The climate of Wallis and Futuna is
equatorial, hot and humid throughout the year. There is a hotther and more humid period from November to April and a slightly cooler period from May to October. However, the difference is small: during the day, the temperature ranges from 30/31 °C (86/88 °F) to 28 °C (82 °F) on the Futuna Islands and from 30/31 °C (86/88 °F) to 29 °C (84 °F) on the island of Wallis, which is located more to the north, therefore closer to the Equator. However, in the period from May to October, and especially from June to September, the south-east trade winds blow constantly, cooling the air.
Wallis and Futuna is an archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean at 13-14 degrees south of the Equator and belonging to France. The capital, Mata Utu, is located on the island of Uvéa (or Wallis).
Here are the average temperatures in Futuna.
Futuna - Average temperatures| Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|
| January | 25 | 30 | 27.5 | 77 | 86 | 81.5 |
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| February | 25 | 31 | 28 | 77 | 88 | 82.4 |
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| March | 25 | 30 | 27.5 | 77 | 86 | 81.5 |
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| April | 25 | 30 | 27.5 | 77 | 86 | 81.5 |
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| May | 25 | 29 | 27 | 77 | 84 | 80.6 |
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| June | 24 | 29 | 26.5 | 75 | 84 | 79.7 |
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| July | 24 | 28 | 26 | 75 | 82 | 78.8 |
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| August | 24 | 28 | 26 | 75 | 82 | 78.8 |
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| September | 24 | 29 | 26.5 | 75 | 84 | 79.7 |
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| October | 24 | 29 | 26.5 | 75 | 84 | 79.7 |
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| November | 24 | 30 | 27 | 75 | 86 | 80.6 |
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| December | 25 | 30 | 27.5 | 77 | 86 | 81.5 |
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| Year | 24.5 | 29.4 | 26.9 | 76.1 | 84.9 | 80.5 |
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The
sea is warm enough to swim in all year round, as we can see in the following table, regarding the sea temperature in Futuna (on the island of Wallis, the sea temperature is also slightly higher).
Futuna - Sea temperature| Month | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
|---|
January | 29 | 84 | February | 29 | 84 | March | 29 | 84 | April | 29 | 84 | May | 28 | 82 | June | 28 | 82 | July | 27 | 81 | August | 27 | 81 | September | 27 | 81 | October | 28 | 82 | November | 28 | 82 | December | 29 | 84 | Year | 28.2 | 82.7 |
The
rains are plentiful, in fact, they exceed 3,000 millimeters (118 inches) per year. The wettest period is the warmest one, when more than 300 mm (12 in) fall per month: this happens from October to April in Wallis and from December to April in Futuna, which, being more distant from the Equator, experiences a shorter peak in the rainfall. However, on both islands, it rains all year round: precipitation never drops below 100 mm (4 in) per month, although between one shower and another, there is plenty of room for sunshine. Here is the average precipitation in Futuna.
Futuna - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
|---|
| January | 365 | 14.4 | 21 |
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| February | 370 | 14.6 | 19 |
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| March | 375 | 14.8 | 21 |
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| April | 310 | 12.2 | 18 |
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| May | 255 | 10 | 16 |
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| June | 140 | 5.5 | 12 |
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| July | 185 | 7.3 | 13 |
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| August | 185 | 7.3 | 14 |
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| September | 215 | 8.5 | 13 |
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| October | 235 | 9.3 | 16 |
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| November | 275 | 10.8 | 16 |
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| December | 380 | 15 | 19 |
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| Year | 3295 | 129.7 | 198 |
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The amount of
sunshine in Wallis and Futuna is acceptable, in fact, as mentioned, the rains, though frequent and sometimes heavy, are usually short-lived.
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Tropical cyclones
Wallis and Futuna is exposed to
tropical cyclones of the South Pacific Ocean. 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 visit Wallis and Futuna runs from
June to August, since it is the least hot and the least rainy period of the year. However, even in this period, showers and thunderstorms are fairly frequent.
What to pack
All year round, 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.