It's officially burning season in Chiang Mai.

I, along with many other digital nomads, have moved on to Vietnam (we had a meet-up in Da Nang and half of the DNs there had just come from Chiang Mai), Bali or other places. Those who stayed behind report that the air is worse than it has been in years:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...080f51268a.png

Not too bad (relatively speaking) in Bangkok but yes, extremely bad in the north esp. Nan, Phrae, Chiang Mai/Rai, Mae Hon Song, etc.

Forecast to be quite hot as well, ~ 42 for a high this week/weekend.

Flights canceled for a week due to poor visibility. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gen...on-due-to-smog

Must be the worst it's ever been, at least as far as I can remember.

Brave people queued to vote.

Yes, most people seem concerned about the PM 2.5 number. Although this site offers up a slew of measurements:

Chiang Mai Air Pollution: Real-time PM2.5 Air Quality Index (AQI)

Bangkok Air Pollution: Real-time PM2.5 Air Quality Index (AQI)

It might healthier to set yourself on fire, than visit Chaing Rai?

Mueang Chiang Rai Air Pollution: Real-time PM2.5 Air Quality Index (AQI)



https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4a5700dcb2.jpg

State of emergency urged as air pollution hits 'disastrous' levels in North

An academic has called on the government to declare a state of emergency as Chiang Mai and most Northern Provinces face 'disastrous' levels of PM2.5 smog.

Citizen in the North are being advised to stay inside air conditioned buildings and avoid all outdoor activities, as some areas of Chiang Mai recorded PM2.5 levels reaching higher than 700 micrograms per cubic metre of air on Saturday morning.

State of emergency urged as air pollution hits 'disastrous' levels in North

All of my friends in Chiang Mai are posting really awful photos.

https://scontent.fcgk12-1.fna.fbcdn....b6&oe=5D41FDE7
https://scontent.fcgk12-1.fna.fbcdn....d9&oe=5D06C259

I've seen INDOOR PM2.5 readings north of 400 posted on Twitter.

Fire maps: https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov...30..2019-03-31

Two images which jumped out at me, illustrating both sadness and humor:


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7afde06ecf.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...501a0750f1.jpg

That's really awful...like the health-endangering "pea-soupers" like London in 1952 or Donora in 1948, I believe it was. Those were supposed to be a thing of the past. This sort of thing could threaten permanent health damage. Like visiting Chernobyl circa 1988.

Oh god, I will go to Chiang Mai next week. And this post is kind of freak me out :(

The air quality, at least as measured by PM2.5 is much improved in Chiang Mai as burning has seasonal has decreased, and the rainy season has begun.

I mean it's not great but far from what it was...

Chiang Mai Air Pollution: Real-time Air Quality Index

Just be prepared for the heat and rain.

When is the burning season in Chiang Mai? What are they burning some wild brush to clear for agriculture?

I have 9 days in Thailand in mid February, my first time. I was going to do 3 nights in Chiang Mai, 3 in Phuket and 3 in Bangkok.

Should I re-allocate them?

When is the burning season in Chiang Mai? February - May.

What are they burning some wild brush to clear for agriculture? Yes, and forest floor for mushrooms.

Should I re-allocate them? Up to you. Probably be OK.

Article from Feb 15 this year--> Pollution improves, but Chiang Mai braced for more

Early February should be ok in the sense that there is a good chance that the air pollution has not yet reached high levels; end of February I would consider to skip C M as by then most likely levels will be high.

Well it would be Feb 12 arrival and a matter of how many days to stay.

I have a total of 9 nights -- constraint is a CX TPAC award I got -- so I could do 4/5 CM and BKK or 3 nights each in CM, Phuket and BKK.