|
Climate & Weather
Cambodia's climate
like that of the rest of Southeast Asia is dominated by the
monsoons, which are known as tropical wet and dry because
of the distinctly marked seasonal differences. In summer,
moisture laden air the southwest monsoon is drawn landward
from the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Thailand. The southwest
monsoon brings the rainy season from mid May to mid September
or to early October, and the northeast monsoon flow of dr ier
and cooler air lasts from early November to March and then
hotter air prevails in April and early May.
The southern third of the country has a two-month dry season;
the northern two-thirds, a four-month one. Temperatures
are fairly uniform throughout the Tonle Sap Basin area,
with only small variations from the average annual mean
of around 25ºC. The maximum mean is about 28ºC
and the minimum mean, about 22ºC. Maximum temperatures
of higher than 32ºC, however, are common and, just
before the start of the rainy season, they may rise to more
than 38ºC. Minimum temperatures rarely fall below 10ºC.
January is the coldest month, and April is the warmest.
Typhoons tropical cyclones that often devastate coastal
Vietnam rarely cause damages in Cambodia. The total annual
rainfall average is between 100 and 150 centimeters, and
the heaviest amounts fall in the southeast. Rainfall from
April to September in the Tonle Sap Basin Mekong Lowlands
area averages 130 to 190 centimeters annually, but the amount
varies considerably from year to year. Rainfall around the
basin increases with elevation. It is heavier in the mountains
along the coast in the southwest, which receive from 250
to more than 500 centimeters of precipitation annually as
the southwest monsoon reaches the coast. This area of greatest
rainfall, however, drains mostly to the sea; only a small
quantity goes into the rivers flowing into the basin. The
relative humidity is high at night throughout the year;
usually it exceeds 90%. During the daytime in the dry season,
humidity averages about 50% or slightly lower, but it may
remain about 60% in the rainy period.
Note:
- The Rainy season: From June till October 27-35.C (80-95.f)
- The Dry season (cool): From November till February 17-27.C
(80-95.F)
- The Dry season (Hot) : From March till May 29-38.C (84-100.F) |
|