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Climate - Burma


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Burma

Map - Burma

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Index


  • Introduction
  • Mountains - Taunggyi
  • Inland areas - Myitkyina, Mandalay, Naypyidaw
  • The coast - Sittwe, Yangon, Mergui Islands
  • Cyclones

Introduction



In Burma (or Myanmar), the climate is generally tropical, with a rainy season from mid-May to October due to the southwest monsoon, a cool and dry season from November to mid-February, and a hot pre-monsoon season from mid-February to the beginning or the middle of May.
In addition, there are mountainous areas, with a mild or cool climate, but also a portion of the Himalayan range in the far north, which is very cold, at least at high altitude.
The rains in the monsoon season are plentiful along the coast, and are usually abundant on the mountain slopes, while in the interior, the monsoon penetrates with more difficulty, so much so that some inland valleys and plains are almost arid.
The sun in Burma shines regularly in the dry season, while in the rainy season it is rarely seen.

Winter, from mid-November to mid-February, is relatively cool in the center-north, while it is hot in the south. The weather is mostly sunny and warm in the daytime, but sometimes, cool air masses from China may lower the night temperatures to around 5 °C (41 °F) in the northernmost part of the plain, to 8/10 °C (46/50 °F) in the center-north, to 10/12 °C (50/54 °F) in Yangon, and to 12/13 °C (54/55 °F) along the west coast.
In winter, the biggest differences are recorded: the average daily temperature in January is 18.5 °C (65 °F) in Myitkyina, 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) in Mandalay, 21.5 °C (71 °F) in Sittwe, which is located on the northern coast (overlooking the Bay of Bengal), 25 °C (77 °F) in Yangon, and 27 °C (80.5 °F) along the southern part of the coast (see the Mergui islands). So, winter is hot and summer-like only from the area of Yangon (or Rangoon), the former capital, and the beaches of Chaungtha and Ngwesaung.

In the pre-monsoon period, from mid-February to the beginning or the middle of May, the weather remains sunny, but the temperature gradually rises, and in mountainous areas, there can be some atmospheric instability in the afternoon, with the first thunderstorms. It's the hottest time of the year throughout Burma, especially in valleys and inland plains, where the heat becomes unbearable, and locals eagerly await for the arrival of the monsoon. The temperature can reach 37/38 °C (99/100 °F) along the southern coast, 40 °C (104 °F) in Yangon, and up to 43/45 °C in Mandalay and inland areas. Typically, April is the hottest month, in addition to the first part of May, before the monsoon comes.
On the coasts (both the the north coast overlooking the Bay of Bengal and the south coast overlooking the Andaman Sea), it doesn't get that hot in the pre-monsoon season, both because of the thermal inertia of the sea and because the monsoon rains arrive earlier.

Bagan is located in the area with a relatively dry climate

The monsoon season is less hot: the maximum temperature drops to around 29/30 °C (84/86 °F) on the coasts, to 30 °C (86 °F) in Yangon, and to 34/35 °C (93/95 °F) in Mandalay, but the heat is sultry and the sky is often cloudy. The monsoon arrives first on the southernmost coast of the Andaman Sea (see Tavoy, Kampong Ulu, Mergui Islands), around May 10-15, and it is very intense from the beginning, so much so that more than 400 millimeters (16 inches) of rain fall in this month. In Yangon, the monsoon arrives between May 20-25, in Mandalay (where, however, its effects are more limited) between May 25 and June 1, and finally, it arrives in the far north between the first and the 10th of June.
The rainiest months are almost everywhere June, July and August, and on the two coasts, being exposed to the west, the rains are plentiful; in fact, some areas receive more than 1,200 mm (47 in) of rain in a month! Yangon is a bit less rainy because it's located in the area of the mouths of the Irrawaddy River, which are exposed to the south, and receives about 500/600 mm (20/23.5 in) of rain per month during this period, while the central area where Mandalay is located receives only 100/150 mm (4/6 in) of rain per month.
In September, rainfall decreases a bit, except in the extreme south, while during the month of October, the monsoon withdraws, starting from the north; the monsoon is replaced by drier and gradually cooler winds, which blow from the north or northeast.
As mentioned, the monsoon particularly affects the coasts, which are exposed to the southwest winds. So, this is the wettest area of Burma, so much so that the amount of rainfall reaches 5,000 mm (195 in) in a year (or rather, in the rainy season, since in the rest of the year, the rains are very poor or absent here as well).
By contrast, in the central plains, precipitation drops below 900 mm (35.5 in) per year, as happens in Mandalay, Myngyan, Magway, and Bagan, the ancient capital of many Burmese kingdoms.
At the foot of the mountains and on the slopes, the monsoon rains are instead plentiful, and during the wettest periods, there may be landslides and floods.

The mountains



Mountain areas of Burma

In the far north, we find a mountainous area, which is an offshoot of the Himalayas, where there are perennial snows above 4,500 meters (15,000 ft). The highest mountain is Hkakabo Razi, 5,881 meters (19,295 feet) high. On the southern side, at the foot of the mountains, the rains are abundant, in fact, they exceed 3,000 millimeters (118 inches) per year. However, there are heavy rainfalls from May to October, while the rest of the year is dry.

