Laos
Weather locations in Laos
Choose a location in Laos to view its available forecast products.
Laos illustrated weather map
10 mapped locations
Only locations with a verified coordinate are marked. The complete location list is below.
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Climate of Laos
Country climate guideLaos is a landlocked country in the heart of mainland Southeast Asia, between about 15°N and 23°N, bounded by Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and China. The Mekong runs the length of the country, and the land rises from the flat valleys to the Annamite range along the Vietnamese border and the higher mountains of the north. Being far from the sea, Laos lies entirely under the Asian monsoon, and it has the region's classic warm-season rain and cool-season dry rhythm, which the mountains further cool and wet.
Main climate types
The whole country is tropical savanna climate under the Köppen scheme, with a marked wet season from May to October and a long dry season from November to the end of March. A montane variant covers the high ground of the north and the Bolaven plateau, where the temperature is several degrees lower. The strip along the Mekong between Vientiane and the Thai border is the hottest, driest part of the country.
Temperatures
Vientiane averages about 17 °C in January and about 27 °C in May, the hottest month, with highs in the 30s °C through the hot season. The mountains are cooler all year: Luang Prabang averages about 15 °C in January and about 27 °C in May, and on the Bolaven plateau nights fall below 10 °C even in the hottest months. Between November and February the northern valleys have the coldest mornings.
Rainfall
Most rain falls between May and October. Vientiane receives about 1,600 mm to 2,000 mm a year and the southern province of Attapeu above 2,000 mm, with September usually the wettest. The far north around Luang Namtha takes 1,200 mm to 1,500 mm, while the semi-arid belt near the Thai border gets less than 1,000 mm. In the dry season the rivers fall a long way, and minor tributaries of the Mekong dry up completely.
When to go
The dry season, from November to March or April, is the natural travel season, with clear skies and days in the low 20s °C. The coolest weeks are December and January, and February is usually the best month for trekking in the north. The wet season brings heavy afternoon rain, greener hills and cooler nights, and makes some hill roads difficult.