Many species of
orchids are in bloom in both saltwater and freshwater
areas. Most of the migratory birds are gone, but Thailand
hosts plenty of resident birds. You'll still see plenty!
|
| May |
| This
is a wet month.
This is a fairly nice time to
paddle. It’s a bit hot, but there aren’t
many tourists around.
One of the truly nice things
about paddling during the rainy season is the visibility.
When it stops raining, the visibility can be absolutely
outstanding! Since there are so many groups of islands in
the areas where we do our trips, this becomes a very rewarding
part of your trip. It makes you take a deep breath and say
"ahhhhh"!
Prices come down
on almost everything.
Many bird species
are looking for a mate. That means that they are calling
a lot and moving around. Some migratory species are still
around, though most have left.
Many species of orchids
are still in bloom in both saltwater and freshwater areas.
|
| June |
| The
same as May except the waves on the west coast
of Phuket are bigger.
The temperatures
range between 70ºF and 90ºF (20ºC to 33ºC.)
Many species of orchids
are still in bloom in both saltwater and freshwater areas.
|
| July |
The
same as June, but the waves can be a little bit
bigger depending on the storm activities out to sea.
Many young birds
can be see feeding with their parents.
The temperatures range
between 70ºF and 90ºF (20ºC to 33ºC.) |
| August |
This
is a month that can have nice weather. The wind
is still from the Southwest, but the rain is a bit less than
the previous months and a lot less than the next two months.
This can be a dangerous time to
go swimming. The rips get pretty bad and the waves
can be big. Having said that, waves aren’t dependable
in Southern Thailand. It all depends on the storm activities
out to sea. Even during stormy years, the waves aren’t
happening every day.
The temperatures range
between 70ºF and 90ºF (20ºC to 33ºC.) |
| September |
This
is the wettest month of the year by far. There
are frequent storms. However, there are still plenty of clear
days. The rains are often heavy with very strong winds at
the start of the front. Line squalls occur during this period.
The rains aren’t necessarily all day long. Many days
have brief showers or no rain at all.
Since we prefer bungalows
and small hotels to camping, the comfort quotient of our trips
is still high.
This is the lowest time
of the year for tourism. |
| October |
| The
is usually the second wettest month of the year.
Storms are less frequent and less intense than those in September.
Tourism is slow, so you're able to negotiate prices easily. |
| November |
November
through mid-April is known as "high season"
in Phuket and along the west coast. November is a transitional
month. The rains gradually taper off throughout the month.
The most popular time to visit
Phuket is during the cooler northeast monsoon
season. From November through March, it’s not as humid
and a comfortable breeze is common. The average temperature
during this period is approximately 75ºF to 89ºF (24ºC to
32ºC.)
Some migratory bird
species start arriving.
Many Strangling Fig trees
are in fruit, making it very easy to see
a lot of Hornbills
in Khao Sok National Park.
The prices of everything
start to go up. However, many merchants are still willing
to "deal" a little bit. |
| December |
This
is high season. The closer to Christmas, the
more people arrive. Negotiating prices becomes increasingly
difficult.
All of the migratory birds
that visit Thailand are here by December.
More Strangling Fig trees
come into fruit. This is a very easy time
to see hornbills, gibbons, monkeys and other fruit-eaters. |
All
in all, there’s no bad time to visit southern
Thailand. The southwest monsoon
season isn't as bad as you might think.
The skies are often clear and the seas moderate. There's really
no reason why the southwest monsoon should interfere with a good
paddling vacation. In sum, if you like cheaper prices and potentially
wilder weather, come in the low season. If you like clear weather
and predictable conditions, come on over in the high season.
|
