1. Gold‑standard latitude for warmth and light
Sitting only ~11° N of the equator, Cambodia receives a nearly consistent 11–12 hours of daylight year‑round. The sun’s high angle keeps daytime temperatures in the comfortable‑for‑the‑tropics mid‑80s °F to mid‑90s °F (≈29–35 °C) with nights rarely dropping below the mid‑70s °F (≈24 °C). The narrow temperature range means you can plan outdoor fun without worrying about cold snaps.
2. A textbook two‑season monsoon rhythm
Cambodia’s climate is governed by the Asian monsoon:
- Dry season (≈November – April) – dominated by a continental northeast flow that blocks moisture, yielding blue‑bird skies, low rainfall, and refreshing breezes.
- Green season (≈May – October) – the southwest monsoon delivers life‑giving afternoon showers that cool the air and paint the countryside emerald, while mornings often remain sunny.
This clear split lets residents and travelers “choose their flavor” of good weather—crisp, sunny winter days or dramatic, cooling summer downpours.
3. Naturally shielded from violent tropical storms
Cambodia is tucked inland behind Vietnam’s long coastline. Typhoons spinning in from the South China Sea usually weaken after making landfall in Vietnam, so Phnom Penh experiences only the remnants: steady rains and breezy evenings rather than destructive winds. This geographic buffer spares the capital the cyclone risk that coastal neighbors endure.
4. Rivers that moderate the extremes
The broad Mekong–Tonle Sap system threads through Phnom Penh, acting like a giant thermal reservoir. Water heats and cools more slowly than land, so the rivers smooth out temperature spikes and draw in gentle breezes—great news for sunset strolls along Sisowath Quay.
5. A quieter sky this year (mid‑2025)
Why do the past few weeks feel sunnier than a typical June? A lingering, moderate El Niño episode in the Pacific has suppressed the southwest monsoon’s early pulses, delaying the heaviest rains around Cambodia. The result: a run of bright mornings and only short, late‑day showers—“good weather” by many standards, though farmers are already praying for steadier rain soon.
6. Plenty of “good‑weather” moments—even in the wet season
Notice in the 7‑day outlook above how every day starts mostly cloudy, heats up, then flips to brief afternoon downpours? That’s classic Phnom Penh: plan temple visits, café hopping, or bike rides before lunch, duck into a gallery or nap during the storm, and re‑emerge to a cooler, freshly‑washed city by late afternoon.
Upbeat tips to make the most of it
| Time of day | Feel‑good activity |
| Sunrise (≈5:30 a.m.) | Join locals doing aerobics at Olympic Stadium or jog the riverside while the air is coolest. |
| Late morning | Explore shaded pagodas (Wat Phnom, Silver Pagoda); the marble floors stay pleasantly cool. |
| Siesta hour | Grab a hammock café or boutique hotel pool—thunderheads often build now. |
| Post‑shower glow | Sunset boat cruise on the Tonle Sap; look for the pink‑gold sky reflections. |
| Evening | Rooftop dining: the city lights twinkle, humidity drops, and breezes pick up. |
Stay hydrated, pack light, dance in the rain, and let Phnom Penh’s feel‑good forecast power your adventures! ☀️🌴