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Weather & Climate in Sơn La, Vietnam
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Sơn La enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 69°F (21°C). Winters average 58°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 230 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 58.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 1,995 feet.
Temperature
58°F Jan (15°C)
76°F Jul (25°C)
| Annual Average | 69.2°F |
| 28% above US avg | |
| January Average | 58°F (15°C) |
| July Average | 76°F (25°C) |
| Sunny Days | 230 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,995 ft (608 m) |
| Area | 124.9 sq mi (323.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 849/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 21.3256°N, 103.9188°W |
| Timezone | Asia/Bangkok |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
23 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.9.
| Feb 19, 2001 | 31 km W of Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam | M4.9 | 125 km | 10 km |
| Jul 27, 2020 | ~120km W of Hanoi, Vietnam | M4.9 | 90 km | 10 km |
| Apr 3, 2003 | 83 km S of Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam | M4.7 | 109 km | 10 km |
| Mar 29, 1993 | 53 km N of Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam | M4.6 | 104 km | 33 km |
| Jul 19, 2014 | 19 km NNE of S?n La, Vietnam | M4.6 | 19 km | 17 km |
| Mar 4, 2001 | 10 km WSW of Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam | M4.5 | 103 km | 10 km |
| Oct 6, 1991 | 33 km E of S?n La, Vietnam | M4.5 | 33 km | 10 km |
| May 16, 2025 | 27 km S of Mường Lay, Vietnam | M4.5 | 99 km | 10 km |
| May 2, 2007 | 73 km S of Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam | M4.5 | 105 km | 10 km |
| Feb 24, 2016 | 55 km WSW of Sa Pa, Vietnam | M4.5 | 115 km | 10 km |
| Nov 9, 1995 | 76 km ENE of Phôngsali, Laos | M4.4 | 148 km | 33 km |
| Mar 14, 2022 | 76 km SSE of Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam | M4.4 | 86 km | 10 km |
| Jun 21, 1995 | 83 km W of Xam Nua, Laos | M4.4 | 129 km | 33 km |
| Apr 2, 2001 | 74 km WSW of Sa Pa, Vietnam | M4.4 | 119 km | 33 km |
| Mar 30, 1993 | 55 km N of Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam | M4.4 | 107 km | 33 km |
| Dec 21, 1993 | 62 km WSW of Sa Pa, Vietnam | M4.3 | 121 km | 10 km |
| Jan 7, 2018 | 36 km E of Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam | M4.3 | 57 km | 10 km |
| Jan 8, 2018 | 36 km E of Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam | M4.3 | 57 km | 10 km |
| Feb 2, 1996 | 72 km WSW of Sa Pa, Vietnam | M4.1 | 118 km | 33 km |
| May 7, 2011 | 46 km SSW of S?n La, Vietnam | M4.1 | 46 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
8 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 2.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2024 | Yagi | Category 2 | 63 mph | 188 km |
| 2016 | Mirinae | Category 1 | 52 mph | 268 km |
| 2014 | Kalmaegi | Category 1 | 63 mph | 270 km |
| 2012 | Son-tinh | Category 2 | 69 mph | 287 km |
| 1997 | Zita | Category 1 | 46 mph | 227 km |
| 1996 | Frankie | Category 2 | 52 mph | 235 km |
| 1996 | Niki | Category 1 | 63 mph | 229 km |
| 1995 | Lois | Category 1 | 52 mph | 288 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 58°F (15°C) | 0.4 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 61°F (16°C) | 1.5 in | |
| March | 67°F (19°C) | 1.2 in | |
| April | 72°F (22°C) | 4.7 in | |
| May | 75°F (24°C) | 7.3 in | |
| June | 77°F (25°C) | 9.2 in | Warmest |
| July | 76°F (25°C) | 13.5 in | Wettest |
| August | 76°F (24°C) | 11.6 in | |
| September | 74°F (23°C) | 5.9 in | |
| October | 71°F (22°C) | 2.4 in | |
| November | 65°F (18°C) | 1.0 in | |
| December | 60°F (15°C) | 0.4 in |
Sơn La has a seasonal temperature swing of 18°F / from 58°F in January to 77°F in June. Total annual precipitation is 58.9 inches, with July being the wettest month (13.5") and January the driest (0.4").