Niue - The climate in short
The climate of Niue is tropical, with a hot, muggy and rainy period from December to April and a cooler and drier period from June to October, during which the south-east trade winds prevail.
Niue is an island located in the Pacific Ocean, at 18 degrees south latitude and east of Tonga.
In the hot period, temperatures hover around 29/30 °C (84/86 °F) during the day and around 23/24 °C (73/75 °F) at night, while in the cooler period, daytime temperatures drop to around 27 °C (80.5 °F) and night-time temperatures to around 20/21 °C (68/70 °F).
From May to October, but especially from July to September, cool air masses can sometimes arrive from the south, which can lower the minimum temperature to about 15 °C (59 °F) and the maximum to 23/24 °C (73/75 °F).
The climate in detail
Alofi
Here are the average temperatures in the capital, Alofi.
Alofi - Average temperatures (1991-2020) | Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
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| January | 23.4 | 29.4 | 26.4 | 74 | 85 | 79.5 |
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| February | 23.8 | 30 | 26.9 | 75 | 86 | 80.4 |
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| March | 23.3 | 29.9 | 26.6 | 74 | 86 | 79.9 |
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| April | 22.7 | 29.1 | 25.9 | 73 | 84 | 78.6 |
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| May | 21.5 | 27.8 | 24.6 | 71 | 82 | 76.4 |
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| June | 20.7 | 27 | 23.8 | 69 | 81 | 74.9 |
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| July | 20.1 | 26.5 | 23.3 | 68 | 80 | 73.9 |
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| August | 20 | 26.5 | 23.3 | 68 | 80 | 73.9 |
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| September | 20.4 | 26.8 | 23.6 | 69 | 80 | 74.6 |
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| October | 21.3 | 27.5 | 24.4 | 70 | 81 | 75.9 |
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| November | 22.4 | 28.5 | 25.4 | 72 | 83 | 77.8 |
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| December | 23 | 29.1 | 26.1 | 73 | 84 | 78.9 |
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| Year | 21.9 | 28.2 | 24.95 | 71.4 | 82.7 | 77 |
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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 | |
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| 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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Sea temperature
The temperature of the
sea is always warm enough for swimming, and only goes down to 25.5 °C (78 °F) from July to September, as we can see in the following table.
Alofi - Sea temperature| Month | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
|---|
January | 28 | 83 | February | 28.5 | 83 | March | 28.5 | 83 | April | 28 | 83 | May | 27 | 81 | June | 26.5 | 80 | July | 25.5 | 78 | August | 25.5 | 78 | September | 25.5 | 78 | October | 26 | 79 | November | 27 | 80 | December | 27.5 | 82 | Year | 27 | 80.6 |
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.
When to go
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.
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