Weather in Vanuatu
The weather in Vanuatu can differ depending on which island you're on with the northern islands and the central and southern islands experiencing slightly different weather patterns throughout the year. This is why Vanuatua's climate is a combination of both equatorial and tropical with the northern islands experiencing more of a hot, humid and rainy climate throughout the year compared to the central and southern islands' hot and rainy climate from December to March and a cooler, drier climate from May to October.
Geological features play a large part in determining Vanuatu's weather patterns with the northernmost islands seeing the most rainfall throughout the year (up to 157 inches per year) thanks to their large number of volcanoes and mountain ranges. Even the least rainy months, which are June and August, still experience a whopping 8 inches (so make sure you pack some waterproof clothing).
Despite all this rain, Vanuatu still sees a solid number of sunny days with October, November, and December each experiencing 8 hours of sunlight per day on average.
Weather on the Northern islands
The Northern islands include Vanua Lava, the province of Torba (consisting of the Torres Islands and the Banks Islands), Espiritu Santo, and Malakula (among others) and these islands experience a warmer winter season that sees temperatures climb to highs of around 82/84°F. Even in the coolest months, the temperature doesn't drop below 71°F, meaning it'll never be cold enough to the point where it's uncomfortable to spend long periods of time outside.
While the Northern islands can experience pretty consistent rainfall throughout the year, that doesn't mean you need to leave your swimsuit at home, with the sea temperature averaging a warm 84°F.
Month | Average high | Average low |
March to May | 87°F | 75°F |
June to August | 84°F | 73°F |
September to November | 84°F | 73°F |
December to February | 87°F | 75°F |
Weather on the Central and Southern islands
The Southern islands are made up of the Shephard Islands, Epi and Efate Islands, and the islands of Tanna, Aneityum, Futuna, Erromango and Aniwa and they experience both a warm summer season and a cooler winter period. Heavy rainfall is expected in the months between January and March (around 12 inches per month on average) but this drops away during winter with a low average of 4 inches from July to September.
Again, while rainfall is consistent throughout the year, there are also plenty of sunshine hours per day to enjoy Vanuatu's beautiful landscapes.
Month | Average high | Average low |
March to May | 86°F | 71°F |
June to August | 80°F | 64°F |
September to November | 84°F | 64°F |
December to February | 87°F | 71°F |
Does Vanuatu experience cyclones?
Due to Vanuatu's position in the southwest Pacific, cyclones regularly occur (around 2-3 times per cyclone season) between November and May with January and February more likely to see extreme weather patterns so keep this in mind when you're planning out your itinerary.
If a cyclone does occur, it can manifest in a number of different ways, including heavy rainfall, flash flooding, landslides, storm surges, damaging winds, and strong seas so always make sure to listen out for news alerts via the radio and social media and heed any local warnings to avoid finding yourself in a potentially dangerous situation.
Average temperatures in Vanuatu
Month | Average high | Average low |
March to May | 84°F | 75°F |
June to August | 78°F | 69°F |
September to November | 82°F | 71°F |
December to February | 86°F | 75°F |
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