Weather in Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung is in Taiwan at 22.6°N. The 2001–2020 NASA POWER daily record describes a monsoon climate with a sharp wet-dry split. Rain is the monsoon runs from May to September, inside an annual total of 1639 mm. The wettest month is August at 403 mm; the driest is February at 24 mm.

July is the warmest month (average 29.1°C, high 29.5°C) and January is the coolest (average 21.4°C, low 20.4°C). From the coolest night in January (20.4°C) to the hottest afternoon in July (29.5°C), the raw range is 9.1°C. On this site the months that score closest to a 22°C day, lighter rain, and moderate humidity are December, January, and February.

Hot and cool months in Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung has a 7.7°C gap between its coolest monthly average (21.4°C in January) and its warmest (29.1°C in July). That is a northern-hemisphere pattern.

Mean high across all twelve months is 26.4°C and mean low is 25.1°C. These are 20-year grid averages, so a city station can read a few degrees warmer or cooler.

Rainfall pattern

The monsoon in Kaohsiung starts in May and ends in September (May, June, July, August, and September). August is the core of it at 403 mm. February is the other extreme, with 24 mm.

A rainy day here is a day with at least 1 mm in the NASA POWER series. August averages 23 such days; February averages 7.

Distinctive months in Kaohsiung

The year bottoms out in January. Plan for 20.4°C at night and 22.3°C in the afternoon. February is the driest month, averaging only 24 mm across 7 rainy days. Highs sit near 22.9°C. May is when the monsoon typically starts in Kaohsiung: highs near 27.8°C, and rainfall jumps to 173 mm (17 rainy days). June: 28.9°C high, 28.2°C low, 298 mm rain, 84% humidity.

July is the warmest month. Afternoon highs average 29.5°C and nights settle near 28.8°C, with 263 mm of rain. August is the wettest month — 403 mm and 23 rainy days, with 83% humidity. September closes the monsoon: 212 mm over 19 rainy days, then the calendar dries. October stands apart from the months beside it: 27.7°C / 26.4°C and 66 mm.

Best months to visit Kaohsiung

The three months with the highest comfort score are December, January, and February: December (22.7°C average, 33 mm, 75% humidity); January (21.4°C average, 29 mm, 76% humidity); February (21.9°C average, 24 mm, 78% humidity). Those months sit across the year end, so they are listed in season order rather than January-to-December. The score rewards averages near 22°C, lower rainfall, and humidity near 60%. It is a climate score, not a festival or price calendar.

If you want the monsoon itself — fewer crowds, greener landscape, heavier rain — aim at May–September instead of the score.

How Kaohsiung compares inside Taiwan

Tainan is about 43 km away: Kaohsiung is about as warm as Tainan at the hot peak and 253 mm drier over the year than Tainan. Tainan’s wettest month is August (442 mm) versus August here.

Taichung is about 174 km away: Kaohsiung is 1.7°C warmer than Taichung in its hottest month and 99 mm drier over the year than Taichung. Taichung’s wettest month is August (329 mm) versus August here.

Taipei is about 298 km away: Kaohsiung is 1.2°C warmer than Taipei in its hottest month and 278 mm drier over the year than Taipei. Taipei’s wettest month is June (270 mm) versus August here.