São Tomé weather in October

In October, São Tomé sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 152 mm of rain across 21.5 wet days and about 12 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 9% of the time in October, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 12 hours at the start of October to 12 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, October is São Tomé's 7th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see São Tomé's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
8th warmest
Overnight low
25°
5th coldest
Rainfall
152 mm
21.5 wet days
Daylight
12 hours
5:18 AM – 5:18 PM
Cloud cover
73%
7th clearest
Wind
16 km/h
5th windiest
Solar energy
5.12 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.9
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 October

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month.

A typical October day in São Tomé reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 1°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°C and 26°C. Set against its neighbours, October runs on par with September and on par with November.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12525
22625
32625
42625
52625
62625
72625
82625
92625
102625
112625
122625
132625
142625
152625
162625
172625
182625
192625
202625
212625
222625
232625
242625
252625
262625
272625
282625
292625
302625
312625

São Tomé weather by month

How October compares with the rest of the year at a glance. October is the 8th-warmest and 3rd-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 October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

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

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 21% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 69%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13565
23565
33466
43367
53367
63367
73367
83268
93268
103169
113169
123070
132971
142971
152971
162971
172872
182872
192872
202872
212971
222872
232872
242971
252971
262872
272971
282971
293070
303169
313169

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

São Tomé gets around 152 mm of rain over 21.5 wet days in October. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 69% and peaks near 81% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
145
247
349
451
553
655
757
860
962
1064
1166
1268
1370
1472
1573
1674
1775
1876
1976
2077
2177
2278
2378
2478
2579
2679
2779
2879
2980
3080
3181

Humidity in October

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, October lands in the oppressive band about 99% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1397
2397
3298
4298
5298
6298
7298
8199
9199
10199
11199
12199
13199
14199
15199
16199
17199
18199
19199
20199
21199
22199
23199
24199
25199
260100
270100
280100
290100
300100
310100

Wind in October

Winds average 16 km/h in October.

Across October, daily wind ranges from about 15 km/h on the calmest days to 18 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
118light breeze
218light breeze
318light breeze
418light breeze
518light breeze
618light breeze
718light breeze
817light breeze
917light breeze
1017light breeze
1117light breeze
1217light breeze
1317light breeze
1416light breeze
1516light breeze
1616light breeze
1716light breeze
1816light breeze
1916light breeze
2016light breeze
2115light breeze
2215light breeze
2315light breeze
2415light breeze
2515light breeze
2615light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3015light breeze
3115light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in October

DaylightNight

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

Days grow by about 0 minutes over October. Sunrise moves from 5:22 AM to 5:17 AM, and sunset from 5:22 PM to 5:16 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.05:225:22
212.05:225:22
312.05:225:21
412.05:215:21
512.05:215:21
612.05:215:20
712.05:205:20
812.05:205:20
912.05:205:20
1012.05:205:19
1112.05:195:19
1212.05:195:19
1312.05:195:19
1412.05:195:18
1512.05:195:18
1612.05:185:18
1712.05:185:18
1812.05:185:18
1912.05:185:17
2012.05:185:17
2112.05:185:17
2212.05:175:17
2312.05:175:17
2412.05:175:17
2512.05:175:17
2612.05:175:16
2712.05:175:16
2812.05:175:16
2912.05:175:16
3012.05:175:16
3112.05:175:16

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 5.12 kWh/m².

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 — October's 5.12 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.2Bright
25.2Bright
35.2Bright
45.2Bright
55.2Bright
65.2Bright
75.2Bright
85.2Bright
95.2Bright
105.2Bright
115.2Bright
125.1Bright
135.1Bright
145.1Bright
155.1Bright
165.1Bright
175.1Bright
185.0Bright
195.0Bright
205.0Bright
215.0Bright
225.0Bright
235.0Bright
245.0Bright
255.0Bright
265.0Bright
275.0Bright
285.0Bright
295.0Bright
305.0Bright
315.0Bright
Planning a trip in October

Hazard calendar for São Tomé

In seasonPeak

In October, 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 October a good time to visit São Tomé?

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

4.9
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
4.6
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for São Tomé in October

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

In October, São Tomé sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 25°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 22 days see rain.

rain gearlight clothessun protection

Sea temperature near São Tomé in October

The nearest coast averages about 27°C in October — 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 October

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in October peaks around 13 (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 October

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where October 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
October 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).