Climate - Krabi (Thailand)

Krabi: Temperatures - Precipitation - Sunshine hours - Sea temperatures - Best time


The climate of Krabi is tropical, hot all year round, with a rainy season due to the southwest monsoon, which runs from May to October, and a dry season from December to March. In March, and especially in April, before the monsoon, there is a certain increase in rain showers. In November, there can still be abundant rainfall, especially in the first part, either for any delay in the retreat of the monsoon, or because of a tropical cyclone (see below). In the dry season, however, there can be some showers as well, especially in December, when some of them may occasionally be particularly intense.
The town of Krabi, the capital of the province of the same name, is home to an airport, and more than a tourist attraction in itself, it is the starting point to beaches, islands and natural parks, such as the beaches of Ao Nang, Phra Nang, Noppharat Thara, Railay, Tonsai, Klong Muang, and the islands of Koh Siboya, Koh Jum, Koh Lanta, Koh Hong, Koh Yao Yai, Koh Yao No, the Phi Phi islands, the Four islands, and parks such as the Ao Phang Nga National Park and the Than Bok Khorani National Park.



The temperature is high throughout the year, in fact, average highs never drop below 31 °C (88 °F). However, from December to March. the humidity is slightly lower. At night, temperatures rarely drop below 20 °C (68 °F), although this can sometimes happen between December and March. From February to April, before the arrival of the monsoon, there is a slight increase in temperature; this is typically the hottest time of the year (together with May, the first monsoon month), and the temperature often reaches 35/36 °C (95/97 °F). It goes a bit better on the islands and the beaches, also because of the sea breeze.
During El Niño years, such as 1998 and 2016, the dry period is particularly hot.
Here are the average temperatures.

Rainfall amounts to 2,000 millimeters (79 inches) per year. Since the south-western winds hit it directly, on this coast overlooking the Andaman Sea, the rains during the period of the southwest monsoon are more abundant than on the other coast of peninsular Thailand, that is, that of the Gulf of Siam.
Here is the average precipitation.

The amount of sunshine in Krabi is good in the driest period, from late December to March, while during the rainy season, the sun alternates with cloudiness, which can last more or less, and can give rise to rain showers. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Sometimes, Krabi, like the rest of Thailand, can be affected by tropical cyclones. However, this area on the Andaman Sea is relatively protected. On the one hand, cyclones can be formed nearby, but then they will head towards the Bay of Bengal, and this preferably happens between April and December, with two peaks at the beginning and at the end of the period (so, in April-June and October-December). On the other hand, typhoons can arrive from the east, but they generally pass more to the north, from the South China Sea to mainland Thailand; however, from time to time, they can also move to these latitudes, and this has happened in the last decades from mid-October to about December 20.



The sea in Krabi and in the surrounding areas is warm enough to swim in all year round. It should be said that during the summer monsoon, the sea can be rough, and there can be dangerous currents. Here is the average sea temperature.

Best Time

The best period to go to Krabi for a beach holiday is the dry season, from late December to March or April. In March and April, it is hot, and the pre-monsoon rains become more frequent, so the absolute best time is from December to February.