On this page10 sections
Rain by month
Highs, lows and rain by month
| Month | Average high | Average low | Average rain | Sea surface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30.6 °C | 23.0 °C | 15.6 mm | 27.6 °C |
| February | 31.1 °C | 24.4 °C | 14.3 mm | 28.0 °C |
| March | 31.8 °C | 25.4 °C | 53.3 mm | 28.9 °C |
| April | 32.9 °C | 26.3 °C | 64.0 mm | 30.0 °C |
| May | 32.4 °C | 26.4 °C | 148.3 mm | 30.5 °C |
| June | 31.7 °C | 26.3 °C | 119.0 mm | 30.1 °C |
| July | 31.4 °C | 26.0 °C | 97.4 mm | 29.6 °C |
| August | 31.2 °C | 26.0 °C | 97.6 mm | 29.3 °C |
| September | 31.0 °C | 25.2 °C | 204.7 mm | 29.3 °C |
| October | 30.8 °C | 24.4 °C | 216.1 mm | 29.3 °C |
| November | 30.5 °C | 23.7 °C | 72.1 mm | 28.9 °C |
| December | 30.0 °C | 22.5 °C | 8.3 mm | 28.1 °C |
Each month has its own row: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. The sea column is the open water off Pattaya, explained under the sea and swimming.
To choose a month by the kind of trip you want, see the best time to visit Pattaya.
December to February: the dry months
These are the driest months of the year: December averages 8.3 mm of rain, January 15.6 mm and February 14.3 mm. Average highs are 30.0 to 31.1 °C, and December and January have the coolest nights of the year, averaging 22.5 and 23.0 °C.
March and April: the heat builds
Average highs rise to 31.8 °C in March and 32.9 °C in April, the hottest month, and the nights stay warm, at 25.4 and 26.3 °C. Rain is still modest, at 53.3 and 64.0 mm.
May to August: the first rainy months
Rain more than doubles in May, to 148.3 mm, while the heat stays close to April's: an average high of 32.4 °C and the warmest nights of the year, 26.4 °C. June averages 119.0 mm, and July and August 97.4 and 97.6 mm, with highs of 31.2 to 31.7 °C and nights of 26.0 to 26.3 °C.
September and October: the wettest months
September averages 204.7 mm of rain and October 216.1 mm, the most of any month. Highs ease to 31.0 and 30.8 °C, and nights to 25.2 and 24.4 °C.
Expect some days with hours of rain and water on the roads. Allow extra time for journeys, and give each day an indoor alternative: see things to do when it rains.
November: the change of season
Rain falls to 72.1 mm on average, with an average high of 30.5 °C and nights cooling to 23.7 °C. November is the month in between: much drier than October, but wetter than March.
The sea and swimming
The sea is warm in every month. NOAA's 1991–2020 averages for the Gulf off Pattaya, from satellite, ship and buoy readings, give a surface temperature of 27.6 °C in January, the coolest month, rising to 30.5 °C in May, the warmest, and back to 28.1 °C in December. They describe the open water of one quarter-degree square of sea, not a reading at the beach on a given day.
UK government travel advice describes May to October as Thailand's rainy season, notes that its timing has become less predictable, and warns of strong currents and rough seas, particularly in those months. Jellyfish can be more common near the shore in the monsoon months, so check the local notices.
No month guarantees calm water. Swim in designated areas, follow the beach flags and local instructions, and stay out when the sea is rough, even on a calm-looking morning. See Pattaya's beaches.
For anything on the water, read the Thai Meteorological Department's shipping forecast for the Gulf of Thailand as well as the land forecast, then follow the operator's decision. See watersports in Pattaya.
Averages and forecasts
The Thai Meteorological Department's 1981–2010 normals for Pattaya give rain and temperature only. The sea temperatures come from NOAA's separate record of the sea surface; humidity and a current count of rainy days are not shown here. Its older 1961–1990 normals for the same station counted about 17 rainy days in September and 18 in October, against one in December and in January.
For the days ahead, open the Thai Meteorological Department's province forecasts and choose Pattaya, which has its own entry under Eastern, separate from Chon Buri. Note when the forecast was issued, and look for warnings before an outdoor day.
To choose the month for your trip, see the best time to visit Pattaya.
Questions
Does it rain all day in Pattaya's rainy season?
Some days it does. A monthly average cannot show whether a day brings a short shower or a long spell, and both happen. Keep one indoor option for each day, leave slack around journeys and bookings, and read the forecast's warnings on the morning of an outdoor plan.
When does the rainy season end in Pattaya?
There is no fixed date. The averages fall steeply from October to December, but the first weeks of November can still bring October's weather, so go by the forecast for your dates rather than the calendar.
Do I need warm clothes for Pattaya?
No. Even in December, the coolest month, nights average 22.5 °C. A thin long-sleeved layer is enough for air-conditioned malls, buses and cinemas; see what to pack for Pattaya.
What is the sea temperature in Pattaya?
Between about 27.6 °C and 30.5 °C on average. NOAA's 1991–2020 averages for the sea off Pattaya give 27.6 °C in January, the coolest month, and 30.5 °C in May, the warmest; from June to November the surface stays between 28.9 and 30.1 °C. A warm sea is not a calm one: check the flags and the rough-sea warnings in the rainy months.
What is the hottest month in Pattaya?
April, with an average high of 32.9 °C in the Thai Meteorological Department's 1981–2010 normals for the Pattaya station. May is close behind at 32.4 °C and has the warmest nights, averaging 26.4 °C. December is the coolest month, with an average high of 30.0 °C.
