Papeete in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Papeete sees average daytime highs around 26°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 776 mm of rain over about 70 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the wettest season of the year.
Across summer, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 26°C. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 22% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Summer is Papeete's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. Papeete has little temperature swing across the year, so its calendar seasons blur — the season framing matters less here than for a place with four distinct seasons. For the whole year in context, see Papeete's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 26°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 25°C
- Rainfall
- 776 mm
- 70 wet days
- Avg wind
- 21 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.4
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Papeete in Summer
Across summer, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 26°C.
A typical summer day in Papeete reaches about 26°C and drops to 25°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Papeete weather by month
How the three summer months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26° / 25° | 257 | 24.3 | 12.9 | 4.4 |
| Feb | 27° / 25° | 231 | 22.2 | 12.6 | 4.4 |
| Mar | 27° / 25° | 187 | 21.2 | 12.1 | 4.9 |
| Apr | 27° / 25° | 144 | 18.9 | 11.6 | 5.2 |
| May | 26° / 25° | 115 | 16.6 | 11.2 | 5.9 |
| Jun | 25° / 24° | 85 | 13.3 | 11 | 6.5 |
| Jul | 25° / 24° | 63 | 12.8 | 11.1 | 6.8 |
| Aug | 25° / 24° | 59 | 11 | 11.4 | 7.1 |
| Sep | 25° / 24° | 77 | 12.2 | 11.9 | 6.8 |
| Oct | 25° / 24° | 118 | 15.6 | 12.4 | 6.1 |
| Nov | 26° / 24° | 144 | 19 | 12.8 | 5.3 |
| Dec | 26° / 25° | 288 | 23.9 | 13 | 4.5 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 22% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Papeete gets around 776 mm of rain over 70 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 21 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 13 hours in early December to 12 h 24 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 6.2 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Papeete
In summer, Papeete overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Papeete's rainy season runs November–April, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Papeete?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a reasonable time to visit Papeete for sightseeing.
What to pack for Papeete in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Papeete sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 25°C. Pack rain gear and sun protection. Worth having: light clothes and a windbreaker. About 70 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Papeete in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 28°C across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in March at about 29°C and coldest in August near 26°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 |
| Comfort | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Tropical |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28 | Tropical |
| Feb | 29 | Tropical |
| Mar | 29 | Tropical |
| Apr | 29 | Tropical |
| May | 28 | Tropical |
| Jun | 28 | Warm |
| Jul | 27 | Warm |
| Aug | 26 | Warm |
| Sep | 26 | Warm |
| Oct | 27 | Warm |
| Nov | 28 | Warm |
| Dec | 28 | Tropical |
UV index in Papeete in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 15 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Papeete peaks around February 14 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 17 at about 7 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 15 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15 | Extreme |
| Feb | 16 | Extreme |
| Mar | 14 | Extreme |
| Apr | 11 | Extreme |
| May | 9 | Very high |
| Jun | 7 | High |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 10 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 13 | Extreme |
| Nov | 15 | Extreme |
| Dec | 14 | Extreme |
Where is Papeete?
Papeete sits at 17.5°S, 149.6°W, 42 m above sea level, in French Polynesia. The nearest listed city is Faaa, 5.0 km away.
Topography around Papeete
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Papeete.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Papeete has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 342 m around an average of 38 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,814 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,792 m.
The land around Papeete is covered by water (47%), artificial surfaces (27%) and trees (24%) within 3 km, water (62%) and trees (33%) within 16 km, and water (91%) within 80 km.
French Polynesia travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 1
- Exercise Normal Precautions
- Power plugs
- Type A / B / C / E / F
- 110 / 220 V · 50 / 60 Hz
- GDP per capita
- $22,440
- 2024
- Safe drinking water
- 90%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 0.4
- per 100k, 2009
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Papeete (-17.5347°, -149.5684°, elevation 42 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.