The climate of Kitakyushu, a city located on the north coast of Kyushu (the southernmost of the major Japanese islands), in Fukuoka Prefecture, 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 33rd parallel) but close enough to the Asian continent to receive cold air masses in winter, which are able to lower the temperature to some extent.
, the sky is often cloudy, as is common in the Japanese western side. There are quite mild periods, with highs above 10 °C (50 °F), alternating with cold periods, with wind and rain, highs around 5/7 °C (41/45 °F) or less, and possible falls of sleet or snow. Snowfalls, however, are generally light, as are nocturnal frosts.
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. August is the hottest month, both because of the thermal inertia of the sea and because of the lower frequency of periods of bad weather.
is abundant, in fact, it amounts to 1,700 millimeters (67 inches) per year. Winter is the driest season, but only in quantity; the rainiest months are June and July, ie the first period of the rainy season (called
), which in southern Japan is felt in a remarkable way. In August, there is a certain decrease in rain frequency: on average, among the summer months, it is the hottest as well as the driest and sunniest. In the southwest of Japan, autumn is a decent season, and already in October, it typically does not rain much.
is not very good, however, there are two relative maxima, one in spring (April-May) and the other in August, after the Baiu rains. In October, after the summer rains, the amount of sunshine increases a little as well. In winter, on the contrary, the sky is often cloudy.
in Kitakyushu is cold but not impossible for the more daring; 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 in August.
From June to October (but especially from August to early October), the city can be affected by
The best times to visit Kitakyushu 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 Kitakyushu reaches its peak, with variations depending on the year, around March 29. 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 10/12 °C (50/54 °F), you can also take advantage of this period.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
6.3 °C, with a minimum of
3.8 °C and a maximum of
8.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-4 °C in January 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14.5 °C. However, it reached
19 °C in January 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
15.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
February is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
6.9 °C, with a minimum of
4.3 °C and a maximum of
9.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4 °C in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15.5 °C. However, it reached
22 °C in February 1992.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
15.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10 °C, with a minimum of
7.4 °C and a maximum of
12.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-1 °C in March 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
25 °C in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
125 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
15.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
14.7 °C, with a minimum of
12.1 °C and a maximum of
17.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7 °C. However, it dropped to
4 °C in April 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24 °C. However, it reached
28 °C in April 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
125 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
14.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.3 °C, with a minimum of
16.8 °C and a maximum of
21.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9 °C in May 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27 °C. However, it reached
30 °C in May 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
155 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
June is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
22.8 °C, with a minimum of
20.8 °C and a maximum of
24.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17.5 °C. However, it dropped to
16 °C in June 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
33 °C in June 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
270 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 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 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
July is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
26.9 °C, with a minimum of
24.8 °C and a maximum of
28.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21 °C. However, it dropped to
19 °C in July 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
36 °C in July 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
300 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.1 °C, with a minimum of
26 °C and a maximum of
30.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22.5 °C. However, it dropped to
19 °C in August 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
36 °C in August 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
170 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.7 °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
24.6 °C, with a minimum of
22.5 °C and a maximum of
26.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
18 °C. However, it dropped to
16 °C in September 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C. However, it reached
35 °C in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
185 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
26.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.5 °C, with a minimum of
17 °C and a maximum of
22 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
8 °C in October 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26.5 °C. However, it reached
30 °C in October 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
13.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.9 °C, with a minimum of
11.3 °C and a maximum of
16.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5 °C. However, it dropped to
2 °C in November 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
27 °C in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
90 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 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
13 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
8.6 °C, with a minimum of
6 °C and a maximum of
11.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-3 °C in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16.5 °C. However, it reached
25 °C in December 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is of
15.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.