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13 NovNo upcoming precipitation for the next hour.
Last update: 07:30, 13 Nov 2026
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Live Ko Tao rain radar | RainViewer
Check the sky before your dive boat leaves Mae Haad. Live Ko Tao rain radar, updated every 5 min. Free on iOS & Android.
Rain in Ko Tao: What You Need to Know
Ko Tao is a small dive island in the Gulf of Thailand, and a squall that reaches Sairee Beach can turn a calm bay choppy within the hour. Rain comes mainly with the northeast monsoon from October to December, and a Ko Tao rain radar shows whether a dive boat leaves into clear water or into a squall. Hyperlocal radar shows where the rain is and where it is heading.
The island is only a few kilometres across, with granite hills rising above the west coast at Sairee and the bays of the east at Tanote and Chalok Baan Kao. Squall lines cross open water from the north-east and strike the exposed east coast first. A standard forecast for Surat Thani province cannot place a squall on one bay, which is why a live radar tells you more.
RainViewer shows precipitation around Ko Tao with data from the Thai Meteorological Department, the national weather service. The live rain map refreshes about every 5 minutes, so it shows whether a squall over the Gulf is closing on Mae Haad or passing towards Koh Nangyuan.
RainViewer Radar Coverage in Ko Tao
RainViewer shows Thai precipitation using data from the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), the national weather service, which operates a network of weather radars across the country. The map refreshes with each new scan, about every 5 minutes. From Ko Tao the map also covers Chumphon, Koh Phangan and Koh Samui.
Northeast monsoon season (October to December)
November is usually the wettest month, with heavy showers and swell. Dive trips to Sail Rock and Chumphon Pinnacle are cancelled, and the ferry from Mae Haad to Chumphon and Samui is delayed.
Transition months (January to February, and May to June)
Showers become patchy as the monsoon changes direction. A clear morning can turn stormy by afternoon, which affects snorkel and boat plans.
Dry and hot season (March to September)
Rain is occasional and the sea is calm, which is the main diving season. Short afternoon showers in the southwest monsoon months do not usually stop the boats.
Why You Need a Rain Radar in Ko Tao
Dive boat divers and instructors
Dive boats leave from Mae Haad and Sairee for Sail Rock and Chumphon Pinnacle. A squall over the dive site cancels the second dive, and the radar shows it approaching.
Ferry passengers at Mae Haad pier
Ferries to Chumphon, Koh Phangan and Samui leave from Mae Haad pier and are delayed in rough sea. Check the radar before leaving the resort.
Sairee Beach sunset watchers
Sairee Beach bars fill for sunset, and a storm cell over the western horizon spoils it. Watch the cell and choose the evening.
John-Suwan viewpoint and Freedom Beach hikers
Hikers to the John-Suwan viewpoint and Freedom Beach cross exposed rock in the open. Wait for the cell to pass.
Koh Nangyuan day-trippers
Longtail boats to Koh Nangyuan cross open water, and a squall in the channel stops them. Check the radar before buying the ticket.
Ko Tao Rain Radar: Frequently Asked Questions
- How does rain affect diving on Ko Tao?
Squalls and swell during the northeast monsoon cancel dive trips to Sail Rock and Chumphon Pinnacle, most often in November. Visibility drops after heavy rain. RainViewer shows whether a squall is on the dive site.
- Does rain affect the ferry from Mae Haad?
Yes, heavy rain and rough sea delay ferries from Mae Haad pier to Chumphon, Koh Phangan and Samui. Squalls cross the Gulf quickly. Check the radar before leaving for the pier.
- Does Ko Tao flood when it rains?
Short heavy rain can flood the sandy roads in Sairee and Mae Haad, and the steep tracks to the east bays turn to mud. Drains are small. Avoid them during the downpour.
- When is the best time to visit Ko Tao to avoid rain?
March to September is the driest and calmest, which is the main diving season. October to December is the wettest, with November the worst. January is a good compromise.
- Why does it rain at Sairee Beach but not at Tanote Bay?
Granite hills split the island, and the northeast monsoon pushes squalls onto the exposed east coast first. One bay can be soaked while the other stays dry. A hyperlocal radar shows that split.
- How does RainViewer's radar work around Ko Tao?
RainViewer shows live precipitation around Ko Tao using Thai Meteorological Department radar data, refreshed about every 5 minutes. It shows rain as it falls, not a modelled prediction, and is a hyperlocal radar for the island.
- Can RainViewer warn me before rain hits Ko Tao?
Yes, a rain alert warns you minutes before rain reaches a saved place, such as Mae Haad pier or Sairee Beach. The 5-minute forecast timeline shows the next two hours. That settles whether to board the dive boat.
Track Rain in Ko Tao in Real Time
A morning dive from Mae Haad and a ferry to Chumphon both depend on a dry gap, and RainViewer shows the next one.
Rain reaches Ko Tao in squalls across open water, and the break between two squalls is the window that matters.
RainViewer Essential gives you:
2-hour forecast in 5-minute slices
Two hours of 5-minute steps let you time the walk from Sairee to the pier.
Rain alerts before arrival
Put an alert on Mae Haad pier. RainViewer warns you minutes ahead, which settles whether to board the boat now or wait.
Direction arrows on the map
In the northeast monsoon rain reaches Ko Tao from the north-east, so the arrows show whether a squall heads for the island.
48 hours of radar history
The 48-hour history shows what fell on the island, which explains why the bay is murky.
Multiple locations
Track Sairee Beach, Mae Haad and Tanote Bay at once.
Your weather app says showers for Surat Thani this afternoon. A live hyperlocal radar shows the squall is over Sail Rock while Sairee is dry, and that decides the second dive.
RainViewer
