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Climate - Tonga


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Tonga

Map - Tonga

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Tonga - The climate in short



In most of Tonga, an Oceanian archipelago lying south of the Equator, there is a tropical climate, influenced by the trade winds, with a hot, rainy season from December to April and a cool, relatively dry season from June to October. However, even in the relatively dry season, brief showers and thunderstorms may occur, which fortunately do not reduce too much the sunshine hours. Generally, the rainiest month is March.
In the northern islands, where the temperature is more stable and the rains are more abundant, we can speak of an equatorial climate.

The rains are abundant throughout the archipelago, but gradually decrease from north to south, from about 2,400 to about 1,600 millimeters (95 to 63 inches) per year.

The climate in detail


  • Niua
  • Vava'u
  • Ha'apai- Lifuka
  • Far south - Tongatapu
  • Cyclones
  • When to go
  • What to pack

Division of the Tonga Islands into groups

Niua



In the northernmost group of islands (zone 1 on the map), called Niua, which lie at a latitude of about 15 degrees south (Niuafo'ou, Niuatoputapu, and Tafahi), the climate is hot and humid all year round, so that, as mentioned, we can speak of equatorial climate. Between the hottest months (February and March) and the least hot months (July and August), the difference is little: highs range from 31 °C to 29.5 °C (88 °F to 85 °F).

Climate chart - Niuafo'ou

Here are the average temperatures of Niuafo'ou.
Niuafoou - Average temperatures (2014-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January23.930.927.4758881.4
February24.230.927.6768881.6
March24.331.127.7768881.9
April24.230.627.4768781.3
May23.73026.9758680.3
June23.630.327758780.5
July23.529.626.6748579.8
August2329.826.4738679.5
September23.330.426.8748780.3
October23.630.327758780.5
November23.730.627.2758780.9
December23.930.127758680.6
Year23.730.42774.786.780.5

Precipitation is abundant and exceeds 2,300 millimeters (90 inches) per year, with a rainier period from November to April, when it exceeds 200 mm (8 in) per month, two transitional months, May and October, with 170/180 mm (6.7/7.1 in) of rain per month, and a less rainy period from June to September, when still 100/140 mm (4/5.5 in) of rain fall per month. Here is the average precipitation.
Niuafoou - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January3051221
February2509.818
March3051222
April2509.817
May1656.516
June1104.313
July1355.314
August1154.514
September1455.712
October1756.915
November2309.118
December27010.621
Year245596.7201

Therefore, the best period in this area is from June to September, since it is the least rainy, and albeit slightly, the least hot. The sea is warm all year round.

Vava'u



Climate chart - Vava'u

Further south, in Vava'u and the surrounding islets (2 on the map), at nearly 19 degrees south latitude, the temperature in the coolest months drops a bit: highs in July, August, and September are around 27 °C (81 °F), in addition, cool air masses can sometimes lower the night temperature to around 15 °C (59 °F) and the maximum around 25 °C (77 °F). Here are the average temperatures in Vava'u.
Vavau - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January233026.5738679.7
February243127.5758881.5
March243127.5758881.5
April233026.5738679.7
May222825728277
June212824.5708276.1
July202723.5688174.3
August202723.5688174.3
September212724708175.2
October222825728277
November222925.5728477.9
December233026.5738679.7
Year22.128.825.471.783.977.5

In this group, precipitation is also less abundant, and amounts to 2,100 mm (83 in) per year.
Vavau - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January26510.419
February2459.620
March32012.621
April2007.918
May1455.715
June1054.115
July1104.316
August1054.114
September1204.713
October1505.914
November1606.314
December2158.519
Year213584.1198

Here, as in the northernmost islands, sea is warm enough to swim in all year round, although the water temperature drops to 25.5 °C (78 °F) from July to September.
Vavau - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2883
February28.583
March28.583
April2883
May2781
June26.580
July25.578
August25.578
September25.578
October2679
November2780
December27.582
Year2780.6

In this group too, since it is almost always warm enough for a beach holiday, the best period is from June to September.

Ha'apai



More to the south, at 19/20 degrees south latitude, we find the Ha'apai group (3 on the map), made up of islands such as Lifuka, Foa, and Ha'ano. Here, the temperatures are about a degree Celsius lower, moreover, rainfall drops to around 1,600 mm (63 in) per year, at least on the flat islands, while there are also volcanic islands, such as Kao, with inland slopes that enhance the formation of thunderstorm clouds.

