Phuket Weather

The Phuket Weather Blog

Drought in Phuket!

The "mostly sunny" weather continues. Today has been sunny and warm, light winds, perfect weather for diving, exploring Phuket, or visiting US Navy ships! My 4 year old son had a school field trip today to see the USS New Orleans, one of 5 navy ships that stopped at Phuket this weekend bringing a boost to tourism for sure.. some kinds of tourism more than others. If you own a bar and did not make a profit this weekend, time to find a new job!

Phuket Gazette : Story about US Seamen in Phuket (yeh, ha ha, we all laughed)

USS New Orleans docked in Phuket - Photo from Phuket Gazette

Now, there has been some cloud and light rain in the last 2 days, but I mean, the rain was very light and lasted a few minutes. Mostly very sunny, which is not quite the norm at this time of year. You would expect a bit more rain in Phuket. I was at the Bang Wad reservoir yesterday evening and it is starting to look a bit low. In fact, I discovered today a website that I had not seen before, a Global Drought Monitor which is part of the University College London climate extremes site that also does the excellent Tropical Storm Risk website which I link to on the left side of this blog.

Drought in Phuket? Are you having a laugh? Well, sure we are not in a desert, I can turn on the tap and get water for my shower, BUT I found it very interesting to find from the Global Drought Monitor by zooming in to Thailand on the map.. Phuket is having a "Minor Drought". Sure, we locals could have told you that, but nice to be backed up by climatologists! Zooming in further... looks like my wife's family home (Chumphon, on the east coast) is having a "Severe Drought"! Well, for sure the family says it's hot, not much rain.

Forecast? Well, the one I trust most is Wind Guru. Maybe not perfect on rainfall and temperature, but great for wind and waves.. and at this time of year strong winds means rain and storms... so that means the next week in Phuket looks pretty nice.

Here's a pic of Patong on 28th June. One of those little bands of rain comes in fast across the sea. Sunbathers, time to run for cover! But the rain will last just a few minutes.

Patong, 28th June

OH! There is meant to be a beach clean up on July 2nd (Thursday), all beaches, everyone welcome. I will be at Karon Beach, the clean up starts outside the Hilton 10am. Or at any beach. Look for people with bin bags!


Phuket Weather

Drought in Phuket!


More Sunny Weather in Phuket

Well really, this is getting silly. Where's the low season? This week has been almost all sun, hardly any wind. There was a few minutes of light rain on Tuesday afternoon, a quick 15 minute burst of wind and rain on Wednesday morning - I was at home, and the wind suddenly picked up, all the hills were obscured by clouds scudding in from the west... 20 minutes later it was all sunny again. It's hot too. Temperatures in the mid 30's Celcius.

Although June 21st was the longest day, the sunset time actually gets slightly later, and will be around 6:48pm for the next few weeks. The sun rises a bit later, which I notice, since we tend to wake up around 6am. In the summer, we wake up and it's just about light. In the winter, it's still dark (sunrise in January is as late as 6:46am). These long summer evenings are great. Just that extra half hour of sun means I get home from work with the sun still up, have time to relax outside, kick a ball around with the boy, maybe take a walk at the reservoir or go for a swim at the local pool. I like this time of year!

Yesterday afternoon I took a quick walk on Karon Beach. Not many tourists, red flags flying, waves not too big, but not ideal for swimming for sure. I saw one guy ignore the flags, head into the surf with his mask and fins... there were some lifeguards a bit further down the beach and they shouted at him. "Hey, red flags are not some kind of Chinese-Thai beach decoration". I was expecting to see a lot more garbage on the beach, as the waves and westerly winds always deposits flotsam on our beaches during the summer. There was a bit, but there won't be too much to clean up next week. On July 2nd there's a clean up at all Phuket beaches. Everyone welcome!

Karon Beach, 26th June
The beach looks good, sea looks inviting...

Hmm, nice flag!
Hey, nice flag! Think I'll go for a paddle.


Phuket Weather

More Sunny Weather in Phuket


Long Days in Phuket

Yesterday was the longest day of the year. Yes, they are all 24 hours, but the longest day refers to the day with most sunlight. Yesterday and today too, the official sunrise is 6:10am, sunset is 6:46pm. Total sunlight is officially 12 hours 35 minutes and 23 seconds here in Phuket on the longest day of 2009. There's not a massive change year round. The shortest day is December 21st - we'll get only 11 hours 39 minutes and 37 seconds of sunlight.

