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Climate - New Caledonia


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - New Caledonia

Map - New Caledonia

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Index


  • Introduction
  • Main island - Nouméa
  • Other islands - Lifou
  • Cyclones

Introduction



New Caledonia is an archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean to the south of the Equator. The country is made up of the main island (Grande Terre) plus smaller islands. To the north-east of the main island we find the Loyalty Islands (Lifou, Maré, Ouvéa), while to the south-east we find the Isle of Pines. To the north-west we find the small archipelago of the Belep Islands, while further west, in the Coral Sea, we have the Chesterfield Islands, uninhabited coral islands.
The climate in New Caledonia is tropical, influenced by the trade winds, with a hot and rainy season, a cool and drier season, and two intermediate periods.
- The hot season, humid and rainy, runs from late December to late March. The temperatures in this season are high, around 30/32 °C (86/90 °F) during the day, but with peaks of 35 °C (95 °F). The humid heat is unpleasant, although the breezes make it more bearable; rain showers and thunderstorms are frequent. Rainfall is more abundant in inland elevations and on the north-eastern coast of the main island, where it exceeds 300 millimeters (12 inches) in the wettest month (March), while on the south-west coast, it ranges from 200 mm (8 in) in the north to 150 mm (6 in) in the south (see Nouméa). In addition, in this period, the country can be hit by tropical cyclones (see below). However, even in this period, between heavy showers, the sun shines.
- In the cool and relatively dry season, from June to August or September, average highs drop to around 23/24 °C (73/75 °F) and lows to 17/18 °C (63/64 °F), which in themselves would still be acceptable temperatures, but they can sometimes drop below, in fact, there can be some days with maximum temperatures around 20 °C (68 °F), furthermore, the wind can increase the feeling of coolness. Some showers can occur even in this period, most likely along the northern coast of the main island (see Poindimié), where the proximity of mountain slopes enhances the formation of thunderclouds.
- The two intermediate seasons, in April-May and October-November, are characterized by comfortable temperatures, around 26/27 °C (79/81 °F) during the day, while the amount of rainfall is acceptable in the latter period and a bit higher in the former one, especially in April and in the rainiest areas.

Main island



On the main island (Grande Terre), rainfall varies with slope exposure and proximity to the mountains: in general, the northeast-facing coast (where there are no major cities) receives more rainfall than the one exposed to the southwest. In fact, precipitation amounts to 2,600 mm (102 in) per year in Poindimié, with a minimum of about 90 mm (3.5 in) in August and September, and to 1,900 mm (75 in) per year in Pouébo, while on the southern coast, it ranges from 800 to 1,200 mm (31 to 47 in), therefore, some areas are almost arid. However, in New Caledonia, the rains are quite irregular from one year to another, so they are quite unpredictable.
As mentioned, in the interior of the main island, we find some mountain slopes, in fact, it is crossed by a mountain range, whose highest peaks are Mont Panié, 1,629 meters (5,344 feet) high, and Mont Humboldt, 1,618 meters (5,308 feet) high.

Nouméa

Climate chart - Nouméa

Nouméa, the capital, is situated on the southern coast of the main island, at 22 degrees south latitude. From May to October, but especially from July to September, there can be slightly cool periods, in which the minimum temperature can drop down to 13/15 °C (55/59) and the maximum around 18/20 °C (64/68 °F). In the hot season, from November to March, the temperature can sometimes reach 34/35 °C (93/95 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.
Nouméa - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January242926.4748479.4
February243026.8758580.3
March242926.2748479.2
April222724.7728176.5
May202622.8687873
June192421.4667670.6
July172320.3637468.5
August172320.2637468.4
September182421.3657670.3
October202622.7677972.9
November212724.2708175.5
December232925.6738378.2
Year20.726.423.569.279.674.5

Nouméa is located on the south-west facing slope, the least rainy one. On average, 1,070 mm (42 in) of rain fall per year, with a maximum of 170 mm (6.7 in) in March and a minimum of 40/55 mm (1.6/2.2 in) per month from September to November. Here is the average precipitation.
Nouméa - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1104.310
February1305.110
March1706.713
April1104.311
May903.511
June1003.910
July652.69
August702.89
September401.66
October451.85
November552.27
December803.17
Year107042.1107

The amount of sunshine in Nouméa is quite good from September to December, when the sun shines about 65% of the time, while it decreases to about 50/55% from March to July. The day lasts 13 and a half hours in December and just under 11 hours in June and July. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Nouméa - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January7.5240
February7.5205
March6.5195
April6.5195
May5.5175
June5155
July6180
August6.5205
September7.5230
October8.5260
November8.5250
December8.5260
Year72550

The sea temperature can be considered always warm enough for swimming, although it drops to around 23 °C (73 °F) from July to October; on the northernmost islands, it is just higher (about one degree Celsius). Here is the average sea temperature in Nouméa.
Nouméa - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2780
February2781
March2780
April2679
May2577
June2475
July2374
August2373
September2373
October2374
November2476
December2678
Year24.876.7

Other islands



In the smaller islands, the climate is similar, even though the rainfall is at an intermediate level compared to the two sides of the main island, and amounts to around 1,500/1,800 mm (60/70 in) per year. Temperatures drop slightly from north to south.

Lifou

Climate chart - Lifou

Here are the average temperatures in Lifou, the main island of the Loyalty Islands.
Lifou - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January232926.1738579
February233026.4748579.6
March232926748478.9
April222824.7718276.5
May192622.6667972.7
June182521.2647670.1
July162419.9607567.8
August162419.8607567.7
September172520.9627769.6
October192622.6668072.7
November202823.9698275
December222925.2718477.4
Year19.726.923.267.480.374

In Lifou, 1,600 mm (63 in) of rain fall per year, with a maximum in February and March, and a minimum from August to November.
Lifou - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1556.110
February2058.113
March26510.414
April1756.912
May1556.111
June1204.710
July903.58
August75310
September803.19
October803.18
November7538
December1254.910
Year160563.2121

In Lifou, the sea temperature drops to 23.5 °C (74.5 °F) in August, while it reaches or exceeds 27 °C (80.5 °F) from January to April.
Lifou - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2882
February2882
March2882
April2781
May2679
June2577
July2475
August2474
September2475
October2576
November2678
December2780
Year25.878.4

Tropical cyclones



New Caledonia can be affected by tropical cyclones. Cyclones are usually formed from November to mid-May, though they are most likely from late December to early April. Some intense cyclones that hit New Caledonia in the past were Coleen in February 1969, Anne in January 1988, Esau in February 1992, Sose in April 2001, Beni in January 2003, Erica in March 2003, Jasmine in February 2012, and Evan in December 2012.

New Caledonia

In addition, New Caledonia is affected by the climate cycle called ENSO. During El Niño years, the weather in New Caledonia tends to be drier than normal from December to February and drier and cooler than normal from June to August. On the other hand, during La Niña years, it becomes rainier than usual from December to February and warmer than usual from June to August.

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When to go and what to pack in New Caledonia

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