Bagan Temple Marathon

Climate & Weather in Myanmar

Below you can read about typical race day weather, Myanmar's climate, and see the average weather conditions in Bagan/Mandalay and Yangon.

 

Myanmar's Climate & Geography

Myanmar has three easily recognizable seasons. November - February is a relatively cool, dry period. Around mid-February, the temperature begins to climb rapidly, peaking in May, and marking a hot, also relatively dry period. In June, the monsoons roll in, cooling down the temperatures and dumping overwhelming amounts of water. 

The country contains several mountain ranges that run north-south, and in the middle of these mountain ranges is the central river valley. This large, densely populated plain belongs to the mighty Ayeyarwady River, along the shores of which both Bagan and Mandalay are located. Along the river, tobacco, peanuts, sugar cane, cotton, and rice are cultivated. The majority of the country has a humid subtropical climate, although the mountains provide rain shelter to the Ayeyarwady River Valley and hence it is much drier. Large parts of the country's hillsides are covered with teak tree plantations and vast forests with oak and rhododendron trees. Southward toward the coastline, the vegetation turns into jungle, where tigers, leopards, and gibbon monkeys reign. Yangon is located down south, at the delta of the Ayeyarwady on the Andaman sea. 

 

Temperature & Precipitation

See the average temperatures and precipitation per month below in the tables. 

  JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Bagan/Mandalay                        
Day time temperature 28°C  /82°F 31°C  /88°F 36°C  /97°F 38°C  /100°F 37°C /99°F 34°C
/93°F		 34°C /93°F 33°C /91°F 33°C /91°F 32°C /90°F 29°C /84°F 27°C  /81°F
Night time temperature 13°C  /55°F 15°C  /59°F 19°C  /66°F 25°C /77°F 26°C /79°F 26°C
/79°F		 26°C /79°F 25°C /77°F 25°C /77°F 23°C /73°F 19°C /66°F 14°C  /57°F
Precipitation (mm / in) 3mm
/.12in 

0mm 
/0in 

 16mm
/.63in 		 14mm
/.55in 		 151mm  /6in  110mm /4.3in 

77mm
/3.0in 

 99mm /3.9in  127mm /5in  152mm /6in  25mm /.98in  2mm /.08in 

 

  JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Yangon                        
Day time temperature 32°C  /90°F 35°C  /95°F 36°C  /97°F 37°C  /99°F 33°C  /91°F 30°C  /86°F 30°C  /86°F 30°C  /86°F 30°C  /86°F 32°C  /90°F 32°C  /90°F 32°C  /90°F
Night time temperature 18°C  /64°F 19°C  /66°F 22°C  /72°F 24°C  /75°F 25°C  /77°F 25°C  /77°F 24°C  /75°F 24°C  /75°F 24°C  /75°F 24°C  /75°F 22°C  /72°F 19°C  /66°F
Precipitation (mm / in) 5 mm  /.21in  2 mm  /.08in  7 mm  /.28in  15 mm /.59in  303 mm /11.9in  547 mm /21.5in  559 mm /22in  602 mm /23.7in  368 mm /14.5in  206 mm /8.11in  60 mm /2.36in  7 mm  /.28in 

Source: DMI

 

Expectations at Bagan Temple Marathon

In November, the temperatures in Myanmar are cooling off. That is not say that the race will be cool - in fact, quite the contrary. Temperatures during the race generally hover around the 30s (Celsius) and the sun can be unforgiving. The race begins early in the morning to escape the brunt of the heat, but participants should still be prepared to sweat. 

The Bagan Temple Marathon has been running since 2013, and has never seen rain on race day. Mid-November marks the beginning of the dry season in Myanmar, and hence chances of rain on race day are very slight. That said, of course it might still happen, and it is likely to be humid regardless of actual precipitation.