Average weather, temperature, rainfall, when to go, what to pack
The climate of Niue, an island of the Pacific, located just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, therefore in the Southern Hemisphere, is
tropical, with a hot, muggy and rainy period from November to April and a cooler and drier period from May to October, during which the south-east trade winds prevail.
In the hot period, temperatures hover around 28/29 °C (82/84 °F) during the day and around 22/24 °C (72/75 °F) at night, while in the cooler period, daytime temperatures drop to around 25/26 °C (77/79 °F) and night-time temperatures to around 20/21 °C (68/70 °F). In the hot period, the temperature can sometimes exceed 35 °C (95 °F), while in the cooler period, it can drop below 15 °C (59 °F) at night, especially in July and August.
Here are the average temperatures in the capital, Alofi.
Alofi - Average temperatures| Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|
| January | 23 | 28 | 25.5 | 73 | 82 | 77.9 |
|---|
| February | 24 | 29 | 26.5 | 75 | 84 | 79.7 |
|---|
| March | 24 | 28 | 26 | 75 | 82 | 78.8 |
|---|
| April | 23 | 27 | 25 | 73 | 81 | 77 |
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| May | 22 | 26 | 24 | 72 | 79 | 75.2 |
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| June | 21 | 26 | 23.5 | 70 | 79 | 74.3 |
|---|
| July | 20 | 25 | 22.5 | 68 | 77 | 72.5 |
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| August | 20 | 25 | 22.5 | 68 | 77 | 72.5 |
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| September | 21 | 26 | 23.5 | 70 | 79 | 74.3 |
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| October | 21 | 26 | 23.5 | 70 | 79 | 74.3 |
|---|
| November | 22 | 27 | 24.5 | 72 | 81 | 76.1 |
|---|
| December | 23 | 28 | 25.5 | 73 | 82 | 77.9 |
|---|
| Year | 22 | 26.7 | 24.3 | 71.6 | 80.1 | 76 |
|---|
Annual
precipitation amounts to 2,000 millimeters (79 inches), with a maximum between January and March, when 250/300 mm (10/12 in) of rain fall per month. In the relatively dry period, however, a moderate amount of rain still falls: on average, 80/100 mm (3/4 in) per month even from June to September. Here is the average precipitation.
Alofi - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
|---|
| January | 260 | 10.2 | |
|---|
| February | 250 | 9.8 | |
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| March | 300 | 11.8 | |
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| April | 200 | 7.9 | |
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| May | 130 | 5.1 | |
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| June | 80 | 3.1 | |
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| July | 90 | 3.5 | |
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| August | 100 | 3.9 | |
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| September | 100 | 3.9 | |
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| October | 120 | 4.7 | |
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| November | 140 | 5.5 | |
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| December | 190 | 7.5 | |
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| Year | 1960 | 77.2 | |
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The temperature of the
sea is always warm enough for swimming, and only goes down to 25 °C (77 °F) from July to October, as we can see in the following table.
Alofi - Sea temperature| Month | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
|---|
January | 28 | 82 | February | 28 | 82 | March | 28 | 82 | April | 28 | 82 | May | 27 | 81 | June | 26 | 79 | July | 25 | 77 | August | 25 | 77 | September | 25 | 77 | October | 25 | 77 | November | 26 | 79 | December | 27 | 81 | Year | 26.5 | 79.7 |
Tropical cyclones
Niue 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.
Best Time
The best time to travel to Niue is from
mid-May to October, since it is the coolest and sunniest period of the year. It must be said, however, that it is the winter, and it can sometimes get a little cool in the evening and at night, so it may be a good idea to bring a sweatshirt or sweater.
What to pack
In winter (June to August): bring light clothes for the day, a scarf for the breeze, a sweatshirt for the evening, and possibly a light raincoat or umbrella.
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.