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Chiang Mai Weather

Chiang Mai weather.......let's face it, one of the main reasons we all love Thailand is the weather!.

Close your eyes and picture yourself on one of those lovely balmy evenings when the weather in Chiang Mai is just perfect (that could be most nights of the year!), relaxing at your favorite restaurant, down by the Mae Ping River having a pre-dinner “aperitif”! It doesn’t get much better than that.

But, let’s get back to reality, you are probably reading this wishing that you were currently in Chiang Mai rather than being somewhere else where the weather is not so kind, and life is a little faster than here.

"What is the best time of year to visit Chiang Mai; does it get a bit chilly in the evenings during the Winter & Spring?".

We've put together some "Chiang Mai Weather" information and links, which we hope you'll find useful.

The information is obviously generalized, with slight variances each year, but the basics are all correct.

The Chiang Mai Climate

In general, the climate in Chiang Mai Province throughout the year is very nice with little difference between the different amphurs (counties).

There are three distinct seasons in a year -- the Rainy Season from June to October, the hot season from March to May, and the cool season from November to February.

The coolest months are December and January. The temperature throughout the year varies between 17°c to 38°C, while the yearly average temperature is 28° C.

However, the temperatures up in the outlying hills are generally 5c-8c lower than they are on the lowland plains.

Typically, April in Chiang Mai is the hottest month with temperatures up around 40c with little rain.

Chiang Mai Weather Averages

When to Visit

The months of December-March in Chiang Mai can be one of the most rewarding times to visit, average daytime temperatures are warm but tolerable, and the nights are nice & cool, which is one of the reasons why so many people from Western countries retire here, as it is very pleasant during this time of year.

The humidity throughout the year is considerably lower than you find at the popular coastal resorts & islands of the Kingdom, so again it makes the whole visiting experience more enjoyable

One personal note of warning: due to the high levels of Swidden Agriculture (slash & burn as its commonly called) still carried out in Northern Thailand, Myanmar & Laos, plus the seasonal weather of no wind or rain makes for ideal conditions for SMOG which can be a problem particularly between the end of February - end of March.

If you suffer from any respiratory problems, you should consider this before visiting at this time of year.

Whatever time of year you choose to visit poor Chiang Mai weather is rarely an issue, even during July & August despite the number of days of rain, it tends to rain very hard for a short period of time, then the clouds just seem to disappear, and the sun is back in no time !.