February in Phuket is the middle of the dry season and the driest month of the year according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). Below are the normals for both island stations, what the sea and islands are like, crowd levels and the festivals that fall in February 2027. Checked on 17 October 2026.
Phuket weather in February: TMD numbers
These are 1991-2020 normals. The Phuket station is in Phuket Town in the southeast, Phuket Airport in the northwest.
| February | Phuket Town (48 564) | Phuket Airport (48 565) |
|---|---|---|
| Mean temperature | 29.0 °C | 27.9 °C |
| Average high | 34.0 °C | 33.2 °C |
| Average low | 25.4 °C | 23.1 °C |
| Rainfall | 24.0 mm | 32.0 mm |
| Rainy days (0.1 mm or more) | 3.4 | 4.3 |
| Humidity | 69% | 74% |
For comparison at the town station: January 49.9 mm, March 80.7 mm, October 336 mm. It rains on about three days in February, usually as a short shower. All months are on Phuket weather by month.
The season according to TMD
TMD puts February in two seasons at once: the cool season (northeast monsoon, October-February) and the hot season (transition, February-May). In Phuket “cool” means dry, not cold: nights stay around 25 °C. TMD’s outlook of 9 October 2026 expects the cool season in the north and centre of the country to end around mid-February 2027, and rain over only 10% of the southern Andaman coast in February, with minimum temperatures of 23-25 °C. It is a long-range outlook and TMD updates it.
Sea and beaches in February
West coast waves arrive with the southwest monsoon, from May to October. In February both stations record mostly east and northeast winds, so Patong, Karon, Kata, Kamala, Surin and Bang Tao are usually calm. Municipal warnings about strong waves, for example at Nai Harn, refer to May-October.
- The beach flag still comes first: rip currents can form even with small waves
- The sun is strong at 34 °C, so plan long walks and trips for the morning
- Area and beach guides: Kata, Karon, Patong, Nai Harn, Bang Tao
Islands and day trips
| Destination | Status in February | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Similan Islands | open, season 15 October-15 May | DNP |
| Maya Bay, Phi Phi | open, closes 1 August-30 September | DNP closure table 2569 |
February suits longer sea trips to the Similans, Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay. Compare travel times and seasons in Phuket excursions, and the islands one by one on Phuket islands.
Crowds and hotel occupancy
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS), Phuket hotel occupancy was 82.08% in February 2025. Only January (86.41%) and December (84.10%) were higher, March was lower (79.44%). February is peak season: book rooms and tours early and expect busy beaches and boats.
Festivals in February 2027
Chinese New Year falls on 6 February 2027, the first day of the first lunar month in the Hong Kong Observatory calendar. Phuket has a large Hokkien Chinese community, and its celebrations are most visible in Phuket Old Town. As of 17 October 2026, TAT and the municipalities had not published February 2027 programmes. We will add dates once they appear.
Should you go to Phuket in February?
Go if:
- you want reliably dry weather and a calm west coast sea
- you plan the Similans, Phi Phi and other longer island trips
- you travel with children and want to swim in front of the hotel
Consider another month if:
- you struggle with heat: highs of 34 °C
- you want low prices and empty beaches, then look at May or October
Where else in Thailand works in February, and how the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand differ, is covered in Thailand beaches by season.
FAQ
What is the weather like in Phuket in February?
Dry and hot: average highs of 34 °C, lows of 25.4 °C, and 24 mm of rain on 3.4 days in the month according to TMD 1991-2020 normals. Humidity is 69%, the lowest of the year. Nights near the airport in the north are cooler, around 23 °C.
What is the sea temperature in Phuket in February?
TMD publishes air normals by station, not sea temperature, and we have not found a primary source for a sea normal off Phuket, so we give no figure rather than guess.
Can you swim on the west coast in February?
Usually yes: west coast waves come with the southwest monsoon from May to October, while in February the wind is mostly from the east and northeast. Municipal warnings about strong waves, such as at Nai Harn, refer to May-October. The beach flag still comes first, since rip currents can form in calm weather.
Phuket or Pattaya in February?
Both are dry: Pattaya gets 19.9 mm on 2.5 days by TMD normals, Phuket 24 mm on 3.4 days. The real differences are the sea, beaches, flights and prices, compared in Pattaya vs Phuket.
What festivals are in Phuket in February?
The main one is Chinese New Year, which falls on 6 February 2027 on the lunar calendar. Phuket has a large Hokkien Chinese community whose traditions TAT highlights. Official programmes for February 2027 have not been published yet, and we will add them once announced.
Sources
- TMD. Climatological Data for the Period 1991-2020, printed pp. 60, 82-83
- TMD. Cool season outlook 2026-2027 (issued 9 October 2026)
- TMD. Thailand's seasons
- MOTS. Tourism statistics by province 2025 (xlsx)
- DNP. Mu Ko Similan National Park
- DNP. National park closures 2569 (2026)
- Hong Kong Observatory. Gregorian-Lunar Calendar 2027
- TAT. Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2026 (on Phuket's Hokkien community)
- Rawai Municipality. Nai Harn Beach
Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.