The Climate of
Nauru
Aerial photograph of Nauru
What is the climate of Nauru like?
Nauru is an oval-shaped island in the western Pacific Ocean, 42 kilometers (26 miles) south of the equator. Nauru is one of the world’s smallest independent nations, with a maximum extent of 5.6 km (3.5 mi). The closest neighboring land is the island of Banaba, which is part of the country of Kiribati.
Nauru has a tropical oceanic climate that is tempered by sea breezes. Temperatures remain steady, between 24° and 33°C (75–91°F) the year round, and relative humidity is also constant at about 80%.
Being near the equator, Nauru has rainfall that is more evenly spread throughout the year than in neighbouring countries to the north and south, and the country never experiences tropical cyclones. Nauru has a 'dry' season, marked by easterly trade winds, and a wet season with westerly monsoons extending from November to February. The average annual rainfall is about 2,000 millimeters (80 inches), but the amount varies greatly from year to year, and long droughts have been a recurrent problem. Rainfall has ranged from 310 millimeters (12 inches) to as much as 4,500 millimeters (180 inches).
The island has moderately large amounts of sunshine, averaging between six and eight hours a day in spite of a large number of days on which some rain falls. Much of the rainfall is in the form of short, heavy showers.
| Climate data for Yaren District, Nauru | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 30 (87) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 280 (11.0) | 250 (9.8) | 190 (7.5) | 190 (7.5) | 120 (4.7) | 110 (4.3) | 150 (5.9) | 130 (5.1) | 120 (4.7) | 100 (3.9) | 120 (4.7) | 280 (11.0) | 2,080 (81.9) |
| Source: Weatherbase.com | |||||||||||||
References
- E. A. Pearce, Charles Gordon Smith, (1990) The Hutchinson World Weather Guide, John Murray Press. ISBN 1859863426
- Timothy L. Gall, (ed.), (2003), Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, Eleventh Edition, Thomson Gale
- Hugh Chisholm, (ed.), (1911), Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh edition, Cambridge University Press
The Climate of
Nauru
In summary:
Nauru has a tropical climate that is tempered by sea breezes. Temperatures range from 23°C to 32°C (75°F to 91°F).
Rain occurs all year round but there is a wet season from November to February. The average annual rainfall is about 2000 mm (80 in), but the amount varies greatly from year to year.