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 Phuket has a moist, tropical climate,
influenced chiefly by monsoon winds that vary in direction according to
the season. From March to September, as the sun's rays strike directly
above the equator, the land mass of Asia is heated more than is the
Indian Ocean. This draws moist hot air from the ocean over Phuket and
southern Thailand, bringing the rains of the southwest monsoon. By
mid-April the winds are mainly from the southwest and are heavy with
moisture.
During the month of May, it
will rain an average of 25 days making it one of the wettest months of
the year. When the tilt of the earth brings the direct sun rays south of
the equator, the heating of the Indian Ocean draws the cooler dry air of
the northeast monsoon from the highlands of Asia across the countries of
South and Southeast Asia. By October the direction of the wind will have
shifted to the northeast and Phuket will experience another intense but
briefer wet period as the northeast monsoon sweeps down the east coast
of Thailand and moves back into the Indian Ocean. By mid November the
weather on Phuket will be somewhat cooler and dryer, until March when
the weather becomes perceptively warmer and more humid preceding the
onset of the next monsoon. Visiting Phuket during the monsoon season is
not unpleasant because most days are rain-free except for showers in the
afternoon. Phuket averages 2540 mm (or about 100 inches) of rain each
year.
What's the
Phuket weather like during the rainy season?
This is the question everyone asks! So to give
you a clearer picture, here are a few facts.
Phuket has a tropical climate that is warm the
whole year round averaging temperatures of around 29C (88F). There are
two distinct seasons with a few minor variations in-between.
Many people visit in the high season (November
to March) because of pleasant temperatures, blue skies and low rainfall.
As a result the island is quite busy and everything is a little more
expensive. Hotels and tours can be quite crowded and the island is not
quite so laid back.
During April till mid-May, it begins to heat up
to around 34C (96F) and there are often heavy thunder-showers in the
late afternoons. The Thai New Year (Songkran Festival) occurs on April
13th and everyone sprinkles (or throws) cool water on each other.
Welcome relief!
This quickly gives way to cooler temperatures
and rain showers from late May until November (the monsoon season).
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Visiting Phuket in the monsoon season has lots
of advantages. Temperatures average a comfortable 29/30C (88-90F) and
light warm winds make sightseeing tours very pleasant. During the
monsoon season, it doesn't rain every day! The usual weather pattern is
for short dramatic showers, with plenty of sunshine in between,
providing an opportunity to chat with the locals while you're waiting
for the rain to pass. June, July and August are particularly pleasant.
Activities and trips (apart from Similan diving
trips) remain totally unaffected. You can still go swimming or kayaking,
(falling off a canoe in warm water will not leave you shivering!) The
island is less busy and more relaxed - it's also less expensive.
There are some great deals on hotel rates and
much better shopping bargains. Better value for money - get the hotel
room you want at the price you want! Check out the Special Offers! .
Less people, more room on the beaches and it's easier to get a good
table at your favorite restaurant. One point to watch, however, Is that
swimming off the West coast beaches can be dangerous due to strong
currents and rip-tides. Always observe the warning flags on the beach.
Don't be put off by the long-range weather
forecasts. Phuket weather is very localized because of the surrounding
hills. There could be a shower on Patong Beach, and bright sunshine in
Kata a few kilometers south!
Finally, remember that this is after all a
tropical climate, so its never cold and the sun is never far away....
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