Okinawa is an archipelago, which includes the main island of the same name plus some smaller islands (Kumejima, Agunijima, Iejima etc.). In the nearby archipelagos of Kerama, Daito, and Iheya, the climate is similar.
is very mild, the sky is often cloudy, and periods of bad weather, with wind and rain, are quite common. Sometimes, especially in January and February, there may be very cool or slightly cold days, with maximum temperatures around 15 °C (59 °F) or below, and minimum temperatures around 10 °C (50 °F) or below.
In January 2016, there was a day with a minimum of 6 °C (43 °F) and a maximum of 10 °C (50 °F).
is muggy, with fairly frequent and sometimes abundant rains. The first part of the rainy season, called plum rains (
), arrives one month earlier than on the main islands of Japan, so it occurs in May and June: not only the rains are frequent, but also the sun is seen quite rarely.
are abundant, especially in the hot period. In July, there is a relative pause, in fact, the rains decrease and sunshine becomes pretty frequent (although this does not happen every year, for example, in the year 2015, June has been quite dry, while July has been very rainy). In the second part of summer (August, September and early October), the rains increase again, but the amount of sunshine is generally decent, and certainly better than in May and June.
in Okinawa is never cold, in fact, the temperature drops to a minimum of 22 °C (72 °F) in February, while it becomes very warm in summer.
From June to October, with a maximum from August to early October, Okinawa can be affected by
, the tropical cyclones of Southeast Asia. Of the 26 typhoons that form on average every year in the northwestern Pacific, 3 or 4 pass close enough to Okinawa to threaten it or at least to have an impact on the weather. On September 22, 1999, the island was hit by Super Typhoon Bart, which unloaded 700 millimeters (27.5 inches) of rain in two days, and caused severe damage due to high winds.
It is difficult to find the best time to visit Okinawa, because there is no dry and sunny period. However, in general you can choose the period from November to April. A typhoon can still pass until mid-November, although this happens rarely and with generally modest effects. From mid-December to mid-March, there can be cool days, with highs of 15 °C (59 °F) or less.
in Okinawa occurs as early as in winter, and is longer than on the main islands of Japan: two or three weeks pass from the beginning to full flowering (which occurs on average around February 1st).
Since there is a pause between the two rainy periods (May-June and August-September), in Okinawa the best month for a beach holiday is July, though afternoon thunderstorms are still possible, in addition to the passage of tropical storms and typhoons over the island.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.4 °C, with a minimum of
14.9 °C and a maximum of
19.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10.5 °C. However, it dropped to
6.1 °C in January 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
27 °C in January 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
14 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.6 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
February is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.6 °C, with a minimum of
15.1 °C and a maximum of
20.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11 °C. However, it dropped to
8.5 °C in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25 °C. However, it reached
26.7 °C in February 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
115 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
15 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
March is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.3 °C, with a minimum of
16.7 °C and a maximum of
21.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
9 °C in March 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26.5 °C. However, it reached
28.2 °C in March 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
145 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.3 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
April is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.7 °C, with a minimum of
19.1 °C and a maximum of
24.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
12.5 °C in April 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28 °C. However, it reached
29.2 °C in April 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
160 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23.5 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
May is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
24.6 °C, with a minimum of
22.1 °C and a maximum of
27 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
18 °C. However, it dropped to
16.2 °C in May 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
31.8 °C in May 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
245 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
June is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27.5 °C, with a minimum of
25.2 °C and a maximum of
29.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21.5 °C. However, it dropped to
19.2 °C in June 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32.5 °C. However, it reached
34.1 °C in June 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
285 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
July, 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
27 °C and a maximum of
31.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
24.5 °C. However, it dropped to
21 °C in July 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
35.1 °C in July 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
190 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
August is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29.3 °C, with a minimum of
26.8 °C and a maximum of
31.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
24.5 °C. However, it dropped to
22.1 °C in August 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
35.6 °C in August 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
240 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
29.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
September is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.2 °C, with a minimum of
25.8 °C and a maximum of
30.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
23 °C. However, it dropped to
19.5 °C in September 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
34.6 °C in September 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
275 mm, distributed over 13 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 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
October is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
25.8 °C, with a minimum of
23.5 °C and a maximum of
28.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20 °C. However, it dropped to
17.9 °C in October 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C. However, it reached
33 °C in October 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
180 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
November is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
22.7 °C, with a minimum of
20.4 °C and a maximum of
25 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16.5 °C. However, it dropped to
12.9 °C in November 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C. However, it reached
30.8 °C in November 2008.
Precipitation amounts to
120 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is of
16 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
December is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.2 °C, with a minimum of
16.8 °C and a maximum of
21.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
10 °C in December 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
29.4 °C in December 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
110 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 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 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
14 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.