Bangkok is usually all about three seasons – hot, hot and wet, and hottest – so it’s no surprise that sweaters and warm clothes aren’t really a thing here. However, since late December the City of Angels has been blessed with beautifully cool and breezy weather. Of course, we know from experience that such clement climes are fleeting, but it seems that the winter magic in the tropics might hang around for a little while longer this year.
Commenting on Bangkok’s lingering chill, Somkuan Tonjan, Director of the Meteorological Observation Division, explained that prolonged cool seasons were actually more common around a decade ago. According to data from the Thai Meteorological Department, Bangkok registered its lowest temperature of 14.8 degrees Celsius in 2017. By comparison, the lowest temperature this year, recorded on January 13, was 15.2 degrees Celsius. So, while it may feel like the coolest weather in ages, it’s actually a return to patterns we’ve experienced before. Perhaps we’ve simply grown too accustomed to the sweltering heat and humidity in recent times.
According to reports by the Thai Meteorological Department, thanks to high pressure systems to the far north and prevailing winds at this time of year, cool weather continues to be dragged south from China, meaning our version of winter might well stick around until mid-February. This means a few more blissful weeks of living without air conditioning and the perfect opportunity to get out and explore the city in all its winter glory.
So, be sure to wrap up warm and check out our guide to Things to do in the Bangkok chill. You’ll want to make the most of this prolonged cool and dry season while it lasts.