Phuket follows a predictable weather pattern every year, which are cool season, hot season and rainy season. One can easily track down the weather forecast for Phuket. The climate Phuket has is usually affected by monsoon winds, which are enormous sea and land breezes formed by seasonal changes in circulation.
As for the weather forecast for Phuket, the hot season runs from April to early May. It is the hottest time in Phuket with the temperatures heating up to 80F - 95F (27C to 36C). Short thundery rains come frequently, relieving everyone from the undesirable temperature and humidity. Thailand celebrates their New Year on every 13th April, and now we know why they sprinkle cool water on everyone during that day!
In early May, southwest monsoon winds start to come in and bringing in the rain. It's the rainy season for Phuket from May to August. The highest rainfalls occur in May, September and October, it is when long period of rains is common. For sun worshippers, this is definitely not a good time of the year to come.
Nonetheless, during June, July and August, there are stills rain but it usually ends rather quickly. Apart from the rain, the weather is simply pleasant with cooling breeze and warm temperature. Sea lovers might want to take extra precaution during this season as the monsoon wind can cause large waves and undercurrents to the beaches. Hotels and resorts would usually place a warning red flag when it is unsafe to go into the sea.
The northeast winds usually start in November and hence ending the rainy season. This is when the cool seasons take place from November to February. It is the perfect time of the year to visit Phuket because there will be very few rainfall, lower humidity, and lots of blue sky with warm sun radiating the island! No doubt it is the peak visiting season and Phuket will be overwhelmed by people from all over the world, coming to this amazing island for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The Best Time to Visit Phuket
When planning a vacation, timing is crucial. You would not want to have planned the perfect beach holiday only to have it rain the entire time. Provided here is the best time to visit Thailand. As Thailand is very close to the equator, the weather is generally sunny all year round.
However, there are certain periods where there is more rain than usual and periods where it is cooler. The rainy season in Thailand is usually from July to October with November and February bringing the coolest and March to May bringing highest temperatures in the year!
While the climate is generally the same throughout Thailand, the seasons (summer, rainy and winter) do fluctuate from region to region. In central and east Thailand summer starts by March and continues all the way to June. The temperature can soar to almost 41 degrees Celsius! Rainy season in this region goes on during May until October. Northern and Northeast Thailand have similar seasons to central Thailand with the mountain ranges having colder climates to about 0 degrees Celsius. Southern Thailand has less distinct seasons, with only the summer and the rainy seasons.
As this area lies closest to the Gulf of Thailand, areas such as Phuket and Krabi are affected by the monsoon rains during the rainy periods. The best time to visit Phuket is between November and April to avoid the rain. However with the recent changes in global climate, it is always best to consult with the Thai government's Meteorological Department to find out the current condition and when to visit Phuket or other beach areas.
Be careful
During the rainy seasons (May to October) however, the monsoon winds might cause big waves and it is advisable to avoid swimming too far out. Watch out for the red flags which signify that it is too dangerous for swimmers. As the Patong beach is one of the most famous beaches on the island, it can also be over-crowded at times, causing the noise level to be high and the water to be somewhat marred. When looking for Patong accommodation, it might be wise to first check out the hot-spots of the crowds to ensure a quiet area for you to get a good night's rest.
