São Tomé in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), São Tomé sees average daytime highs around 27°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 422 mm of rain over about 69 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the wettest season of the year.
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 27°C. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 11% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Winter is São Tomé's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. São Tomé 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 São Tomé's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 27°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 26°C
- Rainfall
- 422 mm
- 69 wet days
- Avg wind
- 12 km/h
- Travel score
- 4.3
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in São Tomé in Winter
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 27°C.
A typical winter day in São Tomé reaches about 27°C and drops to 26°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
São Tomé 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° | 135 | 23.6 | 12 | 4.3 |
| Feb | 28° / 26° | 113 | 19.3 | 12 | 4.6 |
| Mar | 28° / 26° | 133 | 20.5 | 12 | 4.4 |
| Apr | 28° / 26° | 130 | 18.7 | 12 | 4.8 |
| May | 27° / 26° | 119 | 17 | 12 | 5.3 |
| Jun | 25° / 24° | 23 | 4 | 12 | 7.5 |
| Jul | 24° / 24° | 8 | 2 | 12 | 8.0 |
| Aug | 24° / 24° | 14 | 2.6 | 12 | 7.9 |
| Sep | 25° / 24° | 46 | 7.8 | 12 | 6.9 |
| Oct | 26° / 25° | 152 | 21.5 | 12 | 4.9 |
| Nov | 26° / 25° | 210 | 25.7 | 12 | 4.1 |
| Dec | 27° / 25° | 174 | 26.1 | 12 | 4.1 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 11% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
São Tomé gets around 422 mm of rain over 69 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 12 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 12 hours in early December to 12 hours 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 São Tomé
In winter, São Tomé overlaps 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.
Is winter a good time to visit São Tomé?
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 São Tomé for sightseeing.
What to pack for São Tomé in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, São Tomé sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 69 days see rain.
Sea temperature near São Tomé 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 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) | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 |
| Comfort | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Tropical |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | Tropical |
| Feb | 29 | Tropical |
| Mar | 29 | Tropical |
| Apr | 29 | Tropical |
| May | 28 | Tropical |
| Jun | 27 | Warm |
| Jul | 26 | Warm |
| Aug | 26 | Warm |
| Sep | 26 | Warm |
| Oct | 27 | Warm |
| Nov | 28 | Warm |
| Dec | 28 | Tropical |
UV index in São Tomé in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 11 (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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 11 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Extreme |
| Feb | 12 | Extreme |
| Mar | 14 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 8 | Very high |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 13 | Extreme |
| Nov | 12 | Extreme |
| Dec | 11 | Extreme |
Air quality in São Tomé in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter 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).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 22 | 24 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 15 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22 | Moderate |
| Feb | 24 | Moderate |
| Mar | 15 | Moderate |
| Apr | 11 | Good |
| May | 12 | Moderate |
| Jun | 16 | Moderate |
| Jul | 17 | Moderate |
| Aug | 13 | Moderate |
| Sep | 8 | Good |
| Oct | 5 | Good |
| Nov | 8 | Good |
| Dec | 15 | Moderate |
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.
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
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.