The climate of the Pitcairn Islands, a British territory in the Pacific Ocean, just south of the Tropic of Capricorn (therefore in the Southern Hemisphere), is
subtropical oceanic, characterized by a hot summer from December to March, when the maximum temperatures at sea level are around 27/28 °C (81/82 °F), and a very mild winter from June to September, with maximum temperatures around 22/23 °C (72/73 °F).
Adamstown, the capital, is located on the only inhabited island, the southernmost of the four islands of the archipelago (Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno), where the descendants of the Bounty mutineers reside. Pitcairn is the only island with hills in the interior, and the weather station is located at 265 meters (870 feet) above sea level, so the temperatures are slightly lower than at sea level.
Here are the average temperatures.
Adamstown - Average temperatures| Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|
| January | 20.6 | 25.7 | 23.2 | 69 | 78 | 73.7 |
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| February | 21 | 26.2 | 23.6 | 70 | 79 | 74.5 |
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| March | 20.8 | 25.9 | 23.4 | 69 | 79 | 74 |
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| April | 19.8 | 24.4 | 22.1 | 68 | 76 | 71.8 |
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| May | 18.7 | 22.8 | 20.8 | 66 | 73 | 69.4 |
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| June | 17.5 | 21.6 | 19.6 | 64 | 71 | 67.2 |
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| July | 16.8 | 21 | 18.9 | 62 | 70 | 66 |
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| August | 16 | 20.6 | 18.3 | 61 | 69 | 64.9 |
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| September | 16.4 | 21.1 | 18.8 | 62 | 70 | 65.8 |
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| October | 17.2 | 22.1 | 19.6 | 63 | 72 | 67.4 |
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| November | 18.2 | 23 | 20.6 | 65 | 73 | 69.1 |
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| December | 19.5 | 24.4 | 22 | 67 | 76 | 71.5 |
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| Year | 18.5 | 23.2 | 20.85 | 65.3 | 73.8 | 69.5 |
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The
rains are frequent in all seasons, so much so that in a typical year, 1,600 millimeters (63 inches) of rain fall, and average precipitation exceeds 100 mm (4 in) in all months. Here is the average precipitation.
Adamstown - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
|---|
| January | 120 | 4.7 | 14 |
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| February | 140 | 5.5 | 13 |
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| March | 120 | 4.7 | 13 |
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| April | 155 | 6.1 | 12 |
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| May | 130 | 5.1 | 11 |
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| June | 155 | 6.1 | 11 |
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| July | 150 | 5.9 | 11 |
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| August | 125 | 4.9 | 12 |
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| September | 140 | 5.5 | 12 |
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| October | 135 | 5.3 | 13 |
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| November | 120 | 4.7 | 14 |
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| December | 165 | 6.5 | 14 |
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| Year | 1635 | 64.4 | 150 |
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The
wind often blows, moderate or strong, especially in winter, when weather fronts brought by the westerlies often pass, bringing periods of bad weather.
The amount of
sunshine is high in the summer months, and it's still acceptable in the winter months, when there are also sunny days.
The
sea temperature is high enough for swimming in summer, while it becomes a little cool from July to October.
Adamstown - Sea temperature| Month | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
|---|
January | 26 | 79 | February | 26 | 80 | March | 27 | 80 | April | 26 | 78 | May | 24 | 76 | June | 23 | 74 | July | 22 | 72 | August | 22 | 72 | September | 22 | 71 | October | 22 | 72 | November | 23 | 74 | December | 25 | 76 | Year | 24.1 | 75.4 |
Tropical cyclones
Sometimes, from November to April, the Pitcairn Islands can be affected by
tropical cyclones, though it rarely happens; moreover, they are usually not intense because the waters in which they are located are not warm enough, and therefore do not provide a lot of energy. However, in the most intense El Niño years, such as 1982/83 and 1997/98, when the sea gets warmer, cyclones become more frequent.
Best Time
The best time to visit the Pitcairn Islands, either for excursions or for a beach holiday, runs from
January to March, since it is the warmest and sunniest period of the year. Sometimes, however, in this period, a tropical cyclone may pass over the islands, or rather its remains. You can therefore go in the other months, in particular, in September and October, when, however, the weather is a bit cool for swimming.
What to pack
In winter (June to August): bring spring/autumn clothes (light for the day), a sweatshirt or sweater, a jacket, and a raincoat or umbrella.
In summer (December to February): bring light clothes for the day, a scarf for the breeze, a sweatshirt for the evening, and a light raincoat or umbrella.