Climate Insights for Papeete

The climate in Papeete is hot. The average annual temperature is 26°C and approximately 2241mm of precipitation falls per year. Papeete receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Papeete is in the Southern Hemisphere. The seasons are reversed — summer runs from December to February, while winter falls between June and August. The summer months are: March, April, February. The coldest months are August, September, October, when temperatures can drop to 24°C.

Papeete has relatively stable temperatures year-round, staying within a 3°C range. The warmest month is March, when average highs reach 27°C and the mean temperature sits around 27°C. August is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 24°C and an average of 25°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 1°C between highs and lows.

Papeete is a very wet location, receiving approximately 2241mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 187mm per month. The wettest month is February, averaging 393mm of rainfall. January and December also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is August, with just 80mm. That's 313mm less than February, the wettest month. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the first half (January to June) of the year generally seeing more rainfall.

Papeete is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 6km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is July, averaging 7km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in March, with average winds dropping to 5km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 2km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently winter in Papeete, which began on June 21, 2026. Papeete is in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed — spring starts in September, summer in December, autumn in March, and winter in June. The warmest period peaks in March at around 27°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in August near 24°C. Spring is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 93 days from now.

The best time to visit Papeete is during August, September and October, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 25°C with modest rainfall averaging 85mm per month. By contrast, March can be uncomfortably hot with temperatures reaching 27°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Papeete based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.