Climate and Average Weather in Vanuatu
Vanuatu is a mountainous island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Technically an archipelago, Vanuatu is part of the renowned Australasia Ecozone along with other island nations in the Pacific, making the entire country a terrestrial ecoregion in its own right. The country is home to impressive marine reserves, biodiversity, and is known for azure waters, white sand beaches, refreshing hiking trails, and diving spots that adventure junkies would love.In general, Vanuatu has a subtropical climate. Temperatures are generally between 21°C and 32°C, with night temperatures between 15°C and 27°C. Vanuatu’s warmest months are from January to March with very high maximum daytime temperatures at 31°C in both Aneityum and Port Vila, and nighttime temperatures of around 23°C in Port Vila. The coldest month in the country is July with maximum daytime temperatures of 26°C in Port Vila, as well as nighttime temperatures around 18°C in the same city.
Rain can occur in Vanuatu throughout the year, but precipitation mostly falls between January and April. Vanuatu gets fairly high amounts of precipitation in a year. On average, precipitation is recorded at about 2450 mm per year. Vanuatu’s wettest month of the year is March when heavy rainfall measures at 332 mm in Aneityum[,mm] and 362 mm rainfall in Luganville. July is the driest month with moderate rain in Luganville of about 81 mm to high rainfall of 100 mm rainfall in Aneityum.
It is also worth mentioning that Vanuatu itself is home to some of the world's most active volcanoes, namely Mount Yasur in Tanna Island. Because Vanuatu's islands are volcanic in nature, fluctuations in volcanic activity can contribute to the weather each island experiences at a given month in a year. In addition, the Northern islands can be considerably wetter than the Southern islands.
Does it snow in Vanuatu?
There is no recorded snowfall in the history of Vanuatu to date. This is because Vanuatu is near the Equator where existing weather conditions like increased heat and humidity make it impossible for snow to ever occur in the islands.
Does Vanuatu get hurricanes?
Considering Vanuatu’s location in the Pacific Ocean, the more appropriate term for this stormy weather disturbance is ‘tropical cyclone’. Tropical cyclone season in Vanuatu lasts from the months of December to April and can occur in as early as November in a given year. The most destructive tropical cyclone to have ever been recorded in the history of Vanuatu to date is Cyclone Pam in 2015 when severe flooding plagued most of the residential areas and makeshift homes along the coastal regions.
When is the best time to visit Vanuatu?
The best time to visit Vanuatu is from May to October. If you are travelling north, we would suggest going to Vanuatu between the months of July and August. If you are interested in the southern islands, we recommend going in the months of May, June, September and October as the weather is considerably better for travel and leisure during these months. This is because it is a little cooler down south than in the northern parts of Vanuatu.
We do not recommend travelling to Vanuatu from December to April as cyclones typically pass through Vanuatu during this period of time.
Are you interested in more detailed weather and climate information for various cities in Vanuatu?
Please select the city you plan to visit, or one closest to your destination. For each selected city, you will see the following graphs:
1. Yearly average minimum and maximum temperatures
2. Monthly averages of precipitation throughout the year (rainfall, snow etc)
3. Monthly average hours of sunshine throughout the year
Additionally, some pages provide historical weather data such as humidity, wind speed, and water temperature.