Chiang Mai Monthly Rainfall & Precipitation

This page shows both the average monthly rainfall and the number of rainy days in Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The figures are based on a 30-year period (1990–2020) to provide a reliable average. Now, let's explore all the details to give you a full picture.

Chiang Mai has a notably wet climate with abundant precipitation, recording 1197 mm (47 in) of rainfall per year. It does, however, have a distinct dry and rainy season during certain months. Have a look at our detailed charts below to see how precipitation varies throughout the year.

Monthly Precipitation Levels

The average number of days each month with precipitation (> 0.2 mm (0.01 in))

Chiang Mai can be quite wet during August, receiving approximately 260 mm (10 in) of precipitation over 21 rainy days.

In contrast February, experiences much drier conditions, with 4.8 mm (0.2 in) of rainfall, spread across a single rainy day.

August, the wettest month, has a maximum daytime temperature of 32°C (90°F). The city receives 116 hours of sunshine in this period. During the driest month February you can expect a temperature of 34°C (93°F). For more detailed insights into the city's temperatures, visit our Chiang Mai Temperature page.

Chiang Mai's average annual precipitation is 1197 mm (47 in). Let's compare this to some popular worldwide tourist destinations:

In Barcelona, Spain, the average annual precipitation is 644 mm (25 in), evenly distributed across the year with no extreme wet or dry seasons.

Beijing, China, receives 560 mm (22 in) of annual precipitation, concentrated in the summer months.

Adelaide, Australia, enjoys 511 mm (20 in) of annual precipitation, with dry summers and wet winters.

Singapore, situated near the equator, gets 2581 mm (102 in) of rainfall annually, with no distinct dry season and consistent monthly precipitation.

Precipitation amounts are measured using specific gauges installed at weather stations, collecting both rain and snow and any other type of precipitation. Rainfall is measured directly in millimeters, while that from snow and ice is obtained by melting it. Automated systems often incorporate heaters to make this easier.

Information from these stations is transmitted via Wi-Fi, satellite, GPS, or telephone connections to central monitoring networks. This information is immediately updated and integrated into weather models and forecasts.

Tropical Rainforests: In tropical regions, rainfall is generally abundant year-round. Areas near the equator, like the Amazon rainforest, can receive up to 3000 mm (118 in) of rain annually.

Desert Regions: Deserts such as the Sahara and Arabian deserts typically see less than 250 mm (9.8 in) of rainfall annually. Rainfall tends to be infrequent, but when it does occur, it is often intense.

Temperate Zones: In temperate regions, precipitation tends to be more evenly distributed, though areas closer to the ocean may see more rain in the winter months, and areas further inland experience drier summers.

Polar Regions: Precipitation in polar regions, like Antarctica, is extremely low, often falling as snow. Average annual precipitation in Antarctica is less than 200 mm (7.9 in), with some areas receiving as little as 50 mm (2 in) annually.

• Mawsynram in India is noted as being the wettest place on earth, with over 11 meters (36 feet) of rain falling every year.
• In contrast, Antofagasta in Chile is among the driest places on the planet, getting less than 0.1mm (0.004 inches) per year, with some years recording virtually no rainfall.
• Nearly 1,650 thunderstorm cells are estimated over the planet at any given time.

For more detailed information about Chiang Mai's weather, including sunshine hours, humidity levels, and temperature data, visit our Chiang Mai Climate page.