Climate and Weather in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand's climate is
characterized by the monsoon, which creates three distinct seasons.
The south-west monsoon usually arrives from
India at the end of May and lasts until November. Rainfall is generally
heaviest in September with an average precipitation of 250 mm for that month
alone. Rainy season however does not mean drizzle for days on end. The normal
pattern over the last years has been: clear mornings (with
better-than-dry-season visibility and mountain views), clouds in the afternoon
and subsequent rain, dry evenings, occasional rain at night. Still, weather is
ruled by chaos principles so there can be clouds and rainy days for -mostly
short- continuous periods.
The north-east monsoon lasts from mid-November
until early May and brings cool air from northern Vietnam/China but no rain
for Northern and Central Thailand except for the occasional "mango showers"
which may occur during the mango season.
This provides for a dry season of about six months
every year while Phuket and Southern Thailand barely get 2 months.
From March to May heat is on the agenda and maximum
daytime temperatures reach 40°C/100°F. Still, at night it mostly cools down and
mornings can be quite pleasant, evenings balmy.
Year round the air is less humid than in
other parts of the country. The low humidity is the main reason why the
air seems more pleasant here. Moreover, the temperature difference between day
and night and between the seasons is greater than in the other regions.
If you plan to visit during the cold season,
especially around Christmas and New Year when it gets coldest, be sure to bring
warm clothes which means a pullover and a jacket. In Chiang Rai and Mae
Hong Son it will be even chillier. Going on a mountain trek during this time
can be a very freezing business so bring an adequate down sleeping bag from
home, since you'll hardly find a good one in Thailand.
At a glance:
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Chiang Mai's climate is tropical but cooler and less humid than elsewhere in
Thailand.
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It's more continental than Southern Thailand with distinct monsoon seasons.
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It can get downright cold in December/January.
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All seasons make for a great stay!
Current weather in Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand:
| Location | Chiang Mai, Thailand (VTCC) 18-47N 098-59E 314M |
| Time | May 13, 2008 - 08:30 PM EDT / 2008.05.14 0030 UTC |
| Wind | Calm:0 |
| Visibility | greater than 7 mile(s):0 |
| SkyConditions | mostly cloudy |
| Temperature | 77 F (25 C) |
| DewPoint | 75 F (24 C) |
| RelativeHumidity | 94% |
| Pressure | 29.74 in. Hg (1007 hPa) |
| Status | Success |
|