Hello all, I've only been to northern Thailand once, that was a good few years ago. I'll be staying in Chiang Mai for a few months but I'm considering staying around Chiang Rai for a month, around March, how is the air quality, is it as bad as CM ?

Thanks in advance

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This time last year the air quality was not too good but it has been near perfect so far this year.

I can see no reason why it would deteriorate in the next couple of weeks.

Although I'm starting to see smoke plumes in the hills....

Quite a few plumes, the afternoon winds are blowing them away.

I went to MaeSai today, it was a little smoky up there.

C'mon guys!

Just as the OP, I too would like to know how the air quality in Chiang Rai compares with Chiang Mai during the burning season.

Thank you.

When the smoke is localised it can be different from day to day depending on weather conditions.

In past years we have had that really heavy layer that goes up thousands of feet and there's little difference between the two cities, indeed, over much of the north.

Chiang Mai is a little different as in certain conditions it can get an inversion layer which traps the smog. Often though what they claim is pollution there is really humidity.

The increased traffic volume would have to have some effect.

Thanks for the responses, Looking forward to visiting very soon. BTW, the rest of the CR threads have been a great help and CR expats do seem like a very civilised bunch.

Thank you from me too.

I also agree that the folks on the Chiang Rai forum seem very, very nice. Very nice, laid back and friendly forum.

Drop by anytime guys.

Thanks. Will do.