PHUKET, THAILAND – The tourist island recorded exceptional rainfall this year, flooding roads and driving visitors off the beaches.
Rainfall exceeds annual and long-term averages
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) reported that from 1 January to 19 November 2025, Phuket received 2,590.9 millimetres of rain. This already surpassed the 30-year average of 2,195.3 mm, as well as the full-year 2024 total of 2,396.2 mm.
“An unusually wet year,”
said authorities, noting that with more than a month remaining in the year, the 2,700 mm mark could be reached.
Late monsoon months brought extreme downpours
The final weeks had been particularly intense. October delivered 508.2 mm of rain, far above the monthly average of 336 mm.
In the first 19 days of November alone, Phuket saw 191.9 mm of rain, more than in the entire November 2024, which recorded just 54.3 mm. For visitors, this meant trip plans were derailed by flooding and heavy showers, and the popular Soi Khoktanode in Karon was already under water.
Monsoon season started with a bang
The monsoon began forcefully in May, when 492 mm of rain fell instead of the usual 236.9 mm, more than double the norm. June followed with 402.8 mm, also far above average, and the first half of the monsoon hit the island hard.
By contrast, the middle of the rainy season was unusually dry, with July registering only 127.4 mm, clearly below the long-term mean.
Memories of deadly Kata landslides linger
September 2024 stood out with 644.4 mm of rain, an extreme month in which heavy downpours triggered fatal landslides in Kata. In 2025, September was comparatively moderate at 237.7 mm.
However, memories of the previous year’s disaster remained fresh among many residents. Authorities said they were closely monitoring conditions in order to respond quickly to any new severe weather.
Tourists warned of floods and travel disruption
Meteorologists forecast further rainfall for the remaining weeks of the year, as Phuket experienced one of the wettest years in its recent history. Holidaymakers were advised to expect sudden flooding and interruptions to transport.
Outdoor activities were often impossible to plan reliably, as the usually sunny “paradise” showed a different side this year – exceptionally wet and unpredictable.