Thailand - weather in May

In May, the climate in Thailand is generally very hot and muggy.

The temperatures are high everywhere, but especially in the inland areas of the center-north, where highs are around 35 °C (95 °F), and can sometimes reach or exceed 40 °C (104 °F), especially in the first half of the month.
In fact, around the middle of the month, the arrival of the southwest monsoon produces a certain drop in temperature, although at the cost of an increase in humidity.

The rains, which increase in quantity and frequency when the monsoon arrives, are quite frequent and abundant everywhere, however, there are relatively sheltered areas, namely the inland plains, as well as the north-eastern side of peninsular Thailand (see Koh Samui, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla). Instead, rainfall is particularly abundant, in addition to the areas at the foot of the mountains, on the coasts exposed to the southwest: on the southwestern side of peninsular Thailand (see Phuket, Krabi, the Phi Phi Islands), and even more so in the coastal stretch south-east of Pattaya (see Chanthaburi, Trat, Koh Chang).

Every now and then, in the period April-June, a cyclone can form in the Indian Ocean, which can hit the continental part of Thailand after having affected Burma (or Myanmar) more directly.

The sea in Thailand is always pleasantly warm for swimming. However, during the southwest monsoon, the Andaman Sea (therefore on the southwestern side of peninsular Thailand) can be rough.

During the month, the length of the days gradually increases, even though only slightly, as Thailand is a tropical country. In May, the average day in Thailand is 13 hours long in the north and 12.5 hours in the south.

The following tables show the climate averages in the month of May in Thailand in a selection of locations.

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Monthly climate averages - May

(from north to south)























See also: Thailand, the weather in April - June
The climate of Thailand