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Weather & Climate in Aitape, Papua New Guinea
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Aitape has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 80°F (27°C). Winters average 80°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 158 sunny days per year, below the national average of 205. Annual precipitation totals 98.3 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 23 feet.
Temperature
80°F Jan (27°C)
79°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 79.8°F |
| 48% above US avg | |
| January Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| July Average | 79°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 158 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 23 ft (7 m) |
| Area | 6,086.0 sq mi (15,762.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 1/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -3.1370°N, 142.3491°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Port_Moresby |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
931 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.6.
| Sep 8, 2002 | 68 km ESE of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | M7.6 | 69 km | 13 km |
| Jul 17, 1998 | 50 km WNW of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | M7.0 | 51 km | 10 km |
| Mar 23, 2024 | 36 km ENE of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea | M6.9 | 141 km | 41 km |
| Jan 10, 2002 | 11 km SE of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | M6.7 | 12 km | 11 km |
| Apr 16, 2013 | 23 km ESE of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | M6.6 | 23 km | 13 km |
| May 17, 1991 | 22 km SSW of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea | M6.4 | 145 km | 59 km |
| Sep 16, 2002 | 41 km ESE of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | M6.3 | 42 km | 10 km |
| Oct 7, 2001 | 67 km ESE of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | M6.2 | 67 km | 10 km |
| Mar 24, 2006 | 63 km WNW of Wewak, Papua New Guinea | M6.1 | 89 km | 12 km |
| Apr 7, 2010 | 82 km SSW of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | M6.0 | 83 km | 23 km |
| Sep 17, 2002 | 49 km ESE of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | M6.0 | 49 km | 10 km |
| Jul 17, 1998 | near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea | M5.9 | 27 km | 10 km |
| Nov 11, 1992 | 39 km SE of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea | M5.8 | 91 km | 34 km |
| May 30, 1993 | 61 km NNW of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea | M5.8 | 72 km | 6 km |
| Jul 22, 2007 | 41 km ESE of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea | M5.8 | 85 km | 10 km |
| Jul 22, 2007 | 48 km ESE of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea | M5.8 | 80 km | 10 km |
| May 11, 1998 | 37 km WNW of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | M5.7 | 38 km | 34 km |
| Jul 29, 2004 | 27 km ENE of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea | M5.7 | 131 km | 56 km |
| Aug 10, 2009 | 66 km NW of Wewak, Papua New Guinea | M5.7 | 94 km | 10 km |
| Jun 1, 2003 | 24 km N of Aitape, Papua New Guinea | M5.7 | 25 km | 33 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 15.0 m (49 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1998 | PAPUA NEW GUINEA | Eruption + Earthquake | 15.0 m | 1,636 | 34 km |
| 2002 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | 5.5 m | 4 | 67 km |
| 1935 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | — | — | 129 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 80°F (27°C) | 9.6 in | |
| February | 80°F (27°C) | 10.0 in | |
| March | 80°F (27°C) | 10.9 in | Wettest |
| April | 80°F (27°C) | 9.5 in | Warmest |
| May | 80°F (27°C) | 7.9 in | |
| June | 79°F (26°C) | 6.9 in | |
| July | 79°F (26°C) | 6.8 in | Coldest |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 5.9 in | |
| September | 80°F (27°C) | 5.6 in | Driest |
| October | 80°F (27°C) | 6.8 in | |
| November | 80°F (27°C) | 8.1 in | |
| December | 79°F (26°C) | 10.3 in |
Aitape has a seasonal temperature swing of 1°F / from 79°F in July to 80°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 98.3 inches, with March being the wettest month (10.9") and September the driest (5.6").