Live Rain Radar for Chiang Mai
Track rain and storms across Chiang Mai and northern Thailand's mountain valleys. Updated every 5 minutes.
Local Weather Context
Chiang Mai lies in a mountain basin surrounded by Doi Suthep and the Thanon Thong Chai Range. This topography creates unique weather patterns: orographic lift drives heavy rainfall on western slopes, whilst the city basin can trap moisture and pollution. Storms often develop along ridgelines before descending into the Ping River valley.
Seasons
Wet season (May–October)
Southwest monsoon delivers heavy and sustained rain, with August–September averaging 200–250 mm monthly. Mountain thunderstorms can trigger flash floods along streams feeding the Ping River. The old city's moat area and low-lying Kad Farang district are particularly vulnerable.
Transition months (March–April, November)
March–April is the infamous burning and haze season. Occasional thunderstorms help clear smoke but can be intense. November sees the monsoon retreat with decreasing but still notable rainfall.
Dry season (December–February)
Cool, dry air from China brings pleasant temperatures. Rainfall drops below 20 mm per month. Morning fog in the basin is common but rain is rare.
NEW! Tap Anywhere to Inspect
2 Feb 2026One tap, and the rain at that precise spot tells its own story—showing intensity, precipitation type, cloud and air temperatures, and live national alerts, while making even the smallest rain pockets easy to identify and compare.
Who Needs Rain Radar Here
Trekking operators
Mountain trails around Doi Inthanon, Doi Suthep, and Mae Chaem become dangerous during heavy rain. Radar gives guides time to reroute or shelter groups before storms arrive.
Farmers in the Ping Valley
Rice paddies and longan orchards in the surrounding plains depend on monsoon rain. Radar helps farmers time irrigation and protect drying harvests from unexpected showers.
Digital nomads and expats
Chiang Mai's large remote-worker community uses radar to plan motorbike commutes and outdoor co-working around afternoon storms.
Festival organisers
Yi Peng and Songkran events need weather monitoring. Radar helps coordinators make safety decisions for lantern releases and outdoor celebrations.
Radar Coverage
RainViewer covers the Chiang Mai basin and surrounding mountains, extending north towards Chiang Rai and south to Lamphun. Mountain terrain can create radar shadows in deep valleys, but coverage of the populated basin and major highways is comprehensive.
What Our Users Say
“A little overenthusiastic at times with rain predictions, but it's accurate and spot on for radar images, and it's the one radar app I've kept and not uninstalled”
Duncan StewartI must update my feedback once again – this is still the best brain app in the app store. The issue I was experiencing was with my phone, not this top-tier app. One feature I particularly like is the widgets.
Jim Tigs
Explore Radar Coverage
FAQ
Does radar work well in Chiang Mai's mountain terrain?
Radar covers the basin and main valleys well. Deep valleys behind high peaks may have reduced coverage, but storms approaching Chiang Mai city are tracked accurately.
Can radar help predict flooding along the Ping River?
Yes. Watching radar for sustained heavy rainfall upstream (north of the city) gives advance warning of rising river levels, typically 2–4 hours before flooding reaches central Chiang Mai.
Is radar useful during burning season?
Radar detects rainfall regardless of smoke. During haze season, radar can spot the welcome rain showers that help clear air quality.
See the storm on the ridge before it reaches the valley
Chiang Mai's rain is fast, terrain-shaped, and impossible to predict from a weekly forecast. The map updates every 5 minutes — often 2–5 minutes faster than other apps — so by the time a cell is crossing the Doi Suthep ridge, you've already seen it coming.
Rain Viewer Essential gives you:
- A 2-hour rain forecast in 5-minute slices — not hourly blocks, so you can see the exact window when the storm clears the ridge and the mountain road or trail is safe again
- Rain alerts that trigger before rain arrives — set your trailhead, guesthouse, or market stall and get notified while you can still change your plans
- Direction arrows on the map — so even when the animation is unclear, you can see whether the cell is moving into the valley or tracking north toward Chiang Rai
- 48 hours of radar history — see how yesterday's storm built over the western slopes and recognise the same pattern forming today
- Multiple locations — track rain at Doi Inthanon summit, your Nimman hotel, and the Route 1095 mountain section at the same time
A 7-day forecast tells you July will be wet. Rain Viewer tells you whether the ridge is clear enough to leave for Pai now or wait two hours.
Track rain in Chiang Mai — free
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