Thailand
Thailand's climate is characterised by heat – lots of it, and all year round. In fact, the average daytime temperature doesn't fall below 30 degrees at any time during the year. But that's not surprising, as Thailand is a tropical country that's just 16 degrees north of the equator.
Humidity is also high and monsoons aren't uncommon. Temperatures reach their peak in April and May, when average daytime temperatures often exceed 35 degrees centigrade. In June, the monsoon season begins, with intermittent rain until the end of October. Rainfall peaks in September, with around 30cms a day in the centre of the country.
Perhaps the optimum time to visit Thailand is from November to February, when temperatures are moderated by air from the North East and humidity is more bearable.
In winter, you'll find it less hot than Bangkok in the North and North East, but hotter in summer. Temperatures in the far north can sometimes fall into single digits.
So what should you wear? Light cotton is always a good idea. If you want to save on packing, buy it when you get here, as clothing is cheap as chips. Sunglasses, a hat and high-factor sun cream are all vital in Thailand.
| Thailand's climate | |||||||||||
| Average Daytime Temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 30 | 31 | 34 | 36 | 35 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 |
| Average Rainfall (cm) | |||||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1.0 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 14.5 | 16.5 | 17.5 | 30.0 | 21.0 | 7.0 | 0.5 |