Is August a good time to visit Thailand for good weather?

The weather so far this year has been very different from last year at least in Issan.

Stock answer as asked almost every day.

A lot of people think the “wet season” or “monsoon” will be constantly raining. Usually this is not the case. You could be unlucky and get a day or so - or even a week of constant rain, but normally the rains are short sharp showers that last an hour or so and then the sun comes back out.

Thailand is a big country and weather patterns differ from place to place. In many places the weather is incredibly localised - so much so that it may be raining on one side of the city/town/village and completely dry on the other.

Traditionally the wettest months are :-

Bangkok, Phuket & Krabi - September & October

Chiang Mai - August & September

Koh Samui - October & November

Online weather sites or weather apps almost always show rain/thunderstorms during these times and freak loads of people out by making them think it will be raining all the time. They show that because it “could” be raining or a thunderstorm at some point during the day. There probably will be, but probably just an hour or so. Some apps are better at predicting than others. A paid app like Ventusky gives you a “satellite” type image of what may happen. It’s not always correct but way more so that the traditional apps or Google.

Usually it's very hot so a lot of times the rains are welcome as they cool everything down a few degrees.

Sometimes during the monsoon period the seas are rough and might impede trips to certain islands. You're better off to wait until you are here to book island trips a day or so before so you can guage what the weather will be like and choose an alternative if needed.

Be VERY wary of swimming in the sea at these times of the year. Big waves cause rip-tides that unfortunately lead to many casualties every year. Best to stick to swimming in your hotel pool.

Also be wary of overcast days. The suns rays here are powerful and will penetrate light clouds easily. Many people have spent longer on a beach, or not used sunscreen thinking they’ll be fine. Being a lobster by the evening is not fun and can be painful. Use Aloe Vera

or brown vinegar to ease any sunburn pain.

July & August my favorite for down south.

All green some rain less people and there is surf

Great time to go. Lower prices, weather isn’t bad and not so busy. Go.

The weather is a gamble but it is very unlikely that your holiday will be a wash out.

On the plus side it is low season so the beaches aren't as busy and I would say it's a good time to visit.

I’ve been to Koh Samui in august and spent 10 days stuck in the hotel because of rain!

It will most likely rain at some point but it's not going to be monsoon style rain. It might rain for an hour or so then the sun will be back out. Likewise there will be days where there's no rain. Very unlikely that you'll have an entire day washed out.