Introduction
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Climate
Phuket's weather conditions are dominated by monsoon winds that blow year round. It is therefore
always warm and humid. There are two distinct seasons, rainy and
dry.
The rainy season begins in May and lasts till October, during
which the monsoon blows from the southwest.
The dry season is from November through April, when the monsoon
comes from the northeast.
Highest average temperatures, at 33.4ºC, prevail during
March. Lowest averages occur in January, when nightly lows
dip to 22ºC.
Phuket has a tropical monsoon
climate. It's warm all year 'round, but the two periods of April-May
and September-October are the hottest. The September-October period
is also the wettest.
The best time to visit Phuket
is during the cool NE monsoon season, from November though
March, when it isn't so humid, and the cool breezes keep things
comfortable. The average temperature is around 75ºF to 89ºF (24ºC
to 32ºC).
The
hottest time is from April through May, with temperatures
ranging from 80ºF to 95ºF (27ºC to 36ºC). There are frequent short
heavy thundery showers, offering welcome relief from the temperature
and humidity. The Thai New Year occurs on April 13th and everyone sprinkles (or throws) cool water on each other. No
wonder!
 Locals
enjoy June, July and August, since the weather is usually
fine and our favourite haunts remain uncrowded. The usual pattern
is brief but heavy showers, with plenty of sunshine between downpours.
Everything is a little less expensive at this time of year, as
well. Temperatures range between 70ºF and 90ºF (20ºC to 33ºC).
During September and early October
locals start to remember their umbrellas. This makes an ideal
time to visit abroad. One consolation for those who remain is
that the beaches, outdoor restaurants and streets are relatively
uncluttered by visitors.
And even at this time, we still get long intervals of sunshine
between the heavy showers. Plenty of low season activities, both
water- and land-based, are still available on Phuket during this
wettest part of the summer season. |
