One of the most frequently asked questions we receive from guests and travellers to Phuket Thailand is:
What Is The Weather Like Right Now?
Which Weather Apps Are Reliable In Phuket In 2023?
It’s a fair question to ask. If you are planning a holiday in Phuket you want to know what weather to expect as this will impact the activities that you will be doing while in Phuket. After 16 years living in Phuket I have found Phuket’s weather is quite fickle.
Very rarely are any of the Apps right in Phuket. But here are a few things I use to read the weather and predict what we should expect:
1. Windy.com
Windy.com is my go-to web platform for seeing the predicted weather and wind conditions for Phuket. Specifically, I look at the wind report. As I have a premium subscription, I can see the wind prediction for the next 9 days.
Generally speaking, a low wind condition (under 12 knots) will allow for calmer sea conditions, a lower possibility of rain and the potential for a good day on the sea. The great part about windy is that it is color coded.
If you see blue wind, this means we are expecting good sea conditions and low wind conditions. If you see light green, this means slightly increased wind, but still good conditions.
As you move from light green to dark green and then yellow this is an indicator of a high wind condition, potentially rough seas and potentially more rain.
2. TMD Radar
The only accurate predictor of rain in Phuket is the live radar. The TMD Radar is the best radar to see this as it shows live radar images up to 15 minutes ago. We use this in the morning of our tours to predict weather we are expecting rain on the tour.
It’s important to note that the wind condition will affect the speed that rain comes towards to Phuket and the direction it is moving. So I combine the Windy.com readings I get with the live radar.
3. AccuWeather
The AccuWeather website provides forecasts on wind, rain and conditions for up to 1 month. While it is rarely accurate I have found that it is closer to accurate than any other full service weather prediction app or system.
Now I know this all sounds confusing, so if you would prefer us to interpret the weather for you using our experience here in Phuket feel free to contact us any time.
What Happens To A Private Boat Tour If The Weather Is Poor?
We have been asked a lot the last month or so what happens to a Private Boat Tour if the weather is bad, the wind is high or the sea is rough. It’s a good question and relevant this September and October as we are still in the Phuket Wet Season.
The answer is different from company to company. For example, today as I write this the rain is bucketing down but I am seeing video footage of tours going out.
Now in some cases, the Private Boat Tours will go out in bad weather as the customer requests it but in other cases, the companies do not allow for cancellations.
Here at 5 Star Marine Phuket, we offer a flexible cancellation policy. The policy allows you to cancel a tour up to the day before the tour for any reason without needing to lose a deposit or make full payment.
On the day of the tour if the weather is poor cancellation is allowable weather. This means we will not force you, your family, or friends to take a tour in bad weather, sea conditions, or wind conditions.
We wish your private boat experience to be a GREAT experience and the only way to do that is to ensure we have good conditions for you, our customers. So to be clear, as a responsible Private Boat Company we will always give you the option to cancel ON THE DAY of your TOUR if the weather is bad.
IF you wish to go out this is your choice but we will never force you to take a trip just because you are booked. This is something that our company does differently from most private boat companies in Phuket.
Which Weather App Should I Trust In Phuket?
Often we have guests ask us via message or at one of our agent locations across Phuket why the native weather applications on iPhones or Android devices often predict rain each day but the predictions are incorrect.
The answer is difficult, to be honest. When we are running Private Boat Tours we often use a combination of applications to predict the weather and then on the day of a tour we will also use a number of other applications as well.
When it comes to forecasting rain or sunshine a lot of people make the mistake of taking the forecast for Phuket and applying it to the island destination that they are intending to visit.
For example, we may have a forecast for rain in Phuket, but no rain in Phi Phi. So it’s important to look at the correct forecast model, for your intended destination and then also check things like wind condition, radar, tide, and waves.
For each of these things we use different apps as in our experience, no single app gives you an accurate prediction of Phuket’s weather conditions.
Often we can be out on the boat in beautiful sunshine snorkeling while our offices in Phuket are being drenched with torrential rain. A good Private Boat Charter company will be able to tell you the best time to leave the pier, the best time to come back, and how to avoid the rain.
Where a Group Tour provider is restricted by route and Gasoline allowances, this is not something that you will find here at 5 Star Marine. We will adjust programs to suit weather conditions and ensure you are a smooth, comfortable ride.
Can You Still Go Island Hopping During Low (Wet) Season In Phuket
Anyone who has been in Phuket the last few days will have noticed that the season is starting to change. For the locals here, that is amazing news considering that our water supplies on the island were starting to run bare.
For Tourists, though this can be concerning. If you had grand plans to visit Phi Phi Island, Raya Island, or James Bond Island you may be wondering if that’s even possible right now.
The answer to the question is simple, YES you can still go island hopping but you need to be careful to select the right day, the right company, and the right tour itinerary.
For example, during High Season when we run our private boat tours most of the time we suggest a later leave and spending sunset on a private beach. This is because typically in High Season we have the very low wind in the afternoon, making it great conditions for being on the sea.
During Low Season though, we recommend a sunrise tour or a tour leave time around 7 am or 8 am because during Low Season we expect a high wind in the afternoon which makes traveling back from the islands a little bumpy and less fun.
This is just one example of how things can change in the Low Season. The reality is that most companies in Phuket will go every day of both High and Low Season as they want to make income.
Here at 5 Star Marine Phuket, we care about making your Private Boat Charter a wonderful experience so we will only recommend going out on tour when the weather is right for your selected tour program.
If you’d like to know what we recommend for you, please get in contact with us!
