Muang Xay in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Muang Xay sees average daytime highs around 24°C and overnight lows near 13°C, with 82 mm of rain over about 13 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 24°C in early December to 28°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 54% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Muang Xay's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Muang Xay's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 24°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 13°C
- Rainfall
- 82 mm
- 13 wet days
- Avg wind
- 5 km/h
- Travel score
- 8.1
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Muang Xay in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 24°C in early December to 28°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Muang Xay reaches about 24°C and drops to 13°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Muang Xay
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
winter sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Muang Xay 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 | 24° / 12° | 32 | 4.3 | 10.9 | 8.2 |
| Feb | 26° / 13° | 20 | 3.8 | 11.3 | 8.0 |
| Mar | 29° / 16° | 65 | 8.6 | 11.9 | 6.2 |
| Apr | 30° / 19° | 145 | 15.3 | 12.5 | 4.6 |
| May | 30° / 21° | 238 | 22.4 | 13 | 3.6 |
| Jun | 29° / 22° | 248 | 25.6 | 13.2 | 3.1 |
| Jul | 28° / 22° | 331 | 28.6 | 13.1 | 3.1 |
| Aug | 28° / 22° | 334 | 28.1 | 12.7 | 3.3 |
| Sep | 28° / 21° | 199 | 22.6 | 12.1 | 4.1 |
| Oct | 27° / 19° | 88 | 14.2 | 11.5 | 5.9 |
| Nov | 25° / 16° | 39 | 6.6 | 11 | 7.6 |
| Dec | 23° / 13° | 30 | 4.6 | 10.8 | 8.0 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 54% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Muang Xay gets around 82 mm of rain over 13 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 5 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 10 h 48 min in early December to 11 h 30 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 4.2 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Muang Xay
None of Muang Xay's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Muang Xay's monsoon runs May–September, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Muang Xay?
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 one of the better times to visit Muang Xay for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Muang Xay in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Muang Xay sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 13°C. Worth packing: light clothes and sun protection. About 13 days see rain.
UV index in Muang Xay in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 8 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Muang Xay peaks around June 22 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 7 (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) | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Level | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | High |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7 | Very high |
| Feb | 9 | Very high |
| Mar | 10 | Extreme |
| Apr | 9 | Very high |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 13 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 11 | Extreme |
| Oct | 10 | Very high |
| Nov | 8 | Very high |
| Dec | 7 | High |
Air quality in Muang Xay 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 Muang Xay is worst in April — around 583 µg/m³ PM2.5 (very unhealthy), about 75.7× the cleanest month (September, 8 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) | 12 | 24 | 210 | 583 | 74 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Level | Good | Moderate | Very unhealthy | Very unhealthy | Unhealthy | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12 | Good |
| Feb | 24 | Moderate |
| Mar | 210 | Very unhealthy |
| Apr | 583 | Very unhealthy |
| May | 74 | Unhealthy |
| Jun | 10 | Good |
| Jul | 8 | Good |
| Aug | 8 | Good |
| Sep | 8 | Good |
| Oct | 8 | Good |
| Nov | 8 | Good |
| Dec | 10 | Good |
Where is Muang Xay?
Muang Xay sits at 20.7°N, 102.0°E, 652 m above sea level, in Laos. The nearest listed city is Nong Khiaw, 67 km away.
Topography around Muang Xay
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Muang Xay.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Muang Xay has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 372 m around an average of 683 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,283 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,540 m.
The land around Muang Xay is covered by trees (41%) and cropland (22%) within 3 km, trees (66%) and grassland (27%) within 16 km, and trees (85%) within 80 km.
Laos travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type A / B / C / E / F
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 23% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $2,325
- 2025
- Happiness
- 5.5 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 35%
- of population, 2024
- Road deaths
- 17.9
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- English
- Low
- EF EPI 461
- 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 Muang Xay (20.6923°, 101.9837°, elevation 652 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.