More here: Sunrise and Sunset for Phuket

Lots of sunlight year round. Even in this, the fabled "Monsoon" season. Yep, the good weather continues and we made the most of the longest day yesterday. It was hot all weekend. Almost windless on Saturday evening, very warm and humid. Clear skies with bright stars last night.

On Sunday, the longest day, we visited Phuket Aquarium for the nth time. Even after many visits I am not bored, because the kids always love it, always ask questions, always learn something.

Phuket Aquarium

From there we at a light lunch at a little roadside restaurant not far from the aquarium, lovely views over Chalong Bay. Along the same road is one of our favourite little restaurants but it closes up for low season.

Restaurant with view, Cape Panwa, 21st June

There was still time for a walk at Bang Wad Reservoir and a swim at a local pool. Ah, these long summer evenings! June is supposed to be, on average, one of the wettest months in Phuket, but this year it's all different. So, either we get a wet July instead, or we have water shortages, or the whole world is just using way too much aircon.


Phuket Weather

Long Days in Phuket


Weather's Lovely - Wish You Were Here

Well, the couple of wet and windy days are forgotten already. We've had great weather in Phuket the last 2 days, sunny and hot, just like it should be in the low season! I mean, come on.. if you have been in Phuket this month, you've had sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, sun, rain, cloud, sun, sun sun. Right? Weather cleared up nicely for some diving over the last couple of days.

This morning I stopped off at Chalong Jetty to say hello to people going out diving and to take a couple of photos. The view below (looking south) has not changed in 10 years except to take the photo I am standing on a modern jetty rather than a rickety wooden one. I have always liked this view. Longtail boats, offshore islands. The island on the horizon (about 20km from Chalong) is Koh Racha Yai, where I must have dived 100 times.

View from Chalong Jetty, 19th June 2009

And looking east into the early morning sun... loads of boats. Chalong Bay is a safe anchorage protected from the wind. The bay is full of yachts, speedboats, dive boats, catamarans, fishing boats...

Chalong Bay, 19th June 2009

Some weather related Phuket news items...

There will be a beach clean up on July 2nd. If you are in Phuket, join in! This is part of an ongoing effort to clean up the beaches in the summer. The prevailing west winds blow all kinds of flotsam and jetsam onto Phuket's beaches. It can look messy. I plan to be at Karon Beach for the clean up.

As mentioned last week, the winds in the summer can be strong, can create big waves at the beaches and every year people drown here. See a big wave? Don't swim, please. At least now, finally there seems to be some action. More here:

Phuket beaches finally get lifeguards

Have a nice weekend!


Phuket Weather

Weather's Lovely - Wish You Were Here


Blue Skies Red Flags

See, just as I said yesterday, today is much nicer, indeed there has been but a sprinkle of drizzle and the afternoon has been largely sunny. A bit of bad weather in the summer is to be expected, but DON'T PANIC - the bad days normally only last 2 - 3 days maximum. This was really the first big band of SW Monsoon rain that we have had, expect more in the coming months!

Still windy. I would not advise swimming off Karon beach right now. Red flags are flying and I saw more flags being put up this morning. Seas were still rough this morning and we had a dive trip cancelled again today just like yesterday. Looks much better for the next few days, winds have died down... but now we have really started the summer / low season I won't stick my neck out too far and actually predict the weather! If you're coming soon, you are likely to get a mixed bag.

A couple of photos from this morning at Karon Beach, Phuket:

Red Flag at Karon Beach, 17th June

Karon Beach Chairs, 17th June


Phuket Weather

Blue Skies Red Flags


Change in the Weather - Get your Umbrella out!

Wow. A sudden change in the weather here in Phuket. We've not really had any rain for the whole month of June until Sunday night. Saturday was so hot and sunny (see photos posted on June 14th), no sign of any wet weather, then during the evening we got hit by little bands of rain, a few minutes of wind and raindrops bashing on the window, then 20 minutes of calm, then another band. Monday was not too bad, some rain here and there, some wind, a cooler, cloudier day which is sometimes welcome after so much hot weather.

Then came Monday night (last night). Some very heavy rain and strong winds. I checked the wind strength on the internet - there is a live weather station at Nai Yang Beach - when I checked last night, winds were over 20 knots, gusting up to 30 knots, which is "Near Gale Force" on the Beaufort Scale. That did not last long, and it soon died down to a "Strong breeze". Anyway, very windy.

