Sunday, June 1, 2008   Phangan Weather Overview

Phangan Island has a tropical climate and therefore warm weather all year round. Even in the rainy season, there will be days with a lot of sunshine, but swimming can be hazardous if there are strong waves and currents. The temperature generally stays between 24 and 31 Celsius no matter what time of the year.

The drier, sunnier, somewhat cooler months are from January through April. This is the best time to enjoy the beaches and the surrounding islands. The winds average 5 knots and the seas are calm. Laze away an afternoon on the white sand, or trek through the lush interior and look for hidden lakes and mysterious ruins. This is when the southwest monsoon visits the island. Though it is the dry season, downpours can still occur. They don't last long.

May through December offers a wetter, hotter Koh Phangan. The less friendly northeast monsoon brings rain, strong winds (an average of 10-15 knots that can sometimes gust to 30). The water visibility tends to be less clear, but even during the northeast monsoon season you can find beautiful, safe places to swim year round. This may be the season with the 'worst' weather, but really, Koh Phangan's version of bad weather tends to be a cut above the "good" weather anywhere else on earth! The average amount of sunshine you can expect to get every day, even during the wet season, is 5 to 7 hours.
Links of Interest:

• Phangan Island Weather
• Phangan Island sunset image gallery