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Sumatra

Source of below note is from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/asia/indonesia/sumatra?

Sumatra is as rugged as it gets. Thick rainforests cascade like water down towering peaks. Jungle treks are a struggle with gravity and mud. But rewards are plentiful: the world's largest flower, one of the last remaining enclaves of orang-utans, or the sulfur-spouting crater of a resting volcano.

Tsunami Update

The Indian Ocean Tsunami devastated parts of the northern Sumatran province of Aceh on 26 December 2004. An earthquake that followed in March 2006 destroyed parts of the island of Nias. Though rebuilding is still ongoing, both areas are open to travelers. Check Indonesian warnings for updates relating to northern Sumatra and the Aceh area.

Weather Overview

Sitting astride the equator, Sumatra's climate is about as tropical as tropical gets. Daytime temperatures seldom fail to reach 30°C (86°F) on the coast, but fortunately the weather is appreciably cooler inland around the mountains. Places like Berastagi, Bukittinggi and Danau Toba get cool enough at night to warrant a blanket. The dry season runs from May to September. The timing of the wet season is hard to predict. In the north, the rains start in October, and December/January are the wettest months; in the south, the rains start in November, peaking in January/February. Bengkulu and West Sumatra are the wettest places, with average rainfall approaching 3500mm.