Still windy and wet this morning. We had some diving customers booked, but one trip cancelled which will hopefully run tomorrow instead, forecast looks better on WindGuru. Ha! After all that good weather, all the rain and wind comes in one day! This afternoon is dry, but still cloudy and windy. I did not venture out and take photos, but driving to work this morning at 9am the sky was so dark it was like almost night time! My "best guess" forecast is wind and rain tomorrow (but less than today), then things will all calm down again. The wet 'n' windy spells normally only last 3 days.


Phuket Weather

Change in the Weather - Get your Umbrella out!


Sunshine, Swimming and Hospitals

Saturday was not to plan! We were greeted by another beautiful day with blue skies, scattered clouds, no sign of rain. Does anyone believe me yet that the low season is a good time to come to Phuket?!

Phuket Weather June 13th 2009

We decided to take a picnic and were driving off towards Cape Panwa looking forward to great views from the Khao Kad viewpoint. Didn't get there. Stopped at a 7-11 to buy water and my boy managed to fall out of the car and did not get any hands, arms, elbows or anything else in the way of his head. Nasty bash on the head and it was bleeding quite a bit. We were only 5 minutes away from Phuket International Hospital when it happened, which was lucky. Phuket is blessed with very good health services, but make sure you are insured! Poor boy did not enjoy having 4 stitches in his head.

Of course he soon felt better and ate sandwiches and cakes at the hospital before we went home again. Boys do tend to soldier on. Later in the afternoon he managed to get a bleeding lip too when playing rough and tumble with a friend!

Lovely afternoon for a swim, though. My daughter had her first proper swimming lesson. She loves the water.

Pool, 13th June 2009

Today is just as warm and sunny, but the winds are a blowing from the west, so the beaches are a bit rough. But great weather for getting out and exploring Phuket.


Phuket Weather

Sunshine, Swimming and Hospitals


A new cloud? (Nothing to do with Phuket, by the way)

Well this is a weather blog, so I think a non-Phuket weather story is called for once in a while. I just found this story on Yahoo News...

A new cloud type?

A photo taken in Des Moines, Iowa in 2006 has sparked a meteorological debate. If you look at the photo below, you'll see something very odd. The photographer said "It looked like Armageddon". I assume she meant the movie.... no wait, I'm thinking of Independence Day.

New Cloud Type? Armageddon? Photoshop?

I agree, looks pretty freaky. But a new cloud type? Well, here's my favourite part of the story. I found out there is such as thing as The Cloud Appreciation Society! Yes, if you love clouds this is the place to be!

I quote : "At The Cloud Appreciation Society we love clouds, we’re not ashamed to say it and we’ve had enough of people moaning about them ... see how we are fighting the banality of blue-sky thinking."

And check out this picture on the Cloud Appreciation Society website. Taken in Scotland - same kind of cloud, but scarier. The Cloud Appreciation Society are pushing for this to be classified as a new type of cloud. Or is it aliens?

Not much in the way of clouds in Phuket today. I guess you might call it "partly cloudy", but it was hot as a squirrels nuts in a frying pan again. I think we are going to crack and install aircon in the living room. And I might just join the Cloud Appreciation Society!


Phuket Weather

A new cloud? (Nothing to do with Phuket, by the way)


What is the Weather like in Phuket right now?

I get asked this question quite a lot via email or Facebook or comments on the blogs - "What is the weather in Phuket like now?"... followed by "We're coming in 2 weeks" or similar. Well, at this exact moment, the weather right now is very hot and very sunny with a bit of a westerly wind, BUT nobody can say what the weather will be like in 2 weeks, or even tomorrow. There are forecasts and best guesses and bones that ache when the rain is coming, but we don't control the weather. Tomorrow the sun will rise, and we will see. Que sera sera.

OK, so it's hot today, hot and sunny.. and has been all week. There was about 2 minutes of rain on Tuesday, and yesterday morning started cloudy, looked like dark clouds were gathering, but the sun won the battle. Much more of this and we'll be talking about empty reservoirs and cloud seeding! Well not yet, but there are sometimes very dry low seasons.

Sea looking much calmer today, winds are lighter than last week. Windy days are great if you are into kitesurfing. There's a kitesurf school at Nai Yang Beach in the north of the island. Thanks to Willy for sending a couple of photos from last week that show the waves (and blue skies!)...

