Rainy Season in Phuket

What does that really mean and what you should know

‘The Rainy season in Phuket’ is an endless discussion topic and apparently a very stressful decision factor too, so let’s look at what we know.

Phuket has mostly two seasons: the rainy season and the high season, and everyone seems to already be well aware of that. Good. The Tourism Authority of Thailand gently tried to rename it ‘The Green Season’ because it sounded less worrisome but that didn’t seem to really take off, it’s still the rainy season (or low season for some).

The rainy season topic is the hottest topic in our mailbox… and it makes sense since it cover almost half a year. The questions we get range from: “When is the best time to come”, “Will it rain everyday if I come during the rainy season” and the most puzzling is “I’m coming to Phuket between August 2 to 12, can you promise it won’t rain?” No sir, we cannot promise!

What can we tell you about the rainy season?

1. The rainy season used to be from May to November and the high season from November to May. Unfortunately it’s not really like this anymore.
2. Weather is unpredictable in tropical regions.  This year even January saw quite some rain. If you want to be 100% sure the sky will be blue and rain will be at its lowest: March to May
3. No, during the raining season it usually does not rain everyday and when it does, it often rains during short periods of time.
4. HOWEVER, there will be ‘Unlucky Weeks’. Here locals say those weeks come by 3, 6 or 9 days of non-stop rains. No one can say when those will weeks will occur, but they will happen so just pray it’s not yours!
5. Online weather forecast can’t really predict anything since online weather forecast are tuned to ‘permanent pessimistic mode’ and will predict non-stop thunderstorms during every single day of the entire low season. They like to play safe: if it rains once during the day, even short > display thunderstorm icon. It’s really like this and you can basically ignore it.

What is low season like and what should I know and do?

1. It will not rain everyday but the sea is very likely to be rough most of the time, so pick a hotel with a good swimming-pool and you’ll have a great holiday
2. Respect the warning flags on the beach! Swim only when the flags are not red but you can swim between the yellow and red flags. Please take this very seriously and never over-estimate you swimming abilities: rip tide will always be stronger than you think you are
3. Pick a hotel on the 5 main beaches: Patong, Karon, Kata, Kamala and Bangtao. Other less known beaches are beautiful during high season but you will most likely feel very lonely and isolates during low season. Those small beaches are also rather neglected during these months and you might be surprised to see how much trash is brought in by the ocean.
4. Most day trip tours are still running unless the weather turns to rainstorm. Some tours like Phang Nga Bay are actually nicer with heavy clouds. Remote islands like Similan are closed during six months but Phi Phi Island is always open.
5. Hotels are cheap! take advantage of it, get yourself a 5 star resort with a massive pool  and a great spa, because that is where you will go as soon as it starts raining.
6. MOST OF ALL: Yes you can have a great time in Phuket during the ‘green season’! (here, I said it! Green season!)

Pick a hotel with a good swimming-pool!

Read more about the weather in Phuket

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