Planning for the Climate of Bangkok

Bangkok Climate

Residents often joke that Thailand's three seasons are “hot” “hotter” and “hottest”, and there is quite a bit of truth in that—it is sometimes referred to as the hottest major city in the world. The temperature is fairly stable, and in Bangkok. The only climate variation is in the amount of rainfall and the area that receives it. Jackets and other cool weather clothes normally sit around unused, though rain clothes are not.

Fringe Season

In Bangkok, the major seasons are the cool season, the hot season, and the rainy season. There is also a period of time in between the hot season and the rainy season when the weather is highly unpredictable, which is referred to as the fringe season or the “low season” because its heat and rain make it unpopular with tourists. The cool season lasts from November until February, and despite the name, warm clothes are usually unnecessary. It is also the driest part of the year, and for that reason (and the mild temperatures) it is popular with tourists.

The hot hot Season in Bangkok

The hot season can begin as early as March and lasts until June, at which point the temperature (and rainfall) gets fairly unpredictable. When the temperatures and humidity levels reach their peak, even the native Thais begin to sweat. Fortunately with the advent of air conditioning, life can be tolerable even during the hot season. Mall shopping and barhopping are popular activities thanks to aircon. Walk slowly if you must travel on foot—travel by taxi if you can. Bring a spare change of clothes and plan for extra showers, as you will sweat a lot.

Rainy Season in Bangkok

The main rainy season—from September until October—is the most inconvenient. It varies from year to year, but minor floods are not uncommon occurrences despite multiple efforts of the government to curb them. Depending on how bad things get, roads may be flooded to impassibility or simply covered enough to slow traffic to a languorous crawl, to the point where you'd be better off walking home. And the rain can get quite heavy, enough to soak through clothing after less than a minute's exposure. High winds shred cheap umbrellas in a hurry. Some days it will rain all day, but in general most of the showers are in the afternoon.

One final note on “climate” of Bangkok: the heavy pollution. Thanks to the large number of people and cars, air pollution is terrible in Bangkok, and the more central the location, the worse the situation gets. It is worst during the hot season, when the haze of heat rising from the concrete blends into the air pollution haze, producing a distinctively unpleasant smell. The suburbs escape the worst of it, but Bangkok is not a place for sensitive lungs. Water pollution can also get very bad, which is mostly a problem during the rainy season and the subsequent floods. Finally, the tropical climate encourages the growth of mold and fungi, which can also pose a health hazard.

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