São Tomé weather in March

In March, São Tomé sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 133 mm of rain across 20.5 wet days and about 12 hours of daylight. It is the 1st-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 9% of the time in March, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 12 hours at the start of March to 12 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is São Tomé's 11th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see São Tomé's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
1st warmest
Overnight low
26°
12th coldest
Rainfall
133 mm
20.5 wet days
Daylight
12 hours
5:43 AM – 5:43 PM
Cloud cover
78%
11th clearest
Wind
13 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
5.48 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.4
out of 10

São Tomé is capital city of São Tomé and Príncipe.

Density
3,135/km²
people per km²
Founded
1485

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in March

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month.

A typical March day in São Tomé reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 26°C overnight — a 2°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs on par with February and on par with April.

24°26°28°30°32°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12826
22826
32826
42826
52826
62826
72826
82826
92826
102826
112826
122826
132826
142826
152826
162826
172826
182826
192826
202826
212826
222826
232826
242826
252826
262826
272826
282826
292826
302826
312826

São Tomé weather by month

How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 1st-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 26°13523.6124.3
Feb28° / 26°11319.3124.6
Mar28° / 26°13320.5124.4
Apr28° / 26°13018.7124.8
May27° / 26°11917125.3
Jun25° / 24°234127.5
Jul24° / 24°82128.0
Aug24° / 24°142.6127.9
Sep25° / 24°467.8126.9
Oct26° / 25°15221.5124.9
Nov26° / 25°21025.7124.1
Dec27° / 25°17426.1124.1

Cloud cover in March

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 9% of the time in March.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 79%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12377
22377
32377
42476
52575
62575
72575
82377
92377
102377
112278
122278
132179
142179
152179
162080
171981
181981
191981
201981
211981
221981
231981
241981
251981
261981
271981
282080
292080
302179
312179

Chance of precipitation in March

Any precipitation

São Tomé gets around 133 mm of rain over 20.5 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 67% and peaks near 69% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
166
265
365
465
565
665
765
865
965
1066
1166
1267
1367
1467
1568
1668
1768
1869
1969
2069
2169
2268
2368
2468
2568
2667
2767
2866
2965
3065
3164

Humidity in March

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of March feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, March lands in the oppressive band about 68% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
17030
27030
36931
46931
56931
66832
76832
86832
96733
106733
116733
126733
136733
146733
156733
166832
176832
186931
196931
206931
216931
226931
236832
246832
256733
266733
276634
286634
296535
306436
316436

Wind in March

Winds average 13 km/h in March.

Across March, daily wind ranges from about 13 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
113light breeze
213light breeze
313light breeze
413light breeze
513light breeze
613light breeze
713light breeze
813light breeze
913light breeze
1013light breeze
1113light breeze
1213light breeze
1313light breeze
1413light breeze
1513light breeze
1613light breeze
1713light breeze
1813light breeze
1913light breeze
2013light breeze
2113light breeze
2213light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2913light breeze
3013light breeze
3113light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in March

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 hours at the start of March to 12 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 0 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 5:47 AM to 5:38 AM, and sunset from 5:46 PM to 5:38 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.05:475:46
212.05:465:46
312.05:465:46
412.05:465:46
512.05:465:45
612.05:455:45
712.05:455:45
812.05:455:45
912.05:455:44
1012.05:445:44
1112.05:445:44
1212.05:445:44
1312.05:445:43
1412.05:435:43
1512.05:435:43
1612.05:435:43
1712.05:435:42
1812.05:425:42
1912.05:425:42
2012.05:425:42
2112.05:415:41
2212.05:415:41
2312.05:415:41
2412.05:405:40
2512.05:405:40
2612.05:405:40
2712.05:395:39
2812.05:395:39
2912.05:395:39
3012.05:385:38
3112.05:385:38

Solar energy in March

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 5.48 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.89 kWh/m² to a high of 5.48 kWh/m² in March across the year — March's 5.48 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.5Bright
25.5Bright
35.5Bright
45.5Bright
55.5Bright
65.5Bright
75.5Bright
85.5Bright
95.5Bright
105.5Bright
115.5Bright
125.5Bright
135.5Bright
145.4Bright
155.4Bright
165.4Bright
175.4Bright
185.4Bright
195.4Bright
205.4Bright
215.4Bright
225.4Bright
235.4Bright
245.4Bright
255.4Bright
265.4Bright
275.4Bright
285.4Bright
295.4Bright
305.4Bright
315.4Bright
Planning a trip in March

Hazard calendar for São Tomé

In seasonPeak

In March, São Tomé sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

São Tomé's rainy season runs October–May, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is March a good time to visit São Tomé?

Our two travel scores rate March for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

4.4
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
5.0
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

March is a reasonable time to visit São Tomé for sightseeing.

What to pack for São Tomé in March

From March's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In March, São Tomé sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 21 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near São Tomé in March

The nearest coast averages about 29°C in March — 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.

24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan29Tropical
Feb29Tropical
Mar29Tropical
Apr29Tropical
May28Tropical
Jun27Warm
Jul26Warm
Aug26Warm
Sep26Warm
Oct27Warm
Nov28Warm
Dec28Tropical

UV index in São Tomé in March

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 14 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in São Tomé peaks around March 21 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near August 12 at about 9 (very high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highExtremeMar 21UV 14Aug 12UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep12Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec11Extreme

Air quality in São Tomé in March

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where March falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in São Tomé is worst in February — around 24 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.6× the cleanest month (October, 5 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateGoodModerateFeb 1023 µg/m³Oct 175 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan22Moderate
Feb24Moderate
Mar15Moderate
Apr11Good
May12Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep8Good
Oct5Good
Nov8Good
Dec15Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is São Tomé?

São Tomé sits at 0.3°N, 6.7°E, 140 m above sea level, in Sao Tome and Principe. The nearest listed city is Port-Gentil, 257 km away.

Topography around São Tomé

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of São Tomé.

Within 3 km, the terrain around São Tomé has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 111 m around an average of 23 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,396 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,938 m.

The land around São Tomé is covered by water (43%), trees (31%) and artificial surfaces (24%) within 3 km, water (60%) and trees (36%) within 16 km, and water (90%) within 80 km.

3 km
111 m
16 km
1,396 m
80 km
1,938 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfaceswater
March weather nearby: Port-Gentil 257 km · Akanda 291 km · Libreville 303 km · Owendo 309 km · Ntoum 337 km · Bata 378 km · Lambaréné 407 km · Malabo 443 km

Sao Tome and Principe travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Power plugs
Type C / F
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 61% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$4,084
2025
Safe drinking water
37%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
3.2
per 100k, 2011
Road deaths
27.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
Religion
Catholic 56%none 21%other 6%Adventist 4%

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 São Tomé (0.3376°, 6.7299°, elevation 140 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. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).