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Climate - Papua New Guinea


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, when to go, what to pack

Flag - Papua New Guinea

Map - Papua New Guinea


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Index


  • Introduction
  • Equatorial climate - Madang
  • Tropical climate - Port Moresby
  • Mountains - Goroka
  • Cyclones
  • Best Time
  • What to pack

Introduction


The climate in Papua New Guinea is hot and humid throughout the year along the coasts and in the plains, while it is progressively cooler, and then colder, as you go up in altitude. In much of the country, covered with dense rainforests, there is no dry season, so we can speak of equatorial climate, while in some inland valleys and along the south coast, there is a relatively dry season from July to September, and therefore the climate is tropical.
The climate is influenced by the monsoon circulation: the northwest monsoon prevails from December to April, and the southeast monsoon from May to October. Usually, each monsoon brings rainfall on the exposed slope, but in many areas, it rains during both the monsoons, so it rains all year round.
Rainfall typically ranges from 2,000 to 4,000 millimeters (80 to 160 inches) per year, with some higher peaks on the most exposed slopes, where it reaches as high as 7/8 meters (23/26 feet) per year, while it drops to 1,000/1,500 mm (40/60 in) on the southern coast, overlooking the Gulf of Papua and the Coral Sea.
On the coasts, the temperatures are high and stable throughout the year in the north, around 30 °C (86 °F) during the day, while in the south, located farther from the Equator, they decrease a bit in the period that can be called winter, from June to September.
Papua New Guinea is an island state, formed by the eastern part of New Guinea (the western part belonging to Indonesia) plus some smaller islands (including New Britain, New Ireland, Manus and Bougainville).

Papua New Guinea

Equatorial climate


Madang

In Madang, on the north-eastern coast of New Guinea, 3,500 mm (138 in) of rain fall per year, with a maximum of 430 mm (17 in) in April and a minimum of 120 mm (4.7 in) in August, so we are in the area that has an equatorial climate. Here is the average precipitation.
Madang - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January3051217
February30011.816
March3801519
April43016.918
May38515.217
June27510.811
July1957.711
August1204.79
September1455.710
October2551011
November34013.413
December37014.618
Year3500137.8170

As mentioned, temperatures along the coasts are high throughout the year, and in particular, they are very stable in the areas with an equatorial climate. Here are the average temperatures of Madang.
Madang - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January233026.5738679.7
February233026.5738679.7
March233026.5738679.7
April233026.5738679.7
May233026.5738679.7
June223026728678.8
July222925.5728477.9
August222925.5728477.9
September223026728678.8
October223026728678.8
November233026.5738679.7
December233026.5738679.7
Year22.629.826.1572.685.779

The amount of sunshine on the coasts is generally decent, but not exceptional; however, it is a little higher from May to October. Here are the sunshine hours in Madang.
Madang - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January5155
February5140
March5155
April5150
May7215
June7210
July7215
August7215
September7210
October7215
November6180
December5155
Year6.12225

To the east of the eastern part of New Guinea, which constitutes the largest portion of the country, the islands (including New Ireland, New Britain and Bougainville) are very rainy throughout the year as well. In general, the rains are most abundant from December to April, but not everywhere: in Lae, facing south-east in the Huon Gulf, the rains are most abundant in July and August, when more than 500 mm (20 in) fall per month.

Tropical climate


Port Moresby

The capital, Port Moresby, is located in the southern area, which, as mentioned, is less rainy and more sheltered, so much so that it receives only 1,000 mm (40 in) of rain per year, with a relatively dry period from May to November, when rainfall drops below 70 mm (2.8 in) per month; in particular, the rains are scarce from June to October. Here is the average precipitation.
Port Moresby - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1807.19
February1957.78
March1706.710
April1054.16
May652.63
June351.44
July301.23
August180.72
September2512
October351.43
November5024
December1104.37
Year102040.161

In the capital, the best period is the one that runs from June to September, in fact, it is also the least hot, with maximum temperatures around 29/30 °C (84/86 °F), instead of the 31/32 °C (88/90 °F) that are recorded in the rest of the year. Here are the average temperatures.
Port Moresby - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January233127738880.6
February223126.5728879.7
March223126.5728879.7
April223126.5728879.7
May223026728678.8
June223026728678.8
July212925708477
August213025.5708677.9
September223026728678.8
October223126.5728879.7
November223227729080.6
December233227.5739081.5
Year2230.726.371.687.279.5

