CLIMATE

Myanmar has a tropical climate with the dry season from mid-February to mid-May; the monsoon or rainy season from mid-May to mid-October, the cool season from mid October to mid-February, and the hot season, generally from March to April.

 

The coast and delta areas have an annual rainfall of about 250 cm (100 inches) and an average annual temperature of about 32° C (90F). In these areas, depending on the season, temperatures can fluctuate between 16° to 40°C (61 to 104F).

 

In the Central Belt, called the dry zone, where Mandalay the chief city is, the rainfall averages about 70 cm (28 inches) per annum, with mean annual temperature around 27°C (81F). Maximums are 46°C (115F) in hot season and 15°C (59F) during the cool season.

 

Average daily temperatures in Yangon range from 18° to 32°C (64 to 90F) during the cool season and from 24° to 36°C (75 to 97F) during the hot season.

 

The climate in upper Myanmar, particularly at altitudes ranging from about 300 to 1,220 m (984 to 4000 feet), is the most temperate throughout the year and rainfall during the monsoon season totals more than 500 cm (197 inches).