Why do some places have monsoons while others with similar heat do not?

A monsoon is not just heavy rain; it is a seasonal reversal in winds driven by the difference in heating between land and sea. Land heats up and cools down faster than ocean water, creating low pressure over the continent in summer and drawing in moist maritime air. In winter, the pattern can reverse, producing dry offshore winds. The Asian monsoon is the largest example, but monsoon systems also occur in Africa, Australia, and the Americas where geography and sea temperature cooperate.