Laos Weather Radar

Laos climate

Laos has a tropical savanna climate influenced by its landlocked position in the heart of mainland Southeast Asia. The mountainous terrain covering approximately 70% of the country creates significant local weather variation, with the Annamite Range along the Vietnamese border intercepting moisture-laden winds and generating orographic rainfall.

Two monsoon-driven seasons dominate the Lao climate: the wet season from May to October brings intense afternoon thunderstorms and sustained rainfall, while the dry season from November to April features clear skies and lower humidity. The cool dry period from November to February is the most pleasant, with temperatures in the northern highlands around Luang Prabang dropping to 15°C at night.

The Mekong River valley running along Laos's western border with Thailand tends to be hotter and drier than the mountainous interior, with April temperatures in Vientiane frequently exceeding 38°C. Northern Laos experiences notably cooler winters than the south due to its higher latitude and elevation, and frost occasionally occurs in the highland valleys above 1,000 meters during December and January.