The driest, coolest months in Myanmar (Burma) are December, January and February, when average maximum temperatures at sea level and in the central plains rarely exceed 30°C and nights may require a blanket. From March onwards, the temperature gauge starts to climb into the high 30s and beyond, in the run up to the water festival of Thingyan in April.

After a period of building humidity, mid May sees the arrival of the tempestuous southwest monsoon, during which heavy rainfall can seriously disrupt travel. The rains peter out in late September–early October, leaving clear, dust-free skies in the central plains through November – the best month to come for serious photographers.