Rainy season by destination: month-by-month calendar

Q: What is the rainy season?

It is the time of year when most of the rain falls, as opposed to the dry season. It is also called the wet season; in South and Southeast Asia, it is linked to the monsoon.

Q: When is the monsoon in Asia?

For most of our South and Southeast Asian destinations, the months above 150 mm (6 in) fall between May and October. Some eastern coasts are wetter later, until November-December: the table gives the months for each destination.

Q: Can you travel during the rainy season?

Often yes: tropical downpours are frequently short. The constraints are mostly logistical (roads, boats, treks). Choose a dry region or a flexible itinerary.

Q: Which destination has no rainy season?

In our catalog, Andalusia, Balearic Islands, Barcelona, Belgium, Bulgaria and many others never exceed 100 mm (4 in) per month on average.

Q: Why 150 mm?

It is a practical benchmark: above it, rain becomes a major factor for a trip in most tropical climates. The table also shows the exact values so you can judge for yourself.

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The rainy season (or wet season) is the time of year when most of the rain falls; in the tropics it alternates with a dry season. Its dates differ from one destination to another, sometimes from one coast to the other within the same country. To see them at a glance, we cross-checked the official climate normals published in our 139 « when to go » guides and flagged, month by month, those above 150 mm (6 in) of rain.

The result: 62 destinations have at least one month above this threshold, and 52 never exceed 100 mm (4 in). The calendar below can be sorted and filtered by zone.

Key facts

Threshold used: a month is « very rainy » above 150 mm (6 in) (dark blue) and « rainy » between 100 and 150 mm (4 to 6 in) (light blue).
In South and Southeast Asia, most destinations have their months above 150 mm between May and October; a few coasts are the exception, with a peak at the end of the year (see the monsoon section).
In the tropical southern hemisphere (Indian Ocean, Pacific), the wet season falls mostly from December to March.
Rainy does not mean impossible: in the tropics, rain often falls in short downpours. The number of rain days, when published, is given in each guide.
Data: official normals cited in each guide; thresholds and calendar: Destination de Voyage calculation.

