Samoa - The climate in short
In Samoa (formerly Western Samoa), an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean located south of the Equator, the climate is tropical, that is, hot, humid and rainy throughout the year, with a maximum in rainfall from December to March and a relative minimum from June to September.
The archipelago consists of the two main islands, Savai'i and Upolu, two smaller islands, Manono and Apolima, plus some uninhabited islets.
Temperatures are stable, with little variation between the hottest period (December to April) and the coolest one (June to September). Temperatures at night are almost always above 20 °C (68 °F). The south-east trade winds blow steadily throughout the year, making the heat more bearable.
The rains are abundant. Typically, they occur in the form of downpours or thunderstorms, which are intense but usually short-lived, except in the period from December to March, when they can sometimes last for several hours.
Rainfall is enhanced by the mountains that are found in the interior of the two main islands, and in particular, the largest island, Savai'i, where Mount Silisili is located, 1,858 meters (6,096 feet) high. Here, the rains even exceed 5 meters (195 inches) per year.
The climate in detail
Apia
In the capital,
Apia, at nearly 14 degrees south latitude, the daily average ranges from 26.5 °C (79.5 °F) in August to 27.8 °C (82 °F) in March and April. Here are the average temperatures.
Apia - Average temperatures (1991-2020) | Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
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| January | 24.6 | 30.6 | 27.6 | 76 | 87 | 81.6 |
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| February | 24.5 | 30.6 | 27.6 | 76 | 87 | 81.6 |
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| March | 24.6 | 31 | 27.8 | 76 | 88 | 82 |
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| April | 24.4 | 31.2 | 27.8 | 76 | 88 | 82 |
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| May | 23.8 | 30.9 | 27.4 | 75 | 88 | 81.2 |
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| June | 23.7 | 30.6 | 27.1 | 75 | 87 | 80.8 |
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| July | 23.3 | 30 | 26.7 | 74 | 86 | 80 |
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| August | 23.1 | 29.9 | 26.5 | 74 | 86 | 79.7 |
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| September | 23.4 | 30 | 26.7 | 74 | 86 | 80.1 |
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| October | 23.7 | 30.3 | 27 | 75 | 86 | 80.6 |
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| November | 24.2 | 30.5 | 27.4 | 76 | 87 | 81.2 |
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| December | 24.3 | 30.6 | 27.4 | 76 | 87 | 81.4 |
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| Year | 24 | 30.5 | 27.2 | 75.1 | 86.9 | 81 |
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In Apia, on the north side of Upolu Island, 2,800 millimeters (110 inches) of rain fall per year, with a maximum of 450 mm (17.5 in) in January and a minimum of 80 mm (3.2 in) in July and August. Here is the average precipitation.
Apia - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
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| January | 450 | 17.7 | 19 |
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| February | 380 | 15 | 18 |
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| March | 350 | 13.8 | 17 |
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| April | 250 | 9.8 | 15 |
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| May | 160 | 6.3 | 13 |
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| June | 120 | 4.7 | 11 |
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| July | 80 | 3.1 | 8 |
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| August | 80 | 3.1 | 9 |
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| September | 130 | 5.1 | 12 |
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| October | 170 | 6.7 | 14 |
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| November | 260 | 10.2 | 16 |
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| December | 370 | 14.6 | 17 |
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| Year | 2800 | 110.2 | 169 |
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The sun in Samoa shines mainly in the relatively dry period, from June to September. In Apia, there are 2,200 hours of sunshine per year.
Apia - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
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January | 5 | 150 | February | 5.5 | 160 | March | 5.5 | 175 | April | 6 | 185 | May | 6 | 195 | June | 6.5 | 195 | July | 7 | 215 | August | 7 | 220 | September | 7 | 205 | October | 6.5 | 200 | November | 6 | 180 | December | 5 | 155 | Year | 6.1 | 2230 |
Sea temperature
The
sea in Samoa is warm enough to swim in all year round, as we can see in the following table.
Apia - Sea temperature| Month | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
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January | 29.5 | 85 | February | 29.5 | 85 | March | 29.5 | 85 | April | 29.5 | 85 | May | 29 | 85 | June | 28.5 | 83 | July | 28 | 83 | August | 28 | 82 | September | 28 | 82 | October | 28.5 | 83 | November | 29 | 84 | December | 29 | 85 | Year | 28.9 | 83.9 |
Tropical cyclones
The Samoa Islands are exposed to the
tropical cyclones of the South Pacific. Cyclones are usually formed from November to mid-May, though they are most likely from late December to early April. Outside of this period, there has been cyclone Keli, in June 1997.
When to go
The best time to travel to Samoa is from
June to September, since it is the least hot and the least rainy period of the year. However, even in this period, some downpours and thunderstorms must be put into account.
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. For the mountains, bring hiking boots, a fleece, a raincoat.
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