Pattaya lies towards the top of the Gulf of Bangkok and the influence of the sea means that the weather here differs from northern, southern and in-land Thailand. The climate in Pattaya rarely sees any large temperature differences throughout the year, the average temperature being 29C. However, the weather pattern follows a different one from the Western four seasons, and there are only three seasons here, the so-called cool season, the hot season and the rainy season.
Cool season
Pattaya enjoys sunshine on most days of the year. The majority of foreign tourists visit Pattaya in the cool season, which runs from November to the end of February and into March. Although it is called the cool season, expect temperatures to be in the 30s Celsius (90s F) during the day and well above 20C at night. The climate is tropical and humid most of the time so you won’t need a sweater even on the coolest evenings, which occasionally dip to 22C. This is a great transition for many escaping from the Western winter, and long exposure to the sun and heat can cause initial problems until one becomes acclimatized.
Hot season
From the end of February the weather really warms up in Pattaya and becomes unpleasantly warm and sticky during the April to June period. Although the sea does help to alleviate some of the effects, the temperature can get up to the 40s and, being a coastal city, the humidity is very high. Unless you’re used to serious tropical heat, this is not the best time to visit Pattaya. The humidity is a great drain on everyone here at this time of year. Sometimes there is a bit of rain to clear the air but it doesn’t last at this time of year.
Rainy season
South Central Thailand does not usually get the full effects of the southwest monsoon that is felt by most places further north in Thailand and in the south at the end of May, but Pattaya still gets its fair share of rain at this time of year. The rain tends to come in hour-long downpours. It is rare for it to rain all day or night, but some streets flood if there is heavy rainfall, and it can take an hour or so to clear. In Pattaya very few people brave the torrential rain, but just stay where they are, wherever they are, until it stops, which is only usually half an hour or so. Rain during June, July and August does tend to dampen down the heat for a bit, but half an hour later the humidity can be unpleasant. The temperatures tend to stay in the low 30s by day and night during the May/September rainy season with high humidity readings (90 per cent). Inland, away from the sea, mosquitoes can be a problem.
