New Caledonia
Weather locations in New Caledonia
Choose a location in New Caledonia to view its available forecast products.
New Caledonia illustrated weather map
2 mapped locations
Only locations with a verified coordinate are marked. The complete location list is below.
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Climate of New Caledonia
Country climate guideNew Caledonia is a French territory in the south-west Pacific, its main island of Grande Terre joined by a chain of smaller islands stretching south to the Loyal Isles. It lies between about 19 and 23 degrees south, well inside the tropics but far enough from the equator to have a real dry season. The climate is tropical, with a wet warm summer and a dry cooler winter, and the contrast between the eastern and western coasts is its most striking feature.
Main climate types
The territory is classified as tropical with a marked dry season, essentially a savanna or monsoon regime. From about May to October the south-easterly trade winds blow steadily and the country is dry; from November to April they swing north-west, bringing warm, humid and unsettled weather as the convergence zone moves south. A spine of mountains splits Grande Terre: the narrow western coastal plain is the driest part and carries the islands' unique dry forests, while the eastern side faces the wind and takes far more rain.
Temperatures
Monthly means at Nouméa run from about 19 or 20 °C in the austral winter to about 25 °C in February. There is no real cold season: highs in summer sit near 30 °C, and nights rarely fall below about 17 °C. In the mountain interior temperatures fall several degrees lower, and mornings in the high valleys are distinctly cool during the austral winter.
Rainfall
Nouméa receives roughly 1,000 to 1,200 mm a year, with heavier monthly totals in the summer months. The north of Grande Terre, around Poindimié and the eastern coastal strip, is much wetter, taking around 2,000 mm or more, while the western plain near Farino is the driest part of the main island. Cyclones forming in the Coral Sea between November and April can drop enormous amounts of rain.
When to go
May to September is the dry season and the best time to visit, with steady trade winds, good visibility for diving and snorkelling on one of the world's longest barrier reefs, and comfortable days. The austral summer is hot, humid and prone to storms, and prices are lower. Beachwear is worn in towns such as Nouméa even in the cool season, which surprises many first-time visitors.