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 |
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| 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 |
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| November | 22 | 27 | 24.5 | 72 | 81 | 76.1 |
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| 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.