|
With its more Northern latitude and higher elevation, Chiang
Mai enjoys a cooler climate than the stifling central plains
near Bangkok. During the hot season, however, the temperature
rises quite a bit and the citizens look for ways to beat the
heat. Perhaps the rising mercury is the reason why Songkran
(the water festival) is celebrated so enthusiastically here.
Due to the more tropical location of Chiang Mai, the normal
seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter don’t apply.
Instead, there are three seasons: Hot, Cool and Rainy.
The cool season lasts from early December to February and
is the most popular time to visit Chiang Mai, weather-wise.
During the day the temperatures max out at a pleasant 30°C
(86°F) but bring a jacket or sweatshirt because the temperature
drops rapidly after sunset, sometimes to as low as 10°C
(50°F). Riding a motorbike at night wearing a t-shirt
may make you wonder whether you’re in Thailand at all
and the high mountains can get downright cold. On the upside,
rain in the cool season is rare and more than one shower in
a month is uncommon.
 |
Chiang Mai begins to warm up after New Year’s and by
the middle of March the hot season is in full swing. Daytime
temperatures soar to a blistering 40°C (104°F) and
it’s not a dry heat, either. The combination of high
temperatures and sweltering humidity make exertion difficult
and the whole city slows down a bit. The nearby mountains
are a great place to escape from the city heat as their high
elevation brings mercifully cooler air. Thankfully the hot
season is fairly short and the heat wave is over by early
June at the latest.
Bringing a welcome relief from the blistering hot season,
the rains begin to fall around early June and continue on
until late October. The temperature falls to an average of
32°C (89°F) during the day and a pleasant 23°C
(73°F) at night. It rains almost every single day during
the rainy season but almost never continuously. Typically
the day will dawn sunny and bright but the clouds will begin
to gather during the afternoon until the downpour starts in
late afternoon or early evening. Thai rainstorms are usually
intense but short lived. When one starts your best bet is
to find your way to a restaurant or pub and relax and wait
it out. Typically after an hour or so the rain lets up and
the city is washed clean for a clear evening. Another storm
during the middle of the night can provide some spectacular
lightning shows. The rainy season is a mixed blessing for
visitors. One the one hand, the midafternoon showers can become
a real inconvenience, on the other the temperature stays cool
and the showers bring the local vegetation back to a lush
emerald green.
|