More to the south, to the west and the east of the plain, we find two mountain ranges (the Arakan Mountains and the Shan Plateau), which have a mild climate. In the monsoon season, the rains are abundant in the western range, at times torrential, while they are moderate in the eastern range, around 1,500 mm (60 in) per year. In winter, nights are cold.

Taunggyi

In Taunggyi, the capital of the Shan state, located in the eastern range, at 1,400 meters (4,600 feet) above sea level, in winter, it gets cold at night. The coldest record is 3 °C (37.4 °F) and was set in December 2010. From March to May, before the monsoon, the temperature can reach 33/34 °C (91/93 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Taunggyi - Average temperatures (1981-2010)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January82315.6477460.2
February102517.5507763.5
March132820.6568269.1
April162922.8618573
May172722.2638071.9
June182521.4647770.5
July182420.8647569.5
August182420.8647569.4
September172520.9637669.6
October162520.2607668.4
November132418.2557564.8
December92315.9497360.6
Year14.425.119.75877.167.5

In Taunggyii, 1,500 mm (60 in) of rain fall per year, with a rainy season from May to October, and a dry season from November to April.
Taunggyi - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January000
February100.40
March000
April301.22
May2409.45
June1907.512
July2801115
August3301316
September2108.311
October1706.710
November301.24
December100.41
Year150059.176

Inland areas



Inland areas

In the inland plain, the climate is tropical in the central-southern part, and subtropical in the northernmost part. In the monsoon season, the rains are heavy but not exceptional.

Myitkyina

In Myitkyina, located in the north, in the Kachin State, winter is quite cool, at least at night, when it can get cold sometimes. The record is 3 °C (37.4 °F) and was set in January 1976 and in December 1983.
In addition, on average, the period from March to May is not as hot as in the center-south, although the temperature can at times reach 38-40 °C (100-104 °F). The temperature reached 42 °C (107.5 °F) in May 1979 and 41 °C (106 °F) in May 2020.
Here are the average temperatures.
Myitkyina - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January112618.7527965.7
February132920.9568369.7
March173124.2638975.6
April203326.6689279.9
May233327.8739282.1
June243227.9768982.2
July243127.7768881.8
August253228.2768982.7
September243228.1759082.5
October223126.4718879.6
November162922.8618573
December122719.5548067.1
Year19.330.524.8566.886.977

In Myitkyina, rainfall amounts to 2,100 mm (83 in) per year. The rains are very abundant from June to August.
Myitkyina - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January100.40
February200.81
March200.82
April401.63
May1606.35
June48018.920
July47018.520
August43016.919
September2509.812
October1807.110
November301.24
December100.41
Year210082.797

Mandalay

The central part is quite sheltered from the monsoon, so it is almost barren. Furthermore, this area is warmer than the north in winter and becomes very hot in the pre-monsoon season. In Mandalay, the second largest city in the country, located on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, from December to February the temperature can drop to 10/12 °C (50/54 °F). The coldest record is 7.6 °C (45.7 °F), set in December 1999.
Before the monsoon, from March to May, the temperature generally reaches 40/42 °C (104/107.5 °F). The highest record is 45 °C (113 °F) and was set in May 2010.
Here are the average temperatures.
Mandalay - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January153022.4598672.3
February173324.9629176.9
March213729709884.3
April253831.47610188.6
May263731.7799989
June273631809687.8
July273530.9809687.6
August263430.3799486.5
September263430789486
October253328.9769284.1
November213226.4699079.5
December173023.1628573.6
Year22.634.128.372.693.483

In Mandalay, precipitation amounts to only 850 mm (33 in) per year. Here is the average precipitation.
Mandalay - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January40.20
February30.10
March100
April401.63
May1405.58
June1154.57
July853.36
August1355.39
September1505.98
October1254.97
November401.63
December60.21
Year84033.153

In the Mandalay area, where the monsoon penetrates with more difficulty, even in the rainy season, the sun shines on average for a few hours a day.
Mandalay - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January10310
February10280
March9.5300
April9.5290
May8.5265
June7210
July6180
August5.5170
September7215
October7225
November9270
December9280
Year8.22990

Naypyidaw

The new capital, Naypyidaw (or Pyinmana), is located halfway between Mandalay and Yangon. Here, the temperatures are similar to those of Mandalay, although they are a bit higher in winter, while they decrease more in summer and drop to 32 °C (90 °F), since the monsoon has greater effects. Rainfall amounts to 1,450 mm (55 in) per year.
Naypyidaw - Average temperatures (2014-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January173123.8628874.9
February183526649478.9
March213829.47010084.8
April253931.97710289.4
May263831.67810088.9
June243328.9769284
July243227.8758982
August243227.8758982
September243328.4759183.1
October243328.4749283.2
November223327.2719181
December183224.8648976.6
Year22.133.927.9571.89382.5

The coast



Coastal areas

Along the coasts of Burma, the climate is warm all year round, though in the northern part, overlooking the Bay of Bengal, from December to February, nights are cool. In the period preceding the monsoon, from March to May, the temperature rises, though less than in inland areas. As mentioned, the summer rains are definitely heavy.

