Climate of Marshall Islands

Climate of Marshall Islands

Where is the country of Marshall Islands located? The Republic of the Marshall Islands is an independent country in the Pacific Ocean, which is still heavily influenced by the United States of America. In total, the country consists of 34 coral atolls, which together account for more than eleven hundred islands and rocks. The Marshall Islands have a tropical rainforest climate, with fairly high amounts of precipitation. The beginning of the year is a drier period, which causes less rain (showers) especially on the atoll of Enewetak than during the wetter season. On the other atolls, the difference between the wet and dry season is somewhat smaller.

Precipitation and hurricanes

On an annual basis, the Marshall Islands receive an average of 2,200 to more than 3,000 millimeters of rainfall. There are quite a few differences between the atolls. This is also due to the fairly large distances between the different atolls. The islands in the north are generally drier than the more southerly islands. Rain falls on about two thirds of the days. In the vast majority of cases this takes place in the form of showers. During the hurricane season – which runs from July to December – showers can get stronger and last longer. In the event of hurricane activity around or above the Marshall Islands, moderate amounts of precipitation can fall. The wind can also cause tidal waves and direct damage as a result of the strong gusts of wind.

Temperatures

The Marshall Islands have very even temperatures. If you look at the maximum temperature, there is actually very little difference both within a calendar year and between the mutual locations on the islands. The maximum temperature is almost without exception between 28 and 32 degrees Celsius. It really doesn’t get much warmer. At night the mercury drops to 24-25 degrees Celsius. This temperature is only reached towards the beginning of the morning, after which it quickly warms up after sunrise.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Maximum temperature Minimum temperature Hours of sunshine per day Days of rainfall per month Water temperature
January 30℃ 25℃ 7 20 28℃
February 30℃ 25℃ 8 19 28℃
March 30℃ 25℃ 8 19 28℃
April 30℃ 25℃ 7 18 28℃
May 30℃ 25℃ 7 17 29℃
June 30℃ 25℃ 7 16 29℃
July 30℃ 25℃ 7 19 29℃
August 30℃ 25℃ 8 19 29℃
September 30℃ 25℃ 7 18 29℃
October 30℃ 25℃ 7 19 29℃
November 30℃ 25℃ 6 18 29℃
December 30℃ 25℃ 6 20 29℃

Best time to visit the Marshall Islands

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to the Marshall Islands? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a country located in the Pacific Ocean, consisting of more than eleven hundred islands spread over thirty atolls. The archipelago has not fallen prey to mass tourism. Economically, tourism plays a minor role in the Marshall Islands, unlike other Pacific states such as French Polynesia and Fiji. The Marshall Islands has a tropical climate with few temperature differences throughout the year. The maximum temperature is almost continuously around 30 degrees Celsius. Under the influence of the warm seawater that flows here, the temperatures hardly drop during the night. The minimum temperatures are between 23 and 27 degrees Celsius all year round. There are, however, clear differences in precipitation within the Marshall Islands. For example, the northern islands are significantly drier than the southern islands. The Enewak atoll registers an average of about 1300 to 1500 millimeters of rain per year, while the capital Majuro located further south on the atoll of the same name comes in at more than three thousand millimeters per year.

Best months

If you are looking for the best time to travel to the Marshall Islands, you should especially look for when there is the least rainfall. You also want to avoid the risk of a tropical cyclone. In general, you can see the period from January to March as the best time to travel to the Marshall Islands. It rains very little on the northern atolls. On the central and southern atolls it rains less in the first three months than during the rest of the year, but there is still a good chance of showers. December and April are also the best travel times for the northern atolls.

La Nina

During La Niña, a natural phenomenon in which seawater temperatures in the Pacific deviate from normal under the influence of trade winds, it can be drier than usual in the winter on the Marshall Islands. There may even be drought on the northern atolls for a few months.

Tropical Cyclones

From April/May, when the rainy season begins in the Marshall Islands, there is a risk of tropical cyclones (hurricanes) forming over the waters of the Pacific Ocean. They could potentially move towards the Marshall Islands and significantly affect the weather there. Think of heavy rainfall, her wind and the chance of tidal waves. The hurricane season lasts until December.

Marshall Islands