Rainy season calendar by destination

Destination	Zone	Months > 150 mm	No. of months	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Driest month
Benin	Africa	May to June, October	3	19	38	81	126	213	333	135	39	135	165	44	12	December
Kenya	Africa	April to May, November	3	64	57	93	219	177	35	18	24	28	55	154	101	July
Réunion	Africa	December to March	4	270	279	264	133	96	67	51	55	48	43	62	160	October
Madagascar	Africa	December to March	4	312	237	156	45	15	6	6	5	8	39	117	226	August
Mozambique	Africa	January	1	152	136	110	78	59	56	35	31	36	38	76	144	August
Uganda	Africa	March to May, November	4	87	84	185	264	254	116	72	78	79	128	172	121	July
Seychelles	Africa	September to May	9	427	251	205	196	171	122	80	115	184	191	215	298	July
Senegal	Africa	August	1	1	0	0	0	0	7	53	166	138	26	0	0	April
Zanzibar	Africa	March to May, November to December	5	74	51	177	409	298	52	31	38	37	116	201	168	July
Mauritius	Africa	February	1	131	160	83	87	48	24	18	19	17	15	24	85	October
Miami (Florida)	North America	May to October	6	46	55	62	85	161	267	187	243	260	194	90	62	January
Vancouver	North America	November to January	3	174	91	106	86	59	51	34	36	52	124	175	172	July
Belize	Latin America	June to December	7	141	65	41	58	132	236	180	195	230	306	236	151	March
Cancún	Latin America	June, September to October	3	104	59	39	42	87	184	67	102	182	277	131	97	March
Costa Rica	Latin America	May to October	6	1	2	4	24	194	246	153	209	346	310	98	12	January
Guatemala	Latin America	May to October	6	2	4	4	30	154	279	208	225	242	171	30	5	January
French Guiana	Latin America	December to July	8	399	335	315	443	600	392	262	135	63	55	135	352	October
Mexico	Latin America	September to October	2	56	43	45	37	84	146	111	115	223	242	112	80	April
Nicaragua	Latin America	June, September to October	3	1	2	4	5	85	208	126	135	245	282	48	8	January
Panama	Latin America	May to November	7	29	10	13	65	225	235	169	220	254	331	252	105	February
Yucatán	Latin America	June, September	2	33	26	21	32	67	169	138	145	175	136	56	35	March
Ecuador	Latin America	April	1	81	109	142	168	121	41	22	32	69	112	109	94	July
Bali	Asia	November to March	5	345	274	234	88	93	53	55	25	47	63	179	276	August
Bangkok (Thailand)	Asia	May to October	6	24	21	51	93	217	199	190	227	336	289	45	12	December
Cambodia	Asia	June to October	5	4	4	41	48	143	195	170	170	305	227	62	7	January
Chiang Mai	Asia	May, August to September	3	11	10	20	54	168	118	149	223	207	124	41	14	February
China	Asia	July	1	2	6	10	22	35	85	210	120	53	28	15	3	January
Goa	Asia	June to October	5	1	0	0	5	77	890	955	572	304	156	21	3	February
Hong Kong	Asia	April to September	6	33	39	75	153	291	492	386	453	321	120	39	29	December
India	Asia	July to August	2	20	20	18	8	34	61	190	190	119	27	2	6	November
Indonesia	Asia	December to April	5	373	381	210	164	103	80	78	52	61	112	135	183	August
Koh Samui	Asia	October to December	3	127	64	116	83	132	134	117	102	118	295	445	263	February
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)	Asia	July to May	11	227	193	270	302	230	146	165	174	220	284	356	281	June
Kyoto	Asia	May to September	5	53	65	106	117	151	200	224	154	179	143	74	57	January
Laos	Asia	May to September	5	7	17	44	89	226	264	300	341	265	87	15	5	December
Maldives	Asia	May, July to December	7	87	38	49	127	238	146	198	193	214	245	236	212	February
Nepal	Asia	June to September	4	15	24	38	63	129	241	384	343	208	43	6	8	November
Osaka	Asia	June to July, September	3	47	61	103	102	137	185	174	113	153	136	73	56	January
Philippines	Asia	May to October	6	19	22	22	23	159	253	432	476	396	221	120	99	January
Phuket	Asia	May to November	7	50	24	81	135	237	249	240	309	350	336	178	82	February
Singapore	Asia	March to May, October to January	7	222	105	152	164	164	135	147	147	125	168	252	332	February
Sri Lanka	Asia	April to June, September to December	7	80	77	103	249	314	197	123	116	264	359	346	171	February
Seoul (South Korea)	Asia	July to August	2	17	28	37	73	104	130	414	348	142	52	51	23	January
Taiwan	Asia	May to October	6	94	102	108	101	225	235	214	237	237	163	89	97	November
Tokyo (Japan)	Asia	June to October	5	60	57	116	134	140	168	156	155	225	235	96	58	February
Vietnam	Asia	May to October	6	20	20	36	104	165	264	254	274	228	155	61	20	January
Bahamas	Caribbean	June to October	5	45	48	54	74	139	220	158	211	196	151	87	43	December
Cuba	Caribbean	June, October	2	64	69	46	54	98	182	106	100	144	180	88	58	March
Guadeloupe	Caribbean	August to November	4	83	60	68	97	134	108	130	169	206	215	214	134	February
Jamaica	Caribbean	October	1	77	42	59	64	150	86	66	94	135	159	107	81	February
Martinique	Caribbean	June to November	6	114	77	71	109	133	154	206	247	214	243	237	148	March
Puerto Rico	Caribbean	July to September, November	4	103	66	55	117	141	118	153	160	165	132	187	123	March
Albania	Europe	November	1	143	132	115	104	103	68	42	46	78	114	172	148	July
Azores	Europe	December	1	102	87	97	80	61	44	26	46	78	118	95	153	July
Corfu	Europe	November to December	2	136	123	100	65	37	16	9	22	88	140	187	190	July
Amalfi Coast	Europe	November	1	92	95	78	99	59	33	29	36	89	136	152	112	July
Montenegro	Europe	October to December	3	142	128	131	112	82	54	32	45	134	152	165	179	July
Porto	Europe	November to January	3	151	98	101	96	86	34	17	29	68	149	166	153	July
Slovenia	Europe	September	1	67	84	83	97	114	125	122	124	160	150	138	104	January
Bora Bora	Oceania	December to March	4	245	212	168	144	112	86	62	64	65	109	138	251	July
New Caledonia	Oceania	March	1	107	128	162	118	90	78	70	68	39	36	44	64	October
Tahiti (French Polynesia)	Oceania	December to March	4	268	244	166	99	104	74	44	41	50	103	105	279	August

Average monthly rainfall (mm; 1 in = 25.4 mm): official normals published in each of our « when to go » guides (organization and period cited on each page). Months above 150 mm flagged by Destination de Voyage.

The monsoon in Asia: who is affected, and when?

Of our 30 Asian destinations, 24 have at least one month above 150 mm (6 in). The offset between coasts is the key to traveling in the wet season: when one side receives the monsoon, the other is sometimes dry.

