South Tarawa weather by month & the best time to visit
Kiribati · beach resort · tropical rainforest climate
The best time to visit South Tarawa is September — its sunniest month (Sunshine Score 80/100), with October and November close behind. South Tarawa averages about 2,988 hours of sunshine a year. Daytime highs around 29°C / 84°F and roughly 92 mm of rain in September.
When is the best time to visit South Tarawa?
For sunshine, the best time to visit South Tarawa is September, then October and November. The dullest month is January (69/100, 212 mm of rain). The full month-by-month picture is in the table below.
How sunny is South Tarawa?
South Tarawa gets a lot of sun: around 2,988 hours a year. Conditions barely change through the year — only 11 Sunshine Score points separate September from January. It ranks #3 of 4 destinations in Kiribati for annual sunshine, below the national median of 3,050 hours. The year's 1,714 mm of rain spreads fairly evenly across the months, with no pronounced dry season.
Sunshine Score by month
| Month | Score | Day high | Night low | Rain | UV | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 69 | 28° / 82°F | 28° / 82°F | 212 mm | 11 | 30° / 86°F |
| February | 69 | 28° / 82°F | 28° / 82°F | 157 mm | 12 | 30° / 86°F |
| March | 69 | 28° / 82°F | 27° / 81°F | 219 mm | 12 | 29° / 84°F |
| April | 69 | 28° / 82°F | 28° / 82°F | 171 mm | 12 | 30° / 86°F |
| May | 78 | 28° / 82°F | 28° / 82°F | 103 mm | 12 | 30° / 86°F |
| June | 72 | 29° / 84°F | 28° / 82°F | 136 mm | 11 | 30° / 86°F |
| July | 75 | 29° / 84°F | 28° / 82°F | 119 mm | 11 | 30° / 86°F |
| August | 77 | 29° / 84°F | 28° / 82°F | 107 mm | 12 | 30° / 86°F |
| September | 80 | 29° / 84°F | 28° / 82°F | 92 mm | 13 | 30° / 86°F |
| October | 79 | 28° / 82°F | 28° / 82°F | 95 mm | 13 | 30° / 86°F |
| November | 79 | 29° / 84°F | 28° / 82°F | 95 mm | 12 | 30° / 86°F |
| December | 69 | 28° / 82°F | 28° / 82°F | 208 mm | 11 | 29° / 84°F |
Sea temperature in South Tarawa by month
The sea off South Tarawa is warmest in January at around 30°C / 86°F, and coolest in March at 29°C / 84°F. The water sits at a comfortable 21°C or warmer roughly all year round. Month-by-month sea-surface temperatures are in the Sea column of the table above.
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South Tarawa: questions and answers
What kind of destination is South Tarawa?
South Tarawa is a beach resort in Kiribati with a tropical rainforest climate — the sea reaches 30°C at its warmest and is swimmable (21°C+) year-round.
How many hours of sunshine does South Tarawa get a year?
South Tarawa gets about 2,988 hours of sunshine a year, at its best around September.
When is the best time to visit South Tarawa?
The sunniest time to visit South Tarawa is September, when the Sunshine Score peaks at 80/100 (with October and November close behind). Expect daytime highs around 29°C / 84°F.
What is the least sunny month in South Tarawa?
January is the least sunny month in South Tarawa, scoring 69/100 with about 212 mm of rain.
What is the sea temperature in South Tarawa?
The sea in South Tarawa ranges from about 29°C (March) to 30°C (January). Month-by-month sea temperatures are on this page.
How strong is the sun in South Tarawa?
The typical midday UV index in South Tarawa peaks around 13 (extreme) in September, easing to about 11 (extreme) in January. Month-by-month midday UV values are in the UV column of the table on this page.
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