The climate of Kagoshima, a Japanese city located on the south coast of Kyushu (the southernmost of the major Japanese islands), is
, with quite mild winters and hot, moist, and rainy summers. Like the rest of Japan, the city is affected by the
: in winter, the northwest cold currents prevail, while in summer, they are replaced by hot and humid currents of tropical origin.
The city is located at a low latitude (at the 31rd parallel), in an area where cold air masses coming from the Asian continent, though still possible, are more rare.
, there can be periods of bad weather, but also sunny days. Every so often, there may be cold periods, with wind and rain, highs around 5/7 °C (41/45 °F) or less, and possible falls of sleet or snow, but less often than in the rest of Japan (at least, as far as the main islands are concerned). Snowfalls, however, are generally light, as are nocturnal frosts.
The temperatures at the airport, located in a green zone, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) north-east of the city, and 270 meters (885 feet) above sea level, are much lower than in the city: for example, in January 2016, the temperature dropped to -9 °C (16 °F) at the airport and to -5 °C (23 °F) in Kagoshima.
, which last until September or even early October, are hot and humid. There can be periods of good weather, with maximum temperatures around 35 °C (95 °F), tropical nights and high humidity, but also periods of bad weather due to the summer monsoon.
is definitely abundant, since it amounts to 2,435 millimeters (96 inches) per year. Winter is the driest season; the rainiest months are June and July, ie the first period of the rainy season (called
), which in southern Japan is felt in a particular way, especially on the west and south coast, where Kagoshima is located. Sometimes, the rains can be torrential. In the southwest of Japan, autumn is a decent season, and already in October, it typically does not rain very often.
in Kagoshima is not very good, however, there is a maximum in August, after the Baiu rains, with 6 hours of sunsine per day, while in June, a month of heavy rains, they are only 4.
Kagoshima is located on the coast, in a bay, and in front of the city, there's an active volcano, Sakurajima: because of the similarity of the landscape, and also of the climate (at least with regard to the mild winter), the city has been associated which Naples, Italy, to which it is twinned.
in Kagoshima is quite cool in winter, but not impossible for a swim; it is warm enough for swimming, with a temperature of 23 °C (73 °F) or more, from July to October, and it becomes pleasantly warm from July to September.
From June to October (but especially from August to early October), Kagoshima can be affected by
The best times to visit Kagoshima are spring and autumn, and particularly from mid-April to mid-May and from mid-October to mid-November. In autumn, the rains are rarer, but the days are shorter.
in Kagoshima reaches its peak, with variations depending on the year, around April 3rd. About 8-9 days pass between the start and the peak of the flowering. Even though in some years it can get a little cold, with highs around 12 °C (54 °F), you can also take advantage of this period.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.1 °C, with a minimum of
5.1 °C and a maximum of
13.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.3 °C in January 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
22.3 °C in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.2 °C, with a minimum of
5.8 °C and a maximum of
14.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.4 °C in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20.5 °C. However, it reached
23.7 °C in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
115 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.2 °C, with a minimum of
8.9 °C and a maximum of
17.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
0 °C in March 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23 °C. However, it reached
27.6 °C in March 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
160 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.4 °C, with a minimum of
13 °C and a maximum of
21.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
3.3 °C in April 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26.5 °C. However, it reached
30.2 °C in April 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
195 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.4 °C, with a minimum of
17.4 °C and a maximum of
25.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
8.7 °C in May 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
31.1 °C in May 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
205 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.6 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
June is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
24.5 °C, with a minimum of
21.4 °C and a maximum of
27.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C. However, it dropped to
14.7 °C in June 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32.5 °C. However, it reached
34.4 °C in June 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
570 mm, distributed over 17 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
July is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.6 °C, with a minimum of
25.3 °C and a maximum of
31.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22 °C. However, it dropped to
18.5 °C in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
36.6 °C in July 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
365 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29.4 °C, with a minimum of
26 °C and a maximum of
32.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23 °C. However, it dropped to
20.5 °C in August 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
37.4 °C in August 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
225 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
September is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
26.8 °C, with a minimum of
23.3 °C and a maximum of
30.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
18.5 °C. However, it dropped to
14.9 °C in September 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C. However, it reached
35.7 °C in September 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
225 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.8 °C, with a minimum of
17.9 °C and a maximum of
25.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
6.1 °C in October 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
32.4 °C in October 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
105 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.4 °C, with a minimum of
12.1 °C and a maximum of
20.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
1.4 °C in November 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
29.5 °C in November 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
105 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.3 °C, with a minimum of
7.1 °C and a maximum of
15.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.5 °C in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22 °C. However, it reached
24.7 °C in December 1992.
Precipitation amounts to
95 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.