Go between October and April. Kaohsiung is warm all year, but its rain is crammed into the summer: from November to March each month averages less than 35 mm, while August alone averages more than 500 mm. Summer is hot, wet and typhoon season. Winter is mild and dry, and it's festival season too.
Month by month
Average temperature, average high and low, and rainfall at Kaohsiung, 1991 to 2020:
| Month | Average | High / low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19.7°C | 24.2 / 16.2°C | 19 mm |
| Feb | 20.7°C | 25.0 / 17.2°C | 18 mm |
| Mar | 23.0°C | 27.0 / 19.7°C | 32 mm |
| Apr | 25.7°C | 29.3 / 22.8°C | 68 mm |
| May | 27.8°C | 31.0 / 25.2°C | 202 mm |
| Jun | 28.9°C | 32.1 / 26.3°C | 416 mm |
| Jul | 29.4°C | 32.7 / 26.7°C | 377 mm |
| Aug | 28.9°C | 32.1 / 26.3°C | 512 mm |
| Sep | 28.5°C | 31.8 / 25.9°C | 225 mm |
| Oct | 26.9°C | 30.1 / 24.4°C | 53 mm |
| Nov | 24.5°C | 28.1 / 21.6°C | 26 mm |
| Dec | 21.2°C | 25.3 / 17.9°C | 19 mm |
The seasons
- October to April: the dry season. Sunny, warm days and very little rain. The best time for the harbor, Cijin and walking.
- May and June: plum rains. Taiwan's plum rain season, with rain most likely from mid-May to mid-June.
- July to September: hot and wet. Highs around 32°C, and most of the summer rain comes from typhoons. About three to five typhoons affect Taiwan in a typical year. If one is forecast, follow the Central Weather Administration and expect ferries and outdoor sights to close.
Festivals
- Lunar New Year (Feb): light festivals around the city. In 2026: Kaohsiung Wonderland at Love River Bay and the piers, the Fongshan Light Festival at Dadong Park, and the Gangshan Lantern Arts Festival.
- March: Megaport, the rock festival at Pier-2.
- March to April: the Neimen Song Jiang Battle Array, a festival of temple martial-arts troupes.
- June: dragon boat races on the Love River for the Dragon Boat Festival.
- October: the Zuoying Wannian Folklore Festival at Lotus Pond.
→ All the festivals, month by month
Going on to Kenting? Its weather differs: see Kenting.
→ Concerts and Megaport · Plan your trip
Sources: climate normals from the Central Weather Administration (temperature, rainfall); plum rains and typhoons. Festivals: Kaohsiung Travel, Taiwan Tourism Administration (Wannian), Neimen, Megaport. Checked October 2026.