Snow is relatively common in places around the world as it falls regularly from time to time, especially during the winter. Perhaps you want a touch of snowfall to add to the glamor and fun of your next holidays when you visit Thailand. So, you might be wondering whether it snows in Thailand any season of the year or not.
No, it does not snow in any part of Thailand because the temperature of the country is not usually low enough for snow to form and start falling. From the big cities to the small towns, there is no place in Thailand where it snows. Therefore, if you are visiting Thailand, you should bear in mind that it is almost impossible for you to see snow throughout your stay.
However, you should note that the temperature in Thailand could go very low during some periods. Nevertheless, this does not mean that you will start seeing snow in the country. Anyways, there are various things you need to note about the weather in Thailand.
Why does it not snow in Thailand?
In general, snow occurs when there is a small amount of moisture in the atmosphere. This moisture usually occurs due to the extremely low temperature. However, such extremely low temperatures don’t usually happen in all places in this Southeast Asian nation.
In most cases, the temperatures must have fallen below the freezing point (0°C OR 32°F). But the lowest temperatures in Thailand are usually higher than the freezing point. As a result of this, it does not snow at all in Thailand.
It is worthwhile to note that the temperature around the mountain tops in Thailand may fall below the freezing point in a few situations. But since the temperatures often rise quickly above the freezing point, it will still not snow on the mountain tops in Thailand.
Has snow ever fallen in Thailand?
Having noted that snow is almost impossible in any part of Thailand, you may be wondering whether it has ever snowed in the country. According to the national weather archives of Thailand, snow once fell in Thailand in 1955. As stated by the record, snow fell in Chiang Rai when the temperature in the city went down to 2°C (35°F). It was reported that the snow covered the ground for as long as 14 hours before it finally melted away. Today, residents often boast of Chiang Rai as the only place with an uncommon experience in the country.
In the same year, the temperature fell to 9.9°C (49.8°F) in Bangkok, which was the lowest ever temperature recorded in Thailand’s capital city. Therefore, it is probably true that the temperature was unusually too low that year; thus, leading to snowfall in Chiang Rai.
However, it is noteworthy that many snow geeks noted that it never snowed in Chiang Rai or any other places in Thailand. According to Thailand Life and other sources, these snow geeks claimed that it was just hail that formed in the city; hence, the people assumed that it snowed.
Despite the opinion of these snow geeks, the residents of Chiang Rai still maintain that it snowed in the city in 1955. Nevertheless, this is the only time in history when it snowed in Thailand.
What does winter look like in Thailand?
Although it is clear that it doesn’t snow in Thailand, you can still experience the winter in the country. Like other places around the world, the winter in Thailand can be quite cold when compared to other seasons of the year. However, it still does not get cold enough for snows to fall in Thailand.
Generally, the winter months in Thailand are:
- November
- December
- January
- February
- March
As noted by Trip Savvy, this period is usually warm and dry. For most parts of the period, it will not rain. In the northern part of the country, the temperatures can be around 24°C (75°F) where they will be about 30°C (86°F). Hence, most tourists and locals can visit the beaches and other areas around the country to enjoy what they have to offer.
Due to the relatively warm and dry temperatures of the country during the winter, most tourists visit during the period. December and January seem to be the favourite months for lots of individuals that want to visit Thailand.
If you are coming from the colder regions of the world, you will agree that the winter in Thailand is bearable. However, you may still need extra layers of clothing to prevent cold from hurting you during this period, especially if you are visiting the mountainous regions in the north.
What are the coldest temperatures ever in Thailand?
Even though it was reported that snow fell in Chiang Rai at 2°C, colder temperatures have been recorded in Thailand without claims of snowfall. On January 2, 1974, it was reported that the temperature fell to 1.4°C in Sakhon Nakhon. Officially, no lower temperature has been recorded in the whole country.
Nonetheless, it was claimed that the temperature in Doi Inthanon National Park was only -5°C on December 21, 2017. While this temperature was lower than the official one in Sakhon Nakhon, there are claims that it is not true. Therefore, we may never ascertain whether the temperature truly decreased below the freezing point in the park or not.
Of course, there have been other low temperatures recorded in Thailand. One of them occurred in Bangkok on January 23, 2014. It was recorded that the temperature in the capital city was only 15.6°C at some particular period. Unfortunately, 63 individuals died due to this unusual low temperature in Bangkok.
In conclusion, it does not snow in Thailand as the temperatures in different parts of the country don’t usually fall below the freezing point required for snow to form. Therefore, if you are visiting this Southeast Asian country during the winter, you should note that you will not experience any form of snowfall throughout your stay.