Destination	Months > 150 mm	Wettest month	Months < 60 mm
Bali	November to March	January (345 mm)	June to September
Indonesia	December to April	February (381 mm)	August
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)	July to May	November (356 mm)	–
Singapore	March to May, October to January	December (332 mm)	–
Hong Kong	April to September	June (492 mm)	November to February
Sri Lanka	April to June, September to December	October (359 mm)	–
Bangkok (Thailand)	May to October	September (336 mm)	November to March
Chiang Mai	May, August to September	August (223 mm)	November to April
Kyoto	May to September	July (224 mm)	December to January
Laos	May to September	August (341 mm)	November to March
Maldives	May, July to December	October (245 mm)	February to March
Philippines	May to October	August (476 mm)	January to April
Phuket	May to November	September (350 mm)	January to February
Taiwan	May to October	August (237 mm)	–
Vietnam	May to October	August (274 mm)	December to March
Cambodia	June to October	September (305 mm)	December to April
Goa	June to October	July (955 mm)	November to April
Nepal	June to September	July (384 mm)	October to March
Osaka	June to July, September	June (185 mm)	December to January
Tokyo (Japan)	June to October	October (235 mm)	February, December
China	July	July (210 mm)	September to May
India	July to August	July (190 mm)	October to May
Seoul (South Korea)	July to August	July (414 mm)	October to March
Koh Samui	October to December	November (445 mm)	–

Normals published in our guides; thresholds: Destination de Voyage calculation (150 mm = 5.9 in; 60 mm = 2.4 in).

Example: in Thailand, Phuket (Andaman Sea) exceeds 150 mm (6 in) from May to November, while Koh Samui (Gulf of Thailand) has its wettest months from October to December. The two islands are therefore not interchangeable depending on the time of year.

Destinations with no real rainy season

These destinations in our catalog never exceed 100 mm (4 in) per month on average. Note that dry does not necessarily mean pleasant (extreme heat, cold or wind, depending on the case).

Amsterdam (Netherlands), Andalusia, Balearic Islands, Barcelona, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Cappadocia, Chile, Crete, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djerba, Dubai, Edinburgh (Scotland), Egypt, Georgia, Germany, Gran Canaria, Greece, Hawaii, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Jordan, Lanzarote, Lapland, London, Los Angeles (California), Madeira, Madrid (Spain), Marrakech (Morocco), Namibia, Oman, Patagonia, Poland, Puglia, Qatar, Romania, Santorini, Sardinia, Sicily, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Tenerife, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Venice, Vienna (Austria).

Traveling in the rainy season: decision tree

Tropical rain falling on lush vegetation, seen from a wooden veranda with a raincoat hanging up

If you want a beach: look in the table for a nearby destination whose coast is dry that month (like Phuket and Koh Samui in Thailand; our guides detail other countries with several coasts).
If you are touring on mountain roads or dirt tracks: avoid months above 150 mm (6 in); landslides and closed roads are more likely.
If budget comes first: « rainy » months (100-150 mm, or 4 to 6 in) are often in the low season; check the crowds and prices given in the destination guide.
If there is a cyclone season (Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Pacific): it cannot be read from rainfall totals; see the dedicated section of the guide and your government’s official travel advice (for example the U.S. State Department or the UK FCDO).
In every case: look at the number of rain days when it is published; 200 mm (7.9 in) in ten downpours does not have the same effect as 200 mm over twenty gray days.

Methodology

Data source: the monthly climate normals published in our 139 « when to go » guides (re-exported on 14 October 2026). Each guide cites its organization (national weather service, NOAA, Météo-France, etc.), its station and its period.
When a country and a city share the same station, only one row is kept (city name, country in brackets).
Thresholds: 150 mm (6 in) for « very rainy », 100 mm (4 in) for « rainy ». These are benchmarks chosen by Destination de Voyage, not official definitions of the rainy season.
A station represents a single point: in large countries, other regions may have a different pattern (see the guide).
More details: our methodology.

Frequently asked questions

What is the rainy season?

It is the time of year when most of the rain falls, as opposed to the dry season. It is also called the wet season; in South and Southeast Asia, it is linked to the monsoon.

When is the monsoon in Asia?

For most of our South and Southeast Asian destinations, the months above 150 mm (6 in) fall between May and October. Some eastern coasts are wetter later, until November-December: the table gives the months for each destination.

Can you travel during the rainy season?

Often yes: tropical downpours are frequently short. The constraints are mostly logistical (roads, boats, treks). Choose a dry region or a flexible itinerary.

Which destination has no rainy season?

In our catalog, Andalusia, Balearic Islands, Barcelona, Belgium, Bulgaria and many others never exceed 100 mm (4 in) per month on average.

Why 150 mm?

It is a practical benchmark: above it, rain becomes a major factor for a trip in most tropical climates. The table also shows the exact values so you can judge for yourself.

Our sources

Official climate normals cited in our 139 « when to go » guides (organization, station and period given on each page), data collected on 14 October 2026.
Our methodology

Updated October 2026.

Rainy season: the calendar by destination, month by month