Lifuka

Climate chart - Lifuka

Highs in Lifuka range from 30 °C (86 °F) in February and March to 26 °C (79 °F) between July and September.
Here too, from May to October, cool air can sometimes arrive and lower the temperature to around 15 °C (59 °F) at night and, especially from July to September, to 22/23 °C (72/73 °F) during the day.
Here are the average temperatures.
Lifuka - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January24.629.326.9768580.5
February24.929.827.3778681.2
March24.929.727.3778581.1
April24.228.826.5768479.7
May22.927.525.2738277.4
June22.226.624.4728075.8
July21.125.823.4707874.2
August2125.723.3707874
September21.32623.6707974.6
October22.226.824.5728076.1
November23.427.925.7748278.2
December24.228.926.5768479.8
Year23.127.725.3573.581.977.5

Here is the average precipitation in Lifuka. As you can see, there is no real dry season, but the rains are at an acceptable level from May to November.
Lifuka - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1656.513
February1957.715
March2309.117
April1907.514
May1054.112
June803.111
July903.512
August1003.911
September1104.310
October903.511
November1154.59
December1505.913
Year162063.8148

In the central part too, the sea is warm all year round, as we can see in the following table.
Lifuka - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January27.582
February28.583
March28.583
April2882
May26.580
June2678
July2577
August24.576
September2577
October25.578
November2679
December2781
Year26.579.7

Being that the relatively dry season is a little longer, the best time here is from May to October.

Lifuka

Far south



In the far south, we finally find the groups of Tongatapu and 'Eua (4 on the map).

Tongatapu

Climate chart - Nuku'alofa

In Tongatapu, where Nuku'alofa, the capital, is located, owing to the more southern position (the group is located at a latitude of 21 degrees south), winter is a quite cool season: highs from June to September are around to 25/26 °C (77/79 °F). Also, cold air masses can sometimes arrive, lowering the temperature to 12/13 °C (53/55 °F). At the Fua'amotu International Airport, the temperature dropped to 8.7 °C (47.7 °F) in September 1994.
Here are the average temperatures of Nuku'alofa.
Nukualofa - Average temperatures (2000-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January23.329.826.6748679.8
February23.629.926.8748680.2
March23.429.826.6748679.9
April22.528.625.6728378
May21.127.224.2708175.5
June20.225.923687973.5
July18.92522667771.5
August18.92522667771.5
September19.225.622.4677872.3
October20.126.623.4688074
November21.32824.6708276.4
December22.42925.7728478.3
Year21.227.524.370.281.576

In these southern islands, precipitation is still around 1,600/1,700 mm (63/67 in) per year.
Nukualofa - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1756.917
February2108.319
March2058.119
April1656.517
May1104.315
June953.714
July953.715
August1154.513
September1204.713
October1305.111
November1254.912
December1756.915
Year172067.7180

On the southernmost islands, the sea temperature also decreases by a few degrees in the southern winter, dropping to 23.5 °C (74 °F) in August and September, so it remains acceptable but not so warm.
Nukualofa - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2781
February27.582
March27.582
April2780
May25.578
June24.576
July2475
August23.574
September23.574
October2475
November2577
December2679
Year25.577.8

It is true that the minimum temperature remains generally high, around 19/20 °C (66/68 °F), so the conditions remain usually acceptable for a beach holiday, but those who are sensitive to cold could feel a bit cool, also because, as we have said, sometimes there can be very cool periods, especially from July to September. So, on these southernmost islands of Tonga, you can choose the months of May, October, and November, when temperatures are a little higher.

Tropical cyclones



The islands of Tonga are in the path of tropical cyclones. Cyclones are usually formed from November to mid-May, though they are most likely from late December to early April.
The following are some intense cyclones that hit the Tongan archipelago in the past few decades: Ron in January 1998, Waka in December 2001, Heta in January 2004, and Gita in February 2018.

When to go



The best time to travel to Tonga is:
- from June to September on the northern islands, down to the Vava'u group inclusive,
- from May to October in the Ha'apai group,
- and finally, it corresponds to the months of May, October and November in the southern group of Tongatapu.

Anyway, considering that, albeit rarely, cyclones may also occur in November and in the first half of May, for safety, you can exclude these periods, even where they fall within the best ones.

What to pack



For the northernmost islands, 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 central and southern islands:
In winter (June to August), pack light clothes for the day, a scarf for the breeze, a sweatshirt for the evening, and possibly a light jacket for the southern islands; a light raincoat or umbrella. When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.
In summer (December to February), pack 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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