Kitesurfing lessons in Phuket

Kitesurfing in Phuket, June 2009

Surfing in Phuket

Back to the NOW. There are a few very good places to look if you want to know the current weather in Phuket. Webcams, weather stations, weather radar - check the links below and bookmark this page! There are plenty more weather links on the left side of the page, too.

Live Webcam at Karon Beach
Weather station at Nai Yang Beach
Weather Radar


Phuket Weather

What is the Weather like in Phuket right now?


Hot Summer Days - Beware of the Waves

Hot days. No rain. Well, maybe there was some rain in the night one day last week, but otherwise, the sun doth shine. Of course, this is "low" season so there's hardly anyone around to enjoy it.

Kata Beach, 7th June
(above) Nobody at Kata Beach this morning

How many times do I have to say it? The summertime is great in Phuket. Well, most of the time. You DO have a risk of some bad weather, but balance that against the cheaper airfares, hotel deals etc.. and I say GO FOR IT! You'll have the beach all to yourself.

Runner on Kata Beach 7th June

OK, so it's sunny, it's hot, it's perfect weather in Phuket, right? Well, not exactly. Sunny days are great for exploring the island, great for relaxing by the pool, great for a day out in Phang Nga Bay, great for all kinds of activities. BUT, at this time of year, the south west monsoon winds start to blow. The main beaches in Phuket all face west, and so you can get waves that make swimming difficult, even dangerous. Red flags are up, and you MUST pay attention. Otherwise - well, here's 2 stories from the last week...

• June 5th - 2 people drown off Karon Beach

• June 2nd - Aussie family saved off Karon Beach

Karon can be particularly rough, with rip currents common. Kata is not so bad, but this morning the waves were almost all the way up the beach. Not huge waves, but I reckon there would be some rips there too. Please, if you are going swimming, consider the conditions before entering the water. If it looks too rough, use the hotel pool!

Kata Beach, 7th June

Recommended reading : Tips On Not Drowning by Tezza

If this weather can last a couple more days, I am definitely getting out for some scuba diving this week. Huge piles of paperwork almost dealt with, I need to get underwater. Besides, people have seen whalesharks a couple of times last week at the local dive sites. Please stay sunny a few more days!

A bit of wind and a few waves CAN be a very good thing if you are into kitesurfing or surfing. Both are quite popular in Phuket. There's a surf competition coming up at Kalim Bay (just north of Patong) next week:

Monsoon Riders Surf Contest June 12 - 14

More information on surfing in Phuket : Phuket Boardriders Club

For kitesurfing look here : Kite Surfing in Phuket


Phuket Weather

Hot Summer Days - Beware of the Waves


Sunburn in the low season?

After a sunny Saturday, only spoiled by Chelski winnning the FA Cup (I was rooting for Beer Chang... er, I mean Everton), I had one more day of holiday on Sunday, and it was a hot one. We met some friends at a "secret" swimming pool with attached waterslide located near Bang Tao Beach. A couple of hours in the pool and convincing my 4 year old boy that being scared (racing down a waterslide) can be fun too.. and we all had red faces and I had red shoulders. Oh, that low season weather is terrible!

Come on now, I have been saying it for years, the summer / green / low / "monsoon" season is great! Here's a little article on another blog:

Low Season Weather in Phuket

All the locals know it, we like the low season, we don't mind some wetter days. We also know that you get good weather most of the time. This blog has been up for 3 years now, so you can check reports and photos by clicking the Archive links on the left of the page and get a good idea of Phuket weather patterns. Yeh, you'll get some rain, but balance that against crazy hotel prices..

Agoda Phuket Hotels

Do you believe it now, Trinity?

Yesterday had some morning rain, but it can be very isolated and heavy showers may last only a few minutes.... As I was leaving home, my wife called from school saying it was raining heavily there and I should drop our son right by the entrance and she's meet me there. 10 minutes later, son and I arrived at the school. No rain, some blue sky. Rain gone. The rest of the day was warm and sunny aside from an evening downpour around 8pm. Today has been warm all day and it just started pi**ing down now at 7:45pm... and I bet it will not last long, just enough to water the garden and wash the dust off the leaves.

A photo from Sunday - I didn't take my camera to the pool, but James had his camera on a bike ride around Koh Yao Noi - see the Trip Report from the Amazing Bike Tours Blog.

Bikes at Koh Yao Noi, Sunday 31st May


Phuket Weather

Sunburn in the low season?