Tourist Info
Climate
Cambodia is located close to the equator; between 10 to 13 degrees north, and enjoys a tropical climate, with warm to hot temperatures.
The annual monsoon cycle alternates wet and dry seasons. The monsoon usually kicks off gently in May, has a peak in July, August and September and slows down again in October.
Seasons
The combination of the variety in temperature and the monsoon cycle effectively creates four seasons:
Warm & dry
November, December, January, February
Climate wise, this is possibly the best time to visit Cambodia. Days are warm, humidity is relatively low, light breezes, skies are clear and rain is absent but for occasional very light showers in February (mango showers). Evenings are cool and pleasant.
Hot & dry
March, April, May
During these months, the temperatures start picking up, humidity soars and the mango showers are more frequent. The country gets pretty dry. It is probably best to avoid afternoon sun & heat during these months, a fabulous excuse for a siesta or a cold drink in the shade.
Fortunately, Kampot’s location near the sea and mountains gives it a much more temperate climate than inland destinations.
Hot & wet
June, July, August
The monsoon really kicks in, and built up heat and humidity is welcomingly reduced after a good downpour. The rain pattern is quite predictable in the center and north of the country, where it usually rains in the afternoon or at night. A usual downpour does not last longer than a couple of hours. On the south coast, the rains are less predictable, some days in August may show a drizzle throughout the day, whereas on other days there might be a good hour-long downpour, but in a less predictable pattern than the rains up north. Rest assured, there are plenty of completely dry days within this period and even when it rains, it is rare to have an entire day of rain.
Warm & wet
September, October (and sometimes the start of November)
Even though September is the highest risk month for floods, it also signifies diminishing rain and temperatures. The country is lush, nature is abundant and tourism numbers are at its lowest – a perfect time to visit Cambodia if you love nature and photography and are not a great fan of masses of other tourists.
Weather
Temperature
Phnom Penh temperature in degrees Celsius; the weather in Kampot is usually a couple of degrees cooler:
Sunshine
Cambodia; average hours of sunshine per day:
Rain
Phnom Penh rainfall graph in mm per month:
Humidity
Cambodia; average humidity percentage:
Natural Disasters
Cambodia is a safe haven – there is no need to fear natural disasters such as erupting volcanoes or earthquakes, and the country is not directly affected by tropical storms.