French Polynesia Weather and Climate
French Polynesia is located between the equator and the Tropic of Capricorn. It encompasses around 2.5 million sq km of ocean, and consists of 5 main archipelagos which are the Society, Marquesas, Gambier, Austral and Tuamotu Islands. The climate in each of these archipelagos is different and unique.
Marquesas Islands: The Marquesas islands close to the equator have a sub-tropical climate. They are more humid and warmer on average than the Society Islands and don’t really have any distinguishable seasons. Rainfall will vary considerably depending on prevailing winds but averages between 1000 and 3000 mm per year. January to August are slightly warmer and more humid while the dryer season goes from September to December
Frequently Asked Questions About Tahiti Weather
The best months to visit Tahiti are traditionally between May and October to catch the best weather.
The annual average temperature in Tahiti is 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or 27 degrees Celsius.
Despite being a tropical destination, Tahiti doesn’t have a set rainy season. The dry season runs from May to October, with July and August being the best for Tahiti weather.
CLIMATE DATA FOR ATUONA, MARQUESAS ISLANDS – FRENCH POLYNESIA
| MONTH | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AVERAGE HIGH °C (°F) | 30 (86) | 31 (87) | 31 (87) | 31 (87) | 29 (85) | 29 (84) | 28 (83) | 28 (83) | 29 (84) | 29 (85) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 29.6 (85.3) |
AVERAGE LOW °C (°F) | 23 (74) | 24 (75) | 24 (76) | 24 (76) | 24 (75) | 23 (74) | 23 (74) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 23 (74) | 23 (74) | 23.5 (74.3) |
PRECIPITATION MM (INCHES) | 114 (4.5) | 91 (3.6) | 137 (5.4) | 117 (4.6) | 122 (4.8) | 175 (6.9) | 122 (4.8) | 102 (4) | 81 (3.2) | 79 (3.1) | 66 (2.6) | 89 (3.5) | 1,295 (51) |
| Source: Wikipedia |
Society Islands: The Society Islands are the most densely populated and visited islands with a climate that is tropical oceanic. There are two distinct seasons 1) the fresh and dry season from May to October, and 2) the warm and rainy season from November to April.
Dry Season: Average minimum temperatures range between 20°C and 22°C and the average maximum temperatures range between 29°C and 28°C. This is the most popular time for visiting the Society Islands.
Rainy Season: Average minimum temperatures range between 23°C and 22°C and the average maximum temperatures range between 29°C and 31°C. It is important to note that this is also the period of hurricanes. The rainiest month typically occur during the months of December and January and are most intense on the north and north-west coastlines which are exposed to the trade winds during that time of the year.
The sea water surface temperature varies between 26°C and 29°C which makes it ideal for swimming in year-round.
| Society Isl. (Papeete) | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rain (mm) | 315 | 234 | 201 | 145 | 91 | 61 | 61 | 48 | 46 | 91 | 163 | 318 |
Min Temp (°C) | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 |
Max Temp (°C) | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| Tahiti (Society Islands) | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sea Water Temp. (°C) | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 |
| Society Isl. Bora Bora | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rain (mm) | 300 | 220 | 200 | 140 | 150 | 130 | 90 | 80 | 80 | 150 | 220 | 300 |
Min Temp (°C) | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 |
Max Temp (°C) | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
Tuamotu Islands: The Tuamotu islands’ climate is categorized as tropical-humid. Their warm and rainy season is the same as the Society islands as they also occur from November to April with the fresh and dry season running from May to October. They also average the same months of maximum rainfall in December and January.
| Tuamotu Isl. Takaroa | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rain (mm) | 200 | 190 | 140 | 120 | 80 | 90 | 85 | 60 | 80 | 130 | 190 | 210 |
Min Temp (°C) | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Max Temp (°C) | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 |
| Tuamotu Isl. – Rangiroa | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sea Water Temp. (°C) | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 |