Weather locations in Fiji

Fiji lies in the middle of the south-west Pacific, straddling the 180th meridian about 1,600 km north of New Zealand. It is an archipelago of two large volcanic islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, with dozens of smaller coral atolls to the north and east. The climate is tropical and maritime, governed by the south-east trade winds for half the year and by cyclones for the other half, and heavy rain on the windward mountains is one of the country's defining features.

Main climate types

The islands carry a tropical rainforest climate over most of their windward slopes, with a tropical savanna grade on the leeward, rain-shadow sides of the larger islands. Viti Levu's eastern flank, which catches the trade winds, is one of the wettest inhabited places on earth, while the western leeward lowlands around Lautoka and the coral atolls of the Yasawa group stay markedly drier and sunnier.

Temperatures

Temperatures vary little through the year. Suva averages about 26 °C in January and about 25 °C in July, with daytime highs near 30 °C and nights near 23 °C. Stations on the windward side of the mountains are a little cooler, and the highest inland valleys of Viti Levu can be noticeably fresher at night than the coast, especially in the dry season.

Rainfall

Annual rainfall ranges from about 1,000 mm on the driest atolls to more than 6,000 mm, and locally over 10,000 mm, on the windward slopes of Viti Levu and Taveuni. The wettest months are generally January to March, which also covers the cyclone season, while the dry months from May to October bring the trade winds and long sunny spells. Showers normally arrive as warm afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain.

When to go

The dry season, from May to October, is the best time for most of the country, with steady trade winds, clear water and far less rain. The cyclone season, roughly November to April, carries the risk of storms and rough seas, with the greatest damage usually in late January to March.