Areal view of Buriram

Most of the country (except the far south) has three distinct seasons: cool (by tropical standards only), hot (by any standard) and rainy.

The cool season is from November to February. Average December temperature is 26?C (78?F) in Bangkok, 22?C (71?F) in Chiang Mai and 27? C (80?F) in Songkhla.

The hot season is from March to May. Average March temperature is 29?C (85?F) in Bangkok, 23?C (74?F) in Chiang Mai and 28? C (82?F) in Songkhla. Temperatures rise until middle or end of May and can reach an average of 2?to 3?Celsius (4?to 6?Fahrenheit) more in Bangkok and the North. The difference is likely to be less in the far south.

The rainy season is from June to October. Average September temperature is 28?C (82?F) in Bangkok, 27?C (80?F) in Chiang Mai and 28? C (82?F) in Songkhla.

Average precipitation in March is 3cm (1.2in) in Bangkok, 2cm (0.8in) in Chiang Mai, 6cm (2.4in) in Songkhla.

Average precipitation in June is 17cm (6.7in) in Bangkok, 15cm (5.7in) in Chiang Mai, 10cm (4in) in Songkhla.

Average precipitation in September is 31cm (12in) in Bangkok, 29cm (11.4in) in Chiang Mai, 11cm (4.1in) in Songkhla.

Average precipitation in December is 1cm (0.3in) in Bangkok, 1cm (0.3in) in Chiang Mai, 44cm (17.2in) in Songkhla.

The average yearly rainfall in Bangkok is 140cm (56in).

The coolest province in Loei in the Northeast where January night temperatures on hills can fall to a low which is just above freezing.

The rainy season is not necessarily the worst time to visit the country as downpours are usually hefty but short, with the sun returning within a few hours. Actually, for Bangkok alone the rainy season is probably the most pleasant time of the year as the downpours rid the air of the heavy pollution, at least for a short while.