Tuvalu, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, experiences a tropical climate. There are two main seasons here, the ‘wet’ season and the ‘dry’ season. Wet season runs from November to March, and during this time Tuvalu experiences heavy rain and blustery gales. The locals call this time tau-o-lao. From March to November, the temperature is cooled and moderated by easterly trade winds.
The wet season sees the highest temperatures, with the hottest months of March and April peaking at around 88°F, although this is only slightly higher than the average temperatures of the dry season at around 85°F. Yet the drier months can seem cooler since they are regulated by sea breezes. The highest amount of rainfall comes in December and January, at around 15 inches per month.
Tuvalu can experience tropical cyclones, although the islands are usually never directly hit. However, in 1997 the country experienced three cyclones.
Best Time to Visit Tuvalu
Tuvalu experiences a rainy season, but even during this time the amount of precipitation is only slightly higher than during the rest of the year. In general, Tuvalu is pretty wet, although rainfall is usually short and shrift, although the rain is heavy so it is best to seek shelter when it falls. Visiting during the dry season is a good option since although there is still plenty of rain, here is less wind and the climate is moderated by gentle southeasterly trade winds.
The rainy season coincides with the tropical cyclone season, and although Tuvalu is on the outskirts of the cyclone belt and is rarely directly hit, you may wish to consider this danger when making travel plans.