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The climate of French Polynesia: when to go to Polynesia

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French Polynesia extends over a vast area of ocean located between the equator and the tropic of Capricorn. Its territory covers 2.5 million sq km of ocean, and on 5 main archipelagos. This means that the climate of French Polynesia has specific climatic peculiarities among the various archipelagos that compose it.

In general we can say that the climate of French Polynesia has a hot and humid season from November to April, and a cool and dry season from May to October. During the hot and humid season, therefore between November and April, the islands of French Polynesia can be hit by occasional tropical cyclones. On average less than one cyclone per year in the Society islands (0.8 / 0.6), and in the Austral islands (0.8 / 0.5), even less in the Tuamotu islands (0.4 / 0.1), while the archipelago of the Marquesas Islands is practically off the beaten track for cyclones (0.1 / 0.0).

CLIMATE OF SOCIETY ISLANDS

The climate of the Society islands is tropical oceanic, with two distinct seasons. The coolest and driest season runs from May to October. During this period the average minimum temperatures vary between 20 ° C and 22 ° C. While the average maximum temperatures vary between 28 ° C and 29 ° C. This is the least rainy season and the most suitable for visiting the Society islands.

The hot and rainy season runs from November to April. During this period the average minimum temperatures vary between 22 ° C and 23 ° C. While average maximum temperatures vary between 29 ° C and 31 ° C, this is the hurricane period. The rainiest months are those of December and January, the rains are more intense along the coasts exposed to the trade winds that generally blow from the north and north-west.

The sea water temperature in French Polynesia varies between 26 ° C and 29 ° C.

Tahiti Climate.

Moorea Climate.

Bora Bora Climate.

PAPEETE, TAHITI (2 meters)
Month Average low (°C) Average high (°C) Precip. (mm) Precip. days
January 24,2 31,0 253,7  
February 24,3 31,1 209,9  
March 24,4 31,5 195,2  
April 24,1 31,2 111,4  
May 23,2 30,4 117,4  
June 22,2 29,5 72,7  
July 21,6 29,0 61,9  
August 21,5 28,9 52,1  
September 22,0 29,3 58,8  
October 22,7 29,7 101,5  
November 23,4 30,3 125,4  
December 23,9 30,4 327,7  
YEAR 23,1 30,2 1687,7  
VAITAPE, BORA BORA (2 meters)
Month Average low (°C) Average high (°C) Precip. (mm) Precip. days
January 25,1 30,2 268,7  
February 25,3 30,8 233,2  
March 25,5 30,5 176,9  
April 25,5 30,3 182,7  
May 25,1 29,5 129,8  
June 24,2 28,6 98,2  
July 23,8 28,1 83,8  
August 23,8 28,1 59,7  
September 24,0 28,6 65,5  
October 24,3 29,1 99,8  
November 24,6 29,4 203,7  
December 24,8 29,6 280,6  
YEAR 24,7 29,3 1882,1  

SEA WATER TEMPERATURE

TAHITI, SOCIETY ISLANDS
Month Sea Water Temperature °C
January 27
February 27
March 27
April 28
May 28
June 27
July 26
August 26
September 26
October 26
November 27
December 27

CLIMATE OF THE TUAMOTU ISLANDS

The climate of the archipelago of the Tuamotu islands is of a humid tropical type, with relatively distinct seasons. The climate of these islands of French Polynesia is very similar to that of the Society islands, although less rainy due to the absence of the reliefs. The hot and rainy season runs from November to April, with maximum rains in the months of December and January. The coolest and driest season runs from May to October, this is the best time to visit the archipelago.

TAKAROA, TUAMOTU ISLANDS (2 meters)
Month Average low (°C) Average high (°C) Precip. (mm) Precip. days
January 25 30 200  
February 25 30 190  
March 26 30 140  
April 26 30 120  
May 26 30 80  
June 25 29 90  
July 24 28 85  
August 24 28 60  
September 24 28 80  
October 25 29 130  
November 25 29 190  
December 25 30 210  
YEAR     1575  
RANGIROA, TUAMOTU ISLANDS
Month Sea Water Temperature °C
January 27
February 27
March 27
April 28
May 28
June 27
July 26
August 26
September 26
October 26
November 27
December 27

CLIMATE OF THE MARQUESAS ISLANDS

The Marquesas islands being closer to the equator have a warmer and wetter sub-tropical climate than that of the Society islands, and with little marked seasons. Precipitation varies considerably depending on exposure to prevailing winds, the annual averages are between 1,000 and 3,000 mm. The hottest and most humid season occurs in the months of January and August, while the coolest and least rainy season is from September to December.

The climate of the Marquesas Islands.

HIVA OA, MARQUESAS ISLANDS (52 meters)
Month Average low (°C) Average high (°C) Precip. (mm) Precip. days
January 23 30 114  
February 24 31 91  
March 24 31 137  
April 24 31 117  
May 24 29 122  
June 23 29 175  
July 23 28 122  
August 23 28 100  
September 23 29 81  
October 23 29 79  
November 23 30 66  
December 23 30 89  
YEAR 23 29 1293  
HIVA OA, MARQUESAS ISLANDS
Month Sea Water Temperature °C
January 28
February 28
March 28
April 29
May 28
June 28
July 28
August 27
September 27
October 27
November 28
December 28

CLIMATE OF THE AUSTRAL ISLANDS

The Austral Islands have the worst climate in French Polynesia. In fact during the cool season the climate of these islands resembles that of temperate zones. While during the hot season the climate resembles that of tropical areas. This combination means that there is frequent and abundant rainfall in all seasons, high humidity and average temperatures below 25 ° C, as well as strong winds.

TUBUAI, AUSTRAL ISLANDS (5 meters)
Month Average low (°C) Average high (°C) Precip. (mm) Precip. days
January 22,8 27,8 199,2  
February 23,3 28,3 175,3  
March 23,0 28,5 176,3  
April 22,1 27,5 174,2  
May 20,4 25,8 137,5  
June 18,5 24,4 107,8  
July 18,1 23,7 144,9  
August 18,0 23,5 148,7  
September 18,0 23,9 98,7  
October 18,9 24,5 120,1  
November 20,3 25,7 121,8  
December 21,5 26,8 187,7  
YEAR 20,4 25,9 1493,5  
TUBUAI, AUSTRAL ISLANDS
Month Sea Water Temperature °C
January 26
February 26
March 26
April 25
May 25
June 24
July 24
August 23
September 24
October 24
November 24
December 25

CLIMATE OF THE GAMBIER ISLANDS

The climate of the Gambier islands is very similar to that of the Austral islands. In fact, they have a relatively cool maritime climate, with constant rainfall throughout the year.

French Polynesia Attractions.

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