Siem Reap in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Siem Reap sees average daytime highs around 31°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 38 mm of rain over about 7 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 31°C in early December to 33°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 50% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Winter is Siem Reap's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Siem Reap's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 31°C
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 23°C
- Rainfall
- 38 mm
- 7 wet days
- Avg wind
- 8 km/h
- Travel score
- 5.2
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Siem Reap in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 31°C in early December to 33°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Siem Reap reaches about 31°C and drops to 23°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
How winter really feels in Siem Reap
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 72 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.
Siem Reap 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 | 31° / 23° | 9 | 1.9 | 11.3 | 5.5 |
| Feb | 33° / 24° | 13 | 2.6 | 11.6 | 4.5 |
| Mar | 34° / 26° | 52 | 7.8 | 11.9 | 3.2 |
| Apr | 35° / 27° | 94 | 13.5 | 12.3 | 2.5 |
| May | 34° / 27° | 148 | 21.4 | 12.6 | 2.2 |
| Jun | 33° / 27° | 132 | 20.7 | 12.8 | 2.4 |
| Jul | 32° / 27° | 135 | 22.1 | 12.7 | 2.6 |
| Aug | 32° / 26° | 162 | 24.4 | 12.4 | 2.4 |
| Sep | 31° / 26° | 244 | 25.9 | 12.1 | 2.5 |
| Oct | 31° / 25° | 224 | 23.3 | 11.7 | 3.1 |
| Nov | 31° / 24° | 62 | 8.8 | 11.4 | 4.7 |
| Dec | 30° / 23° | 16 | 2.9 | 11.2 | 5.7 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 50% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Siem Reap gets around 38 mm of rain over 7 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 8 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 18 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 Siem Reap
In winter, Siem Reap overlaps its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Siem Reap sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.
Siem Reap's rainy season runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Siem Reap?
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 Siem Reap for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Siem Reap in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Siem Reap sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection. About 7 days see rain.
UV index in Siem Reap in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Siem Reap peaks around August 16 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near November 22 at about 8 (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 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 8 |
| Level | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10 | Very high |
| Feb | 10 | Very high |
| Mar | 12 | Extreme |
| Apr | 12 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 12 | Extreme |
| Jul | 13 | Extreme |
| Aug | 14 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 8 | Very high |
| Dec | 8 | Very high |
Air quality in Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap is worst in February — around 40 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 2.9× the cleanest month (November, 14 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) | 29 | 40 | 40 | 37 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 14 |
| Level | Moderate | Poor | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | Moderate |
| Feb | 40 | Poor |
| Mar | 40 | Poor |
| Apr | 37 | Poor |
| May | 19 | Moderate |
| Jun | 15 | Moderate |
| Jul | 16 | Moderate |
| Aug | 15 | Moderate |
| Sep | 15 | Moderate |
| Oct | 17 | Moderate |
| Nov | 14 | Moderate |
| Dec | 14 | Moderate |
Where is Siem Reap?
Siem Reap sits at 13.4°N, 103.9°E, 18 m above sea level, in Cambodia. The nearest listed city is Yeang, 34 km away.
Topography around Siem Reap
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Siem Reap.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Siem Reap has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 28 m around an average of 17 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 123 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 484 m.
The land around Siem Reap is covered by artificial surfaces (60%) and trees (24%) within 3 km, cropland (45%) and trees (30%) within 16 km, and cropland (48%) and trees (30%) 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 Siem Reap (13.3618°, 103.8606°, elevation 18 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.