PHUKET has a weather system all its own.The dousing delivered over the past few days only confirms that it's perfectly realistic for it to be sunny in the south while the north is soaking.

As any longtime Phuket resident will tell you, it's possible to be dry, travel a half-kilometre through one of the densest rain storm ever, then within seconds emerge perfectly dry on the other side.

August, especially over the past few days, has cast some grey skies over ''Summer.''

But the island has been twice as wet around the airport as further south or east, for that matter.

Here are the key rainfall statistics:

Airport Thursday 69.76mm; Friday 146.60mm; Saturday 40.1mm.

August total last year: 252.9mm; August so far this year: 490.9mm.

However on Thursday, while 69.76mm dumped at the airport, down in Phuket City only 17mm was recorded. And on Friday, while a massive 164.60mm drowned the airport gauge, the one in Phuket City recorded 67.7mm. And on Saturday, the comparison was 21.3mm to 40.1mm.

While the airport total for August is almost 500mm, Phuket City has had almost half that - 255.7mm. Driest of all is Karon with 244mm. Pa Klok has had 284mm and Kamala 316mm.

Somewhat surprisingly, while the airport was being doused by that massive 146.60mm on Friday, Pa Klok recorded a mere 14mm.

Kamala was moderately wet, with 104mm, but Phuket City had just 67.7mm and Karon 57.5mm.

The airport tends to be a wetter place, but sometimes the sun does break through. Last year, there were 15 wet days in August at the airport, compared to 19 in Phuket City.

So far this year, Phuket City has had 19 wet days . . . while the number at the airport has increased to 23 wet days to date.

If you want a holiday in guaranteed summer sunshine, there are provinces in Thailand still suffering from drought. Unfortunately they don't have beaches.


Holey Patong Hill! Phuket Springs Summer Leak
Readers' Photos We're over August but August is not over yet, especially when it comes to floods on Phuket. The rain will keep on tumbling . . . but the hope is September will be dry to compensate.
Holey Patong Hill! Phuket Springs Summer Leak


Thai Wife 'Had Expat Murdered for US$1 Million'
Latest A Thai woman organised her husband's murder for a US$1 million insurance policy, the brother of the victim, a frequent visitor to Phuket, has told Phuketwan.
Thai Wife 'Had Expat Murdered for US$1 Million'

Governor's New Committee To Check All Projects
Latest The Governor of Phuket has announced a new layer of scrutiny for all development projects and says environmental reviews will be tougher from now on. New laws could follow.
Governor's New Committee To Check All Projects

Update: Police Raids Uncover 'Coral Fish Gang'
UPDATEPolice have raided the bus station in Takuapa, Phang Nga, and found more coral reef fish in their pursuit of poachers connected to a Phuket gang who operated from Rawai.
Update: Police Raids Uncover 'Coral Fish Gang'

Phuket Should Hail This Honest Taxi Driver
Latest How do people stay honest in a world where everyone needs money? A Phuket taxi driver has some advice: don't overlook the truly important things in life.
Phuket Should Hail This Honest Taxi Driver

Phuket Riot Police, Protesters Block Airport Road
Photo Album Here we go again, some people must have thought when the road to Phuket airport was blocked by riot police and protesters. But it turned out to be a fullscale practice drill.
Phuket Riot Police, Protesters Block Airport Road

Phi Phi Deaths Riddle: Norway Chases Answers
Latest Police in the home district of one of the young victims of the riddle of Laleena Guesthouse on Phi Phi are reopening the investigation and hoping to determine a cause of death.
Phi Phi Deaths Riddle: Norway Chases Answers