Climate - New Caledonia

Index

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• Introduction
• Main island - Nouméa
• Other islands - Lifou
• Cyclones
• Best Time
• What to pack

Introduction

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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

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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

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 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.

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.

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.

Other islands

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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

Here are the average temperatures in Lifou, the main island of the Loyalty Islands.

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.

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.

Tropical cyclones

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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.



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.

Best Time

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The best time to visit New Caledonia is the austral spring, ie October and November: the temperature is pleasant, the sun shines, the rains are generally not excessive, especially on the southwest side of the main island and on the smaller islands. On the southwest side of the main island, the rains are acceptable even in April and May, in April, however, there's still some chance of cyclones or tropical storms, but this happens also in November (even though they are statistically rare). So, all in all, the best month is probably October. From June to September, in the austral winter, the weather can be nice, but it can sometimes be a bit cool for swimming and sunbathing, especially for those who are sensitive to cold: in these cases, you can opt for an excursion.

What to pack

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In winter (June to August): bring light clothes for the day, a scarf for the breeze, a sweatshirt and possibly a light jacket for the evening; a light raincoat or an umbrella. When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes. For Mont Panié, bring hiking boots, a sweatshirt, and a raincoat.

In summer (December to February): bring tropics-friendly, loose-fitting clothing, a sun hat, a scarf for the breeze, a light sweatshirt for the evening, and a light raincoat or umbrella.

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