Thailand is located in the middle of a tropical zone. For that reason you can expect to find the typical monsoon climate present in any area near the equator. As we saw in our article from better time to travel to Vietnam, we will see that Thailand has also two very different seasons, the dry season and the rainy season. Also during the monsoon (May to September) showers are usually intense and short. If you travel to Thailand during the summer expect to find rain every day, especially in the afternoon, although they will surely be intense showers that will not last more than 2 or 3 hours.
Two very different climatic zones
Although Thailand’s climate can be labelled as tropical, there are two very different types of climates: the tropical monsoon climate and the tropical savannah climate.
The Thai monsoon climate is very common in areas close to the sea, where greater evaporation and relative humidity cause more rainfall throughout the year and even more so in the rainy season. In Thailand we find this climate in the Malacca peninsula, which is surrounded by the seas of Burma and Andaman on one side and the Pacific Ocean (Gulf of Thailand) on the other. Also the city of Bangkok is in that zone of climatic influence.
As for the tropical savannah climate is present in the center of the country, in the area north of Bangkok. Due to their nature and interior latitude, the north, northeast, center and east of Thailand experience a long period of warm weather. During the hottest part of the year, temperatures usually reach 40°C or more, with the exception of coastal areas, where the sea breeze moderates temperatures.
Top image: Thai climates
High season, the coolest season
Top image: agglomerations during Chinese New Year (February)
Pros: moderate temperatures.
Cons: higher prices and agglomerations.
If you are used to the relatively cool summers enjoyed in the north and northeast of the Iberian Peninsula and want to avoid as much heat as possible, schedule your trip to Thailand during the months November to February . However, this is when there are more travellers in the country, and this season is considered “high season”. Prices will be higher compared to other times of the year and you will find more people than at other times.
Low season, rainy season and monsoons
Image above: Typical heavy downpour in Bangkok (August)
Pros: lower prices and fewer tourists.
Cons: more heat and showers every day.
However if you can only concentrate your holiday days during the months of June, July, August and September and therefore you are going to travel to Thailand at this time, expect to find some more heat and monsoon rains daily. The rains are more pronounced in Bangkok and the Malacca Peninsula (southern part of the country) so expect to find short and intense showers every day. However as it is low season you will find the prices somewhat more moderate and less crowds of tourists.
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