Laos’
Weather
Laos has a
tropical monsoon climate somewhat similar to that of northern
Vietnam. There are distinct seasons, but in general, it’s
wet between May and October and dry between November and
April.
From
November to January, there is a cool dry period. In the Mekong
valley, temperatures can drop to around 15˚C. In the mountainous
areas, daytime temperatures can fall to zero with frosts at
night. Humidity is low at this time of the year and conditions
for visitors are at their best.
From
January the weather enters a hot dry season the builds to
a climax of thunderstorms and high humidity around May. Temperature
can top 35˚C during this period.
The
weather from June to October is typically a consistent pattern
of low clouds and rain often causing flooding along the Mekong
River and some of its tributaries.
The
average rainfall in the capital Vientiane is about 1,700 mm,
although in the north of Laos and the highlands it is wetter,
with more than 3,000 mm each year.
Laos’
landlocked location sheltered by mountains shields it from
extreme forms of weather.
| Vientiane's
weather |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Mean
high temperature (˚C) |
28 |
30 |
32 |
33 |
32 |
31 |
31 |
30 |
31 |
30 |
29 |
27 |
| Mean
high temperature (˚F) |
83 |
86 |
91 |
93 |
90 |
89 |
88 |
87 |
88 |
87 |
85 |
81 |
| Mean
low temperature (˚C) |
17 |
20 |
22 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
23 |
21 |
17 |
| Mean
low temperature (˚F) |
64 |
68 |
72 |
77 |
78 |
78 |
78 |
78 |
77 |
75 |
70 |
63 |
| Rainfall
in millimetres |
5 |
13 |
35 |
83 |
96 |
91 |
236 |
314 |
304 |
86 |
10 |
20 |
| Rainfall
in inches |
0.2 |
0.5 |
1.4 |
3.3 |
3.8 |
3.6 |
9.3 |
12.4 |
12.0 |
3.4 |
0.4 |
0.1 |
| Average
number of rainy days |
2 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
13 |
17 |
17 |
19 |
14 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
| Luang
Prabang's weather |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Mean
high temperature (˚C) |
27 |
31 |
33
|
35 |
35 |
33 |
32 |
32 |
32 |
31 |
29 |
27 |
| Mean
high temperature (˚F) |
82 |
89 |
93 |
96 |
95 |
93 |
90 |
90 |
91 |
89 |
85 |
81 |
| Mean
low temperature (˚C) |
13 |
14 |
17 |
20 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
22 |
20 |
17 |
15 |
| Mean
low temperature (˚F) |
56 |
58 |
63 |
69 |
73 |
74 |
74 |
74 |
73 |
69 |
64 |
59 |
| Rainfall
in millimetres |
10 |
10 |
30 |
100 |
160 |
150 |
230 |
290 |
160 |
70 |
30 |
10 |
| Rainfall
in inches |
0.6 |
0.7 |
1.2 |
4.3 |
6.4 |
6.1 |
9.1 |
11.8 |
6.5 |
31 |
1.2 |
0.5 |
| Average
number of rainy days |
1.3 |
1.5 |
2.7 |
5.5 |
5.4 |
10.7 |
13.6 |
15.8 |
9.8 |
6.2 |
3.9 |
1.1 |
| Phonsavan's
weather |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Mean
high temperature (˚C) |
24 |
26 |
26 |
29 |
28 |
27 |
25 |
26 |
26 |
25 |
23 |
21 |
| Mean
high temperature (˚F) |
76 |
80 |
80 |
85 |
84 |
81 |
78 |
79 |
79 |
78 |
74 |
71 |
| Mean
low temperature (˚C) |
7 |
10 |
13 |
16 |
19 |
20 |
19 |
20 |
18 |
16 |
13 |
8 |
| Mean
low temperature (˚F) |
46 |
51 |
56 |
62 |
67 |
68 |
67 |
68 |
66 |
61 |
56 |
47 |
| Rainfall
in millimetres |
n/a |
10 |
30 |
90 |
100 |
160 |
320 |
290 |
150 |
30 |
n/a |
n/a |
| Rainfall
in inches |
n/a |
0.4 |
1.2 |
3.7 |
4.2 |
6.4 |
12.9 |
11.4 |
6 |
1.5 |
0.3 |
n/a |
| Average
number of rainy days |
n/a |
0.9 |
2.8 |
5.3 |
5.5 |
11 |
16.6 |
15.5 |
9.3 |
4.2 |
2.7 |
n/a |
|
