The Beginning of the End: Chiang Mai Burning Season Update 2026
Is the Chiang Mai burning season finally coming to an end? In today’s vlog, we’re touching down from Northern Thailand with some long-awaited news: the rains have arrived! After a month of “horrendous” air quality, the heavens finally opened, bringing much-needed relief to the region.
I’m heading back up to Doi Kham for the third time this year to check the visibility and talk about what happens next. While the mountains are still draped in a light haze, the AQI levels are finally dropping from purple and red into the yellow and orange zones. With cooler temperatures and better ventilation on the horizon, we are officially on the home stretch.
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This Vlog was recorded on 27th April. Everyday gets a little better with more summer storms forecast.
Cho hỏi à thái lan phát triển chậm hay nhanh về kinh tế gdp
You must be very happy living there even the door burning season
Fingers crossed you got fresh air soon buddy!! Enjoy your time, much love!
If you ever get back to Rayong. Ban Phe. Check out Sea view bar. Fantastic place.
Everyday is a step closer to clearer skies ☑️ – Thanks for the update WW ✌️😎👍
Praise the Lord
HALLELUUJA
Good on ya mate.
You should be nomadic during burning season and get away from it
Yes please more rain will be nice.
We had very heavy rain yesterday evening Tuesday. So today it was open windows and air flowing trough the hose freely which was great. But it's sad for people that need to work outside and the elderly. Great to see out and about Wayne.
Enjoyed the Walk about ,looks less smokey
I'm glad I was there this year to experience the worst of the smog, now I know how bad it can get there, and it was really awful for a shiort time. I also saw excellent weather for most of the Spring I was there. Bailed right before Songkran, hope things continue to improve there, it does look better now. Cheers dude.
Must Be The End, My Friend – Apocalypse Now! Come on baby light my fire…
It hasn't bothered me in the past but this year I arrived mid March literally days before the smoke kicked of . After five weeks I felt like I had been gargling dirt. Yesterday , for the first time in a month , I was able to see the surrounding mountains in southern Lampang.
We are planning to move here full time later this year . I think we will spend our Aprils by the water , somewhere in the south from now on.
Must be much easier to cope as I can't see anyone really wearing a mask. Almost time to tour again Wayne I guess. Good news that Chai got back to me and all is good there in the Netherlands working hard for a Company, likely nappy changing his other duties and being the best dad which I have no doubt he would be, whilst Noona and baby are no doubt both fine. A big change in their lives and I am sure they need their space for the time being but he will be back at some stage on his channel. Cheers mate 🤩
I’m arriving on the 8 th hope it’s gone
Happy days when the smoke disappear mate!
So if I burn tons of land like an arsonist and cause massive environmental and health issues for people it's ok but God forbid I smoke a cigarette at the airport
hmm…not much happening then?…..see you in October
Tq
Had some thunder down here today 29th but no rain yet, indeed it would be a great respite from the humidity
We had hardly a drop and we are pretty close to Saraphi in Wangtan Village .Only isolated rainfall for the lucky ones. Its coming……….. patience
I don't know how you do it. I would be so ill.
Still smokey down in Suphanburi….and hot. Can see a fire burning from the window of my house. We did get some rain 2 days again…..but they are back burning in full force today. I am looking forward to the rainy season.
Its not the end but the end of the beginning .
So glad that god has intervened to stop this lunacy with rain, because this is the only language they understand
Government, legislation and police try to enforce, however in one ear and out the other year in year. Then God’s divine intervention prevails and states… enough!!!! Hope it keeps raining
Keep em coming 🙏🙏🙏
Englishman doing the rain dance, fancy that lol. Thank you mate, appreciate it. Was encouraging returning back home seeing a very pale blue sky. Let's hope there's more rain on the way. Never thought I'd say that Wayne but I really want to see the bastards who light these fire's soaking wet to the bone this time. Authorities had a simple solution on my prosperous holiday island. Anyone caught lighting fires near mountain durian farms got thrown over a cliff. Harsh but effective. Cheers.
Hard to believe it's been a month already, maybe seems longer for all you in the zone. All and all though would you rather do a month of that or 8 months of Oregon or English winter Wayne?
I sent word a week ago to some crazy ole original hippies in California to do a rain dance for Chiang Mai . They asked if they were to preform it in the buff and I said whatever it takes to make it rain . I guess I owe them a batch of brownies since it’s started 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 some of their neighbors turned them in for indecent exposure but when they investigate I guess the chief of police had joined the party in Humboldt . I guess the festivities lasted for 3 days before they all turned into retire . Should I ask for an encore as the chief said he hasn’t had this much fun since he don’t know when? Oh the imagination this guy has ? I’m just damn glad we have had a sprinkle but it really hasn’t been anything we didn’t overcome . Time for some Massaman curry my friend ! We made it
Believe me, Wayne, nothing will change next year or the year after. The Thai government can talk forever, but without proper enforcement, the burning will continue regardless of how many meetings are held.
I’ve been in Chiang Mai since 2016, except for 2017 when I stayed through it. Since then, I make it a point to leave when the burning season begins and only return once the rainy season arrive.
This was my first full smokey season. Not that bad. Where I lived in the US some times you had to drive with your headlights on do to the fires days at a time. I now live in Doi Skat and the only time I smelled smoke is when there was a Big fire about 5 km from me. Yes there was a haziness. We called that smog in the states. Ready for winter to Dam Hot right now. Love the vlogs.
Thanks Wayne. Looking forward to the rain season soon.
Thanks for sharing Wayne.
Sure it gets a bit smokey in burning season but outside of that its no drama.
I like the rainy season in Thailand to be honest.
I remember being in some village bar half-way between Korat and Buriram getting on the beers and having a great time in the torrential rain. It was pouring in through the roof but the Craic was good. Gotta love Thailand mate.
so many places to live and people choose CM in burning season, crazy