How is the weather in Cambodia? Nowadays, Cambodia has become one of the most favorite tourist destinations in Asia because of its rich culture that dates back to 2000 years ago.
Before deciding whether to visit this beautiful country or not, it would be necessary to find out information about Cambodia’s weather. The more beautiful weather is, the more interesting your trip is. Let’s see how is the weather in Cambodia?
Angkor Wat in Cambodia- source: internet
Cambodia is a tropical country. Compared to other countries in Asia, it has a simpler weather system. Because of relatively uniform latitude and altitude, most of Cambodian parts have the same weather pattern. There are 2 different seasons in a year: the wet season (early/mid May to October) and the dry season (October to early/ mid May). The maximum temperature is about 32C all year round. For monthly temperature, you can look at the below table of weather in Cambodia:
|
Month |
Temperature *C | Average rainfall | ||||
| Average | Absolute | Daily | Monthly | |||
| Max | Min | Max | Min | |||
| January | 33 | 20.7 | 37.4 | 8.4 | 0.3 | 8.1 |
| Fabruary | 34.6 | 22.5 | 39.4 | 14 | 1 | 28.1 |
| March | 36.1 | 24.5 | 40.3 | 15.5 | 1.7 | 53 |
| April | 36.8 | 25.4 | 41.6 | 21.6 | 2.7 | 80.7 |
| May | 35.2 | 25.4 | 40.9 | 22.3 | 4.9 | 151.1 |
| June | 34 | 25.2 | 38 | 16.1 | 4.6 | 138.8 |
| July | 33.2 | 24.8 | 38.4 | 22 | 5.3 | 165.2 |
| August | 32.8 | 24.6 | 35.9 | 21.5 | 5.8 | 180.6 |
| September | 32.6 | 24.5 | 35.8 | 21.1 | 7.4 | 221.8 |
| October | 32.3 | 24 | 39.5 | 18.3 | 5.3 | 162.8 |
| November | 31.9 | 22.1 | 36.7 | 14.8 | 0.9 | 28.4 |
| December | 31.6 | 20.2 | 36.2 | 11.2 | 0.1 | 3.9 |
The dry season
The dry season in Cambodia lasts from October to April. It’s when the north-east monsoon arrives, bringing hot wind blowing across the country. While it is quite cool (around 20C) from November to January, April is scorching. Therefore, during the dry season, Angkor Temple tours are often from early morning to late afternoon. At lunch time, a few hours by the pool is preferred by many tourists.
Koh Rong Island in the summer- source: internet
Due to the hot weather, it is unsurprising that the tourist numbers in Cambodia peak. The most popular region in dry season is Kep and Sihanoukville where bask in the brilliant sunshine and sea conditions are also very favorable.
The wet season
The wet season comes to Cambodia with the southwest monsoon from May to October. This season brings for Cambodia 75% annual rainfall. During the rainy season, daytime temperature average between 25C and 27C. The very first months of the season (May to July) is very hot with infrequent rainfall, usually short downpours. In the months after (late July to September), the rains become more constant and also heavy at times, especially in coastal and rural areas.
The wet season is not ideal to travel in the remote corners of Cambodia such as Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri in the east region because of the state of the roads. Besides, it is also unadvisable to go to Bamboo Island in the wet season because the water gets a lot higher.
A floating village in Cambodia-source: internet
However, Angkor Wat particularly becomes impressive in this season because the moats brim over with water and there is a considerable decrease in the number of visitors. Besides, flooded forests and floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake are preferred by tourists in this season. High rainfall make these areas swell to more than 5 times compared to dry season.
So when is the best time to visit Cambodia? The answer depends on the region that you are going to visit also. From November to February, it is the best time to explore the popular temples in Cambodia and sunbathe by the coast in the sunny days. When the temperatures and humidity rise slightly from March to May, the peak daytime temperatures are around 34C, it is excellent time to visit the coast in Cambodia.
Silver pogoda- top tourist attraction in Cambodia-source: internet
When it comes to rainy season, especially from June to October, it is fantastic time to see Cambodia transform into a waterlogged expanse of tropical green with the best destination is the floating villages despite of certain practical challenges. Getting around during this time is not always easy with dirty roads and flooding. It is also quietest time for Cambodian tourism and even Angkor.
Above is basic information about weather in Cambodia. Hope that you find it useful to make your decision when to visit the country. Wish you a happy and memorable trip in this beautiful land!
Explore more topics: Best places to visit in Cambodia; Places to visit in Siem Reap; Places to visit in Phom Penh; Best Places for shoping in Siem Reap; Tourist attractions in Battambang; Tourist attractions in Kratie; Famous food in Cambodia
