Phuket Weather , Thailand
Phuket is an island province located on Thailand's southern peninsula. It's Thailand's biggest island and sits off the east coast in the Andaman Sea. The island is lush and hilly; its highest peak is 529m. Phuket is situated around 250km south from the capital Bangkok.
Phuket has become justifiably famous as a world-class holiday destination thanks to its great climate and glorious beaches. Some would argue it has become a victim of its own success as more and more high-rise hotels have sprung up and visitors, once searching for ultimate relaxation are now often attracted by the seedier side of Thailand.
That said, there are still many charming places on the island and something for everyone from tranquil beaches to debaucherous night spots. There are also many other great places to visit in the nearby area including the stunning island of Koh Phi Phi and Krabi. Phuket vies with the famous island of Koh Samui on the east coast for the claim of Thailand's number one island destination.
Phuket was sadly devastated by the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami with countless lives lost, homes and livelihoods destroyed. Happily today the island is recovering well but scars are still visible.
Phuket's average temperatures don't vary that much due to its closeness to the equator. The weather is pleasantly warm all year round and it is a popular holiday destination for tourists coming from many parts of the globe. The island's weather is best described in three seasons: hot, wet and cold.
The rainy season covers the months from May to October where more than 100mm will fall each month to the September high of 400mm. After the monsoon comes the cooler weather from November through to February and the hot season is March to May.
The hottest month here is March with an average temperature of 29°C between a low of 23°C and a high of 34°C. January is the coolest month with an average temperature of 27°C between a high of 32°C and a low of 22°C. The average temperature varies only 2 °C from 27°C to 29°C. The average high/low temperatures show little variation with a 3°C variation in the lows and a 4°C variation in the highs.
Rainfall varies due to the monsoon season and average rainfall varies from 30mm a month in February to 400mm in September. During the monsoon season, May to October, you can expect to see between 18 and up to 23 days of rain a month. Phuket is one of the earliest places to experience monsoon rains as they come in from the west.
The most rain falls at the beginning of the season and the end of monsoon season where May, September and October will average 350mm to 400mm a month. The middle months average about 280mm each. Humidity will be higher during monsoon due to amount of moisture around and average humidity varies from 75% to a high of 90% in October.
During the drier months there will be only 4 or 5 wet days each month with to 30mm to 40mm falling. Rainfall will steadily increase towards the wet months as does the humidity. The time from November to February is the most comfortable here with lower humidity and cooler temperatures.
The hot season arrives in March and this is when temperatures climb to the mid 30s. Average humidity will also start to increase and the weather will build towards the first storms and rain in April.
Sunshine hours vary little from a high of 9 hours and a low of 7 hours a day spread throughout the year. Autumn has the least number of sunshine hours at 7 and summer has the highest with 9.
The average sea temperature varies little with a low of 28°C in the winter months of December and January. This is still a pleasant temperature for water sports, even in winter. Summer sees a high of 30°C and this water temperature lasts from April to August.
There will be some fog days during the year with average fog days for each month varying from 1 day a month in the hot season and then rising through to 5 in December and to 8 days in March.
Monsoon Weather in Phuket
By May the hot air over the Asian continent has built up intensely. This draws in cool moisture laden air from the southwest over the Indian Ocean, bringing rains to Thailand and the rest of South East Asia. Being in the southwest of Thailand, Phuket is one of the first to experience the monsoon rains.
Rain
The start and end of the monsoon season see the wettest weather: May, September and October. Phuket experiences 350-400mm average rainfall during these months. The months of June, July and August see about 280mm per month.
Temperature
Temperatures during the monsoon season are hot: between 28°C and 29°C on average, with highs around 31°C and lows around 25°C. The high humidity makes these temperatures pretty uncomfortable.
If you're willing to gamble on the weather, this is a good time to take advantage of quieter beaches and cheaper prices. The rains are a nuisance but showers are often over quickly and followed by sunshine. July and August have become a mini high season on the island as holidaymakers travel over from Europe on the summer vacations and many Australians take a break from their winter weather. These months especially can still see a good amount of sunshine.
Winter Weather in Phuket
This is the high season in Phuket and sees the best weather of the year. The southwest winds that brought the monsoon are reversed and cooler, dry air arrives from the northeast.
Temperature
The weather is very dry at this time and temperatures are at their most comfortable between around 23°C and 30°C.
Humidity
Humidity drops to its lowest of 58% in February, helping to make conditions very pleasant.
Rain
December is the coolest month of the year, averaging 27°C, and February is the driest month averaging 30mm of rain.
Summer Weather in Phuket
Temperature
This period can get very hot in Phuket with daily highs going up to 34°C on average. The heat builds and builds before the monsoon arrives sometime in May.
Humidity
It is dry at this time with plenty of blue skies, but with temperatures often in the mid 30s many people find it too hot for comfort. Humidity builds during this time, adding to the discomfort, and the first thunderstorms occur in April.