Weather: Philippines

Even the warm South China and Philippines Sea aren't quite enough to keep this chain of tropical islands from the effects of the Asian monsoon. While Mindanao and the southern Philippines stay warm to hot year round, Luzon (including Manila) experiences a few degrees of cooling, especially in the evening, from November to March. Winter nights in Luzon occasionally drop below 16°C/60°F even at sea level. This is one of the most frequent stopover points for northwest Pacific typhoons, which helps make the July-to-September period the wettest for much of the Philippines. As with Malaysia, north- and east-facing slopes tend to be at their dampest during the winter. Most other areas enjoy relatively dry winters, though showers or storms may arrive once or twice a week.