Phnom Penh in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Phnom Penh sees average daytime highs around 32°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 50 mm of rain over about 10 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 32°C in early December to 34°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels muggy.
Winter is Phnom Penh's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Phnom Penh's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 32°C
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 24°C
- Rainfall
- 50 mm
- 10 wet days
- Avg wind
- 9 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.3
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Phnom Penh in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 32°C in early December to 34°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Phnom Penh reaches about 32°C and drops to 24°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Phnom Penh
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 90 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Phnom Penh weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32° / 23° | 15 | 3 | 11.4 | 4.5 |
| Feb | 34° / 24° | 8 | 1.7 | 11.6 | 3.8 |
| Mar | 35° / 26° | 36 | 6.2 | 11.9 | 2.7 |
| Apr | 36° / 27° | 81 | 14.6 | 12.2 | 1.9 |
| May | 35° / 27° | 154 | 22.7 | 12.5 | 1.8 |
| Jun | 34° / 26° | 154 | 24.3 | 12.7 | 2.0 |
| Jul | 33° / 26° | 154 | 25.6 | 12.6 | 2.2 |
| Aug | 33° / 26° | 178 | 25.9 | 12.4 | 2.1 |
| Sep | 32° / 26° | 245 | 27.2 | 12.1 | 2.1 |
| Oct | 32° / 25° | 244 | 24.7 | 11.7 | 2.6 |
| Nov | 32° / 25° | 78 | 11.1 | 11.5 | 3.9 |
| Dec | 31° / 24° | 27 | 5.1 | 11.3 | 4.7 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Phnom Penh gets around 50 mm of rain over 10 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 9 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 24 min in early December to 11 h 42 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 5.3 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Phnom Penh
In winter, Phnom Penh overlaps its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Phnom Penh sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.
Phnom Penh's rainy season runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Phnom Penh?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a reasonable time to visit Phnom Penh for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Phnom Penh in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Phnom Penh sees daytime highs around 32°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection. About 10 days see rain.
UV index in Phnom Penh in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Phnom Penh peaks around August 18 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near November 19 at about 9 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10 | Extreme |
| Feb | 11 | Extreme |
| Mar | 12 | Extreme |
| Apr | 12 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 12 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 14 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 10 | Very high |
| Nov | 9 | Very high |
| Dec | 9 | Very high |
Air quality in Phnom Penh in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Phnom Penh is worst in February — around 44 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 2.4× the cleanest month (August, 18 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 42 | 44 | 41 | 35 | 26 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 22 | 28 | 29 | 29 |
| Level | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42 | Poor |
| Feb | 44 | Poor |
| Mar | 41 | Poor |
| Apr | 35 | Poor |
| May | 26 | Moderate |
| Jun | 21 | Moderate |
| Jul | 21 | Moderate |
| Aug | 18 | Moderate |
| Sep | 22 | Moderate |
| Oct | 28 | Moderate |
| Nov | 29 | Moderate |
| Dec | 29 | Moderate |
Where is Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh sits at 11.6°N, 104.9°E, 20 m above sea level, in Cambodia. The nearest listed city is Boeng Kak Pir, 3.0 km away.
Topography around Phnom Penh
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Phnom Penh.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Phnom Penh has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 25 m around an average of 13 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 59 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 713 m.
The land around Phnom Penh is covered by artificial surfaces (82%) within 3 km, artificial surfaces (25%) within 16 km, and cropland (70%) within 80 km.
Cambodia travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type A / C / G
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 34% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $2,872
- 2025
- Happiness
- 4.5 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 30%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 1.8
- per 100k, 2011
- Road deaths
- 19.6
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- English
- Very low
- EF EPI 390
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Phnom Penh (11.5625°, 104.916°, elevation 20 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.