Chiang Mai Climate and Weather

Booking Chiang Mai hotels and need to know what to expect from the weather ? Due to its elevation and being a mountainous region, the climate and weather in Chiang Mai differ considerably from other Thailand destinations frequented by tourists. It is cooler, less humid and at night temperatures during the cold season can make you reach for your jacket. The south-west Monsoon arrives at the end of May, marking the start of the cool season and lasts until November.

The minimum temperature experienced during this time is approximately 21 degrees Celsius in October with the maximum being approximately 32 degrees Celsius. The most rain is experienced during August and September with an average precipitation of 250 mm. Though not as tropical as other parts of Thailand, wet months in Chiang Mai does not mean rain day on end. You would generally experience clear mornings, wet afternoons and occasional wet evenings.

Mid November until early May sees a cooler, but dry period due to the north-east Monsoon blowing in from Vietnam and China, providing six months of sunny skies. Many view this as the best time to visit Chiang Mai. Temperatures during this time however can drop as low as 13 degrees Celsius in January rising steadily with a minimum temperature of 22 degrees Celsius in April. The Maximum temperature during this time reaches anything from 28 degrees Celsius in December to 35 degrees Celsius in April.

In terms of the weather, this is a nice if not the best time to visit Chiang Mai if you want to experience moderate temperatures with less rain. March to late May is hot and sees temperatures from 30 to 40 degrees Celsius.

Evenings are still cooler than what is expected in a tropical climate. Naturally, being a mountainous area, weather can at times be slightly unpredictable. Come prepared for any conditions when you visit Chiang Mai, especially during the wet and cold season.