The Climate of Myanmar
Myanmar lies in Southeast Asia, bordering China and India in its north, and Thailand on its east. It is a mountainous country, with the main mountain ranges running from north to south. The highest peaks may rise to over 18000 ft (5500m), but the average height of the mountains elsewhere lies between 4000-8000ft (1200-2400m). The country also has lowlands north of Mandalay to the coast at Yangon.
Myanmar has a tropical monsoon climate. The cooler, dry season lasts from Nov-April and the hotter, wet season from May- September or October. The dry season occurs during the northeast monsoon and the wet season during the southwest monsoon blowing off the Indian Ocean. Differences of altitude within the country, and the extent of exposure to the rainy southwest monsoon, are the main factors responsible for differences of climate within Myanmar.
About three-quarters of the country's annual rainfall occurs during the southwest monsoon season. Rainfall is heaviest in the coastal mountains and also in the north and the east, about 2000-2500 mm a year.
The lowlands, which are inland and sheltered from the direct effect of the southwest monsoon winds, are drier, receiving less than 1000mm of rainfall.
In the lowlands, and particularly on the coast, temperatures are hot throughout the year.
The weather is hottest from March-May, before the onset of the heaviest rains. Temperatures are cooler in the mountains, but the weather at places below 4000ft (1200m) is hot and tropical most of the year . In coastal areas, conditions can be uncomfortable because of high humidity.
Even inland, high humidity during the rainy season can also makes the heat very oppressive. In the dry season, which occurs during the northeast monsoon, temperatures inland are much cooler, especially in the north where increasing altitude lowers the temperature.
Sunshine is plentiful during the dry season, averaging 7-10 hours a day. During the rainy season the weather is cloudier and daily sunshine amounts average only 3-4 hours a day.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Yangon
|
| Month |
Rainfall(mm) |
Temperature (Celsius) |
| Ave. Monthly |
Ave. No. of Days with 1mm |
Average Daily |
Lowest Recorded |
Highest Recorded |
| Min |
Max |
| Jan |
5 |
1 |
17.9 |
32.2 |
12 |
38 |
| Feb |
2 |
1 |
19.3 |
34.5 |
13 |
37 |
| Mar |
7 |
1 |
21.6 |
36.0 |
17 |
38 |
| Apr |
15 |
2 |
24.3 |
37.0 |
20 |
40 |
| May |
303 |
13 |
25.0 |
33.4 |
22 |
41 |
| Jun |
547 |
23 |
24.5 |
30.2 |
22 |
36 |
| Jul |
559 |
27 |
24.1 |
29.7 |
21 |
34 |
| Aug |
602 |
25 |
24.1 |
29.6 |
20 |
35 |
| Sep |
368 |
21 |
24.2 |
30.4 |
21 |
34 |
| Oct |
206 |
10 |
24.2 |
31.5 |
22 |
34 |
| Nov |
60 |
4 |
22.4 |
32.0 |
17 |
35 |
| Dec |
7 |
1 |
19.0 |
31.5 |
13 |
36 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
9