Pattaya Weather Month by Month: When to Go

Pattaya is hot in every month, but the practical difference between December and October is large. Thai Meteorological Department normals make the decision fairly simple: December to February is the driest run, April has the highest average daytime maximum, and September to October is the wettest pair.

The figures below come from the official Pattaya weather station’s 1981–2010 climate normals. They are a planning baseline, not a forecast. A current TMD monthly report can sit above or below the norm, and the UK FCDO notes that Thailand’s rainy season has become less predictable.

Pattaya weather: the official monthly table

The twelve rainfall normals add up to about 1,111 mm, but that total should not be treated as an annual prediction. The official table does not provide rainy-day counts, humidity or sea temperature for this station. Older versions of this page mixed those measures from unrelated commercial datasets; they have been removed rather than presented as if TMD had verified them.

January: dry, with the coolest nights after December

January averages 30.6°C by day, 23.0°C at the minimum and 15.6 mm of rain. It is one of the easiest months for a plan built around Koh Larn, viewpoints and walking between neighbourhoods. The trade-off is not meteorological certainty: even a very dry normal can include a wet day, so keep boat changes possible until the forecast is clear.

February: almost as dry, but warmer overnight

February’s 14.3 mm average rainfall is slightly below January’s, while the average minimum rises to 24.4°C. This is a strong month for beach time and outdoor dinners because the long-term rain risk is low. It is still sensible to check air quality and the short-range weather instead of assuming a blue sky from the calendar alone.

March: the first clear step towards hot season

The average maximum reaches 31.8°C and rainfall rises to 53.3 mm. March remains much drier than the wettest months, but an exposed afternoon walk feels harder than it does in December. Schedule golf, temple visits and viewpoint climbs early, then leave the hottest part of the day for lunch, a pool or an indoor stop.

April: the hottest average maximum

April reaches 32.9°C by average maximum and 26.3°C by average minimum. The official rainfall normal is 64.0 mm, so heat is the main planning constraint. Pattaya’s extended Songkran celebrations can also reshape transport and street access in mid-April. Join deliberately or choose dates outside the confirmed event window; drifting through the centre with luggage is a poor compromise.

May: rainfall rises sharply

May’s rainfall normal is 148.3 mm, more than twice April’s, while the average minimum peaks at 26.4°C. This is where a rigid beach-every-day schedule becomes fragile. Put refundable outdoor activities in the morning, keep a dry bag ready, and know which indoor option is close enough to use without crossing the city in a storm.

June: wet season without the year’s highest total

June averages 119.0 mm of rain, below May but still firmly inside the May-to-October rainy-season window described by the FCDO. A monthly total cannot tell you whether rain will arrive in one heavy burst or several unsettled days. Check the live radar before a boat trip and keep the rainy-day guide available.

July: lower normal rainfall, not a guarantee

July’s official normal is 97.4 mm, with a 31.4°C average maximum. That is lower than May and June, but it does not turn July into dry season. A mixed itinerary works better than a beach-only one: outdoor time when conditions permit, plus a mall, museum, massage or long lunch that can absorb a wet afternoon.

August: similar numbers to July

August is almost identical in the table, at 31.2°C maximum, 26.0°C minimum and 97.6 mm of rain. The useful conclusion is not that every day follows a reliable shower timetable. It is that flexibility matters more than choosing between July and August on climate normals alone. Check marine conditions separately before committing to an island crossing.

September: the wettest period begins

September averages 204.7 mm, more than double the July or August normal. Travellers who mainly want restaurants, nightlife, shopping and spa time can still build a workable trip. Anyone whose holiday succeeds only with clear water and uninterrupted beach days should choose a drier month rather than hope the average will miss their dates.

October: highest average rainfall

October is the wettest month in the official table at 216.1 mm. It also has a lower average minimum than September, but that modest change does not cancel the rain risk. Do not assume the monsoon ends on a fixed date. Use a current TMD forecast, leave extra time for road disruption, and avoid non-refundable sea plans when warnings are active.

November: transition, not an instant switch

The rainfall normal drops to 72.1 mm and the average minimum falls to 23.7°C. November is a reasonable compromise for travellers who want better odds of dry weather without insisting on the very lowest monthly normal. Early-month conditions can still carry over from October, so the live forecast matters more than a slogan about the season changing.

December: the driest official normal

December records 8.3 mm of average rain, a 30.0°C maximum and a 22.5°C minimum. On the official numbers, it is the clearest single answer for dry, comparatively comfortable weather. Book weather-sensitive activities only after checking the forecast, and remember that low seasonal rain does not remove ordinary sun exposure or sea-safety rules.

How to use this guide without over-reading the averages

Choose December to February when dry weather matters most. Choose March or November if a little more uncertainty is acceptable. Treat May to October as a period that needs flexible bookings, with September and October carrying the greatest long-term rainfall. April suits people prepared for heat and Songkran disruption; heat-sensitive travellers should skip it.

For the broader decision, including events and trip style, compare this table with the best time to visit Pattaya guide. Before any island day, open the TMD forecast and warnings, then follow beach flags and boat-operator instructions. Climate normals are useful for choosing a month; they are not permission to ignore the weather in front of you.

Three checks for an actual travel day

When choosing dates: use the climate table above for the long-term trade-off between rain and heat. Its 1981–2010 baseline stays the same even when this page gains new planning advice; it is not a 2026 forecast.

Before an outdoor day: open the TMD province directory and select Pattaya under Eastern. Pattaya has its own entry alongside Chonburi. Check the forecast’s issue time and covered period rather than relying on a cached weather screenshot. If the page does not load, use TMD’s forecast and warning navigation.

Before an island crossing: check the separate shipping forecast, particularly the Gulf of Thailand section. It gives marine conditions and an announcement time; a land forecast does not replace it. Then confirm sailing with the boat operator. These live-source links were checked 7 September 2026, but the weather described on them changes and needs a travel-day recheck.

Keep one nearby indoor substitute ready before leaving the hotel. A north-side itinerary can absorb Terminal 21 while a central stay may be better served by its local mall; crossing the whole city for a rain substitute can spend the time you meant to save.