What is the Climate in Niue Like?
Niue is an island in the South Pacific with a tropical climate. Typically, the country is warm during the day with a comfortable drop in temperature at night all year round. Niue only has two distinct seasons with the most rainfall and highest temperatures occurring between November and April.
That’s the short of it. If you want to know more about the climate of Niue, dive into our weather and climate guide below.
Niue Seasons
Niue has a tropical climate with a hot and humid period between November and April and a drier and cooler period between May and October. The seasons are therefore split into the following:
- Dry/Winter season: May to October
- Wet/Summer season: November to April
More information about the seasons in Niue is available in What are the Seasons in Niue?
© NiuePocketGuide.comThe Temperature in Niue
Niue experiences warm temperatures all year round due to its position just north of the Tropic of Capricorn. The country is so small (261.5km²/100.9mi²) that the entire island tends to experience the same temperature. The main difference in temperatures, however, is those felt between the dry season (winter) and the wet season (summer).
During the dry season, daytime temperatures average at 25°C (79°F) while at nighttime they are around 21°C (70°F).
During the wet season, daytime temperatures average at 29°C (84°F) while at nighttime they are around 24°C (75°F).
Some of the hottest temperatures experienced in the wet season can exceed 35°C (95°F), while some of the coldest can occur in the dry season dropping under 15°C (59°F) at night.
Although temperatures stay warm throughout the year, you might want to look at the average temperatures of a specific month that you intend to visit Niue for a more accurate representation. Take a look at the following month-by-month guides on the weather in Niue:
© NiuePocketGuide.comSea Temperature in Niue
The temperature of the sea in Niue is comfortable for swimming all year round with an average yearly sea temperature of 26.5°C (79.7°F).
The highest sea temperatures tend to be experienced during the wet season with the average temperature being 28°C (82°F) between January and April.
The lowest sea temperatures only go down to around 25°C (77°F) during the dry season between July and October.
Again, average sea temperatures month-by-month can be seen in our monthly weather guides linked above.
© NiuePocketGuide.comRainfall in Niue
Don’t be fooled by the labels “dry” and “wet” season. Rainfall can occur all year round in Niue. The yearly average rainfall amounts to around 2,000mm (79″).
As the name suggests, the wet season is when maximum precipitation occurs with about 250 to 300mm (10 to 12″) falling per month between January and March.
In the dry season, Niue still gets a share of rainy spells with an average of 80 to 100mm (3 to 4″) precipitation per month between June and September.
Due to Niue’s maritime climate and flat terrain, rain spells come in quick, heavy and often short bursts over the island.
© Jonathan Irish - Niue TourismDaylight and Sunshine Hours in Niue
Niue experiences long days all year round with daylight hours spanning 13 hours per day from October to April. In the dry season months, this only drops down to 11 hours with the shortest days being in June.
With the long days comes plenty of sunshine. The most sunshine hours are experienced between October and April, averaging at 7.6 hours per day. The month with the highest sunshine hours is typically December at around 8.5 hours, while the month with the least is June with around 5.2 hours.
© PexelsSevere Weather Events
Tropical cyclones that develop in the South Pacific have a risk of affecting Niue. The cyclone season in Niue and the South Pacific starts in November and ends in April, i.e. during the wet season. The peak months for cyclone risk are the months of December, January and February. There is also a higher risk of cyclone activity during an El Nino year.
Niue has a history of cyclone activity, with the worst recorded being the category 5 Cyclone Heta in January 2004. Other cyclones that have impacted Niue, although to a much lesser extent, include Cyclones Sina, ‘Ofa and Tusi.
Niue is well-prepared with emergency procedures should a cyclone occur, which you can learn more about in How to Prepare for a Cyclone in Niue.
More About the Climate of Niue