Sittwe

Here are the average temperatures in Sittwe (formerly Akyab), located in the northern part of the coast, in the Rakhine State.
Sittwe - Average temperatures (1981-2010)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January152821.6598370.9
February173023.2628673.8
March203226688978.7
April243328.5759183.3
May253228.8779083.8
June253027.2778581.1
July242926.7768480.1
August242926.9768580.4
September243027.4768781.2
October243127.6758881.8
November213125.8708778.5
December172923638473.4
Year21.830.42671.286.779

Here is the average precipitation in Sittwe. From June to August, up to one meter (3.3 feet) of rain falls per month.
Sittwe - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January100
February130.50
March80.30
April351.44
May31012.29
June117046.125
July128050.428
August9653827
September55021.718
October29011.410
November1154.54
December150.60
Year4750187126

Along the northern coast of Burma, the sea is warm enough to swim in all year round, in fact, it doesn't drop below 25 °C (77 °F) in January and February. In winter, however, as mentioned, the coast of the Bay of Bengal can sometimes be affected by cool air masses, which can lower a bit the air temperature.
Here are the average sea temperatures in Sittwe.
Sittwe - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2577
February2577
March2780
April2984
May3085
June3085
July2984
August2984
September2984
October2985
November2883
December2679
Year2882.3

Yangon

More to the south, the former capital Yangon (Rangoon) is not exactly on the coast, but is located about 40 km (25 miles) away from the coast, in a plain that can become really hot in the period before the monsoon. From March to May, the temperature can reach 40 °C (104 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Yangon - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January183225649077
February193527669580.6
March223629729784.2
April243730.5759986.9
May253329779184.2
June253027.5778681.5
July243027758680.6
August243027758680.6
September243027758680.6
October243228759082.4
November223227729080.6
December193225.5669077.9
Year22.532.427.472.590.381.5

In Yangon, the rains brought by the monsoon are abundant (although not as abundant as on the coast directly exposed to the west), in fact, they exceed 500 mm (20 in) per month from June to August. Here is the average precipitation in Yangon.
Yangon - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January50.20
February20.10
March70.30
April150.62
May30011.813
June54521.525
July5602226
August60023.626
September37014.620
October2058.112
November602.45
December70.30
Year2680105.6129

Here are the average daily sunshine hours in Yangon. As you can see, the dry season from November to April is sunny, while the sun rarely shines from June to September.
Yangon - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January9.5300
February9.5270
March9.5290
April9.5290
May6180
June2.580
July2.575
August390
September395
October6.5205
November9.5280
December9.5290
Year6.72450

Near Yangon, in the Gulf of Martaban, the sea is warm all year round.
Yangon - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2780
February2781
March2984
April3085
May3086
June3085
July2984
August2983
September2883
October2985
November2984
December2882
Year28.783.7

Mergui Islands

In the southern part of the coast, in the Tanintharyi region, it's hot even in winter. Here, we find the Mergui Islands (or Pashu).
Here are the temperatures of Myeik (formerly Mergui), the largest city of the area.
Myeik - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January223227.3729081.2
February233328.3749282.9
March243429.2769384.6
April253529.8779485.7
May253329.3789284.7
June253127.6768781.6
July243027758680.6
August242926.6758580
September243027758680.6
October243227.8758982.1
November243328.3759183
December233227.4739081.4
Year2431.927.975.289.582

In the southernmost part of the coast, the rains are abundant; moreover, the rainy season is a little longer, and as you can see, a few abundant downpours occur already in April.
Myeik - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January200.81
February5023
March702.85
April1204.76
May42016.518
June76029.925
July83032.726
August76029.926
September63024.823
October30011.816
November903.56
December200.82
Year4070160.2157

On the southern coast, overlooking the Andaman Sea, the sea in winter is warmer than in the northern part, in fact, the water temperature doesn't drop below 28 °C (82 °F), so it's pleasantly warm all year round.
Myeik - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2882
February2883
March2985
April3086
May3087
June2985
July2984
August2983
September2883
October2984
November2984
December2883
Year2984.1

Mergui Islands

To the north of the Andaman Islands, belonging to India, we find the Coco Islands, a small archipelago where the climate is similar to that of the Mergui islands.

Tropical cyclones



Burma can be hit by tropical cyclones, usually from mid-April to early December. In general, they are most intense both at the beginning and the end of the period, that is, in May-June and October-November. The cyclones that form in the Indian Ocean and could hit the coasts of Burma directly from the south-west are more dangerous, although they generally follow a more northern trajectory, directly affecting Bangladesh. The area most at risk is the coastal one, which includes Yangon and the Irrawaddy Delta, as we saw in May 2008 with the terrible cyclone Nargis.
The cyclones that form in the Pacific Ocean and come from the east are called typhoons, and before reaching Burma, they lose most of the energy over the countries most directly exposed, mainly Vietnam; therefore, they are less dangerous for Burma.

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