Saipan in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Saipan sees average daytime highs around 27°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 167 mm of rain over about 39 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the 3rd-wettest season.
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 27°C. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 54% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Winter is Saipan's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. Saipan 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 Saipan's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 27°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 26°C
- Rainfall
- 167 mm
- 39 wet days
- Avg wind
- 29 km/h
- Travel score
- 6.2
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Saipan in Winter
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 27°C.
A typical winter day in Saipan reaches about 27°C and drops to 26°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest February.
How winter really feels in Saipan
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 3 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Saipan weather by month
How the three winter 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 | 27° / 26° | 61 | 13.3 | 11.2 | 6.2 |
| Feb | 27° / 26° | 39 | 11.3 | 11.5 | 6.5 |
| Mar | 27° / 26° | 38 | 9.8 | 11.9 | 6.9 |
| Apr | 27° / 26° | 50 | 10.4 | 12.3 | 6.7 |
| May | 28° / 27° | 64 | 13.2 | 12.7 | 6.0 |
| Jun | 28° / 27° | 100 | 17.9 | 12.9 | 4.7 |
| Jul | 28° / 27° | 223 | 27 | 12.8 | 3.5 |
| Aug | 28° / 26° | 340 | 28.2 | 12.5 | 3.3 |
| Sep | 28° / 26° | 298 | 26.6 | 12.1 | 3.4 |
| Oct | 28° / 27° | 304 | 25.6 | 11.7 | 3.8 |
| Nov | 28° / 27° | 133 | 19 | 11.3 | 4.9 |
| Dec | 28° / 26° | 67 | 14.8 | 11.1 | 6.0 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 54% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Saipan gets around 167 mm of rain over 39 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 29 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 12 min in early December to 11 h 42 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 5.1 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Saipan
In winter, Saipan overlaps its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Saipan sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.
Saipan's monsoon runs July–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Saipan?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a reasonable time to visit Saipan for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Saipan in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Saipan sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and a windbreaker. Worth having: sun protection. About 39 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Saipan in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 28°C across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 16 km away) is warmest in September at about 30°C and coldest in February near 27°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 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28 | Warm |
| Feb | 27 | Warm |
| Mar | 27 | Warm |
| Apr | 28 | Warm |
| May | 29 | Tropical |
| Jun | 29 | Tropical |
| Jul | 29 | Tropical |
| Aug | 29 | Tropical |
| Sep | 30 | Tropical |
| Oct | 29 | Tropical |
| Nov | 29 | Tropical |
| Dec | 28 | Tropical |
UV index in Saipan in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Saipan peaks around August 16 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 9 (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) | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
| Level | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Very high |
| Feb | 11 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 12 | Extreme |
| Jul | 13 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 10 | Very high |
| Dec | 8 | Very high |
Where is Saipan?
Saipan sits at 15.2°N, 145.8°E, 5 m above sea level, in Northern Mariana Islands. The nearest listed city is Yigo Village, 208 km away.
Topography around Saipan
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Saipan.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Saipan has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 454 m around an average of 123 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 454 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 446 m.
The land around Saipan is covered by trees (74%) within 3 km, water (86%) within 16 km, and water (97%) within 80 km.
Northern Mariana Islands travel facts
- GDP per capita
- $23,786
- 2022
- Safe drinking water
- 81%
- of population, 2024
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
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 Saipan (15.2123°, 145.7545°, elevation 5 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.