Xamtai sits in Laos’s mountainous north, where the wet season from May through October brings substantial rainfall to steep, forested terrain, followed by a cooler, drier season from November through April.
In remote eastern Houaphanh province, the town’s mountainous terrain shapes a distinct monsoon rainfall pattern. Because the region’s rivers are short and drop quickly through narrow valleys, heavy monsoon rain can trigger fast-rising streams and landslides with little warning, making radar an important tool for spotting a developing storm before it reaches villages in the valleys below. Learn more: Flash Flood Warning Signs on Radar · Open the full Rain Map