As parts of the Western world head into winter and the cold weather sets in, there's one thing on everyone's mind: “Will it snow this year?”
Unsurprisingly, except for a few chilly mornings in the mountainous North, there is no sign of snow in Thailand, yet!
Okay, it's unlikely to happen, but according to Thailand's national weather archives, it did snow once!
The only ever official (I use that word loosely) snowfall recorded in Thailand was in Chiang Rai on January 7, 1955 (see the picture below).
According to the notice on this picture, the snow came after rainfall at 6 p.m.
The event was well documented at the time, and the story has been passed down through generations.
Snow in Thailand: The Truth About 1955
The story goes that after the rain came snow-like hail, which produced a white blanket on the ground.
You have to admit, the ground does look white and fluffy in that picture.
This “snow” remained for about 14 hours before melting away.
The story is fiercely contested by snow enthusiasts, who argue that the “snow” was formed by hail and therefore doesn't constitute a proper snowfall.
However, residents beg to differ, proudly boasting their claim to snow fame.
Snow or not, this is as close as you're going to get to it in Thailand, as this is the one and only time “snow” has ever fallen in the Kingdom.
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Lowest Temperature Ever Recorded in Thailand
Those who live in the North know that it does get pretty chilly from December through February. The northern regions, with higher elevations, are more likely to experience rare events such as frost and even snow.
The lowest temperature ever recorded in Chiang Rai (where it snowed) was 2°C (35°F), which is just low enough for snow. Heavy dew is quite common in the North, and frost on leaves and vegetation in the higher elevations is sometimes reported late in the year.
This isn't the record for the lowest temperature in Thailand, though. That title belongs to Sakhon Nakhon, in the Isaan region.
Situated near the Phu Phan mountain range, Sakhon Nakhon reached a record low temperature of -1.4°C (29°F) in 1974. Locals, however, cite an even lower record of -2.5°C (27°F) on December 24, 1999.
Side note: Apparently, Doi Inthanon National Park, near Chiang Mai, has also experienced freezing temperatures on occasion, but these were never authenticated.
Lowest Temperature Ever Recorded in Bangkok
Let's compare that to Bangkok.
The Big Mango hit its coldest record in 30 years on January 23, 2014, when the temperature fell to 15.6°C (60°F). While this is basically a warm day in Scotland, it was quite a shock for residents accustomed to a year-round average of 30°C (86°F).
However, the lowest-ever recorded temperature in Bangkok was 9.9°C (49.8°F) in January 1955, which coincidentally was the same year snow fell in Chiang Rai.
Does Thailand Have a Winter?
Thailand doesn't have a winter in the traditional sense, but the cool season typically occurs from November to February.
During this time, temperatures are relatively cooler, especially in the northern and central regions of the country. Daytime temperatures can range from 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F), while nighttime temperatures may drop to around 10°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F).
Thailand generally experiences a tropical climate with three main seasons: hot, rainy, and cool. For cooler weather, head to Chiang Rai in the North or Sakhon Nakhon in the Northeast for some respite from the southern heat.
In December and January, typical daytime temperatures in northern Thailand hover around the low 80s°F (27-28°C), while nighttime lows settle in the mid-60s°F (17°C).