Being that the rains are less frequent, the amount of sunshine in Port Moresby is higher than in other areas of the country.
Port Moresby - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January7215
February7200
March8250
April8240
May8250
June9270
July10310
August10310
September10300
October9280
November9270
December8250
Year8.63140

The sea is always warm enough for swimming throughout the country, although in the southernmost part, where the capital is located, it becomes a bit less warm from July to October, as we can see in the following table.
Port Moresby - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2984
February2984
March2984
April2984
May2882
June2781
July2679
August2577
September2679
October2679
November2882
December2984
Year27.681.7

Mountains



The interior of the mainland (eastern New Guinea) is crossed by mountains: in the north, we find the Victor Emanuel Range and the Bismarck Mountains, the latter culminating in Mount Wilhelm, 4,509 meters (14,793 feet) high, while in the south, we find the Owen Stanley Mountains, whose highest peak is Mount Victoria, 4,038 meters (13,248 feet) high.
At 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) of altitude, the temperature is pleasant: cool at night and warm during the day.

Goroka

Here are the average temperatures of Goroka, located at 1,600 meters (5,2520 feet) above sea level, in the Eastern Highlands province.
Goroka - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January162721.1608070
February162621.4618070.4
March162621.4618070.4
April162721.3608070.3
May152620.8607969.5
June152620.6597969.1
July152620.2597868.4
August152620.4597968.8
September162621607969.7
October152721.2608170.2
November162721.4608170.4
December162821.8618271.2
Year15.626.5216079.870

In Goroka, 1,700 mm (68 in) of rain fall per year; there is a relatively dry season from June to August, when, however, some showers can still occur.
Goroka - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1556.113
February2148.413
March27010.613
April1756.912
May1505.912
June451.812
July702.812
August50212
September1505.912
October1305.113
November1455.713
December1656.513
Year172067.7150

The sun in the mountainous areas shines less often than on the coasts, and the sky is often cloudy.
Goroka - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January5.5165
February5135
March4.5140
April4.5140
May4.5135
June4.5140
July4125
August4.5145
September5145
October5.5165
November5.5160
December5155
Year4.81755

Above 3,500 meters (11,500 ft), the forest is replaced by a sparse mountain vegetation: here, the cold is constant and sometimes it can even snow.
From the mountains, numerous rivers flow, such as the Sepik and the Fly, which in lowland areas, often at great distance from the mouth, give rise to marshes and swamps, where mangroves and gallery forests grow.

Tropical cyclones



Papua New Guinea can be affected by tropical cyclones of the South Pacific. Typically, cyclones are formed from November to mid-May, although they are more likely from late November to mid-April. The part of the country that is directly affected is the center-south. The map below is an indication of the areas that have been affected in the past. The northern areas, however, may be partly affected, with an increase in wind, clouds, and waves.

Papua New Guinea, zone affected by cyclones

The climate of Papua New Guinea is also influenced by the so-called ENSO cycle. In El Niño years, the rainy season is warmer and drier than normal, and the monsoon arrives often late, while the dry season is cooler than normal in the south. On the other hand, in La Niña years, the rainy season from December to April is more intense than normal and can lead to flooding, while the dry season is warmer than normal in the south. During neutral phases (neither El Niño nor La Niña), however, it's more likely for cyclones to form.

Best Time



The best time to visit the southern coast of Papua New Guinea, which includes Port Moresby, runs from June to August or September, since it is the driest and the least hot period of the year. Along this coast, in the months of May, October, and November, the rains are rare as well, but they are a bit hotter.
On the contrary, as previously mentioned, the other parts of the country do not experience a real dry season, in fact, they are rainy all year round, and some areas, such as the coast where Lae is located, receive the greatest amount of rainfall right in this period. However, the best period to visit the country as a whole is still from June to August, remembering that there can be showers and thunderstorms, more or less intense, in many areas.

What to pack



All year round, 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. When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.
In inland areas, around 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), bring spring/autumn clothes, a sweater and a jacket for the evening, and an umbrella. For the highest peaks, warm clothes, such as a down jacket, gloves, a hat, and hiking boots.

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