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Weather & Climate in Buka, Papua New Guinea
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Buka has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 78°F (26°C). Winters average 83°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 308 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 102.8 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 7 feet.
Temperature
83°F Jan (28°C)
77°F Jul (25°C)
| Annual Average | 77.9°F |
| 44% above US avg | |
| January Average | 83°F (28°C) |
| July Average | 77°F (25°C) |
| Sunny Days | 308 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Area | 316.6 sq mi (820.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 0/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -5.4326°N, 154.6710°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Bougainville |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
2,535 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.9.
| Jan 22, 2017 | 35 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | M7.9 | 106 km | 135 km |
| Aug 16, 1995 | 155 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | M7.7 | 68 km | 30 km |
| Apr 29, 1996 | 58 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | M7.2 | 126 km | 44 km |
| Aug 16, 1995 | 139 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | M7.2 | 52 km | 33 km |
| Apr 11, 2014 | 56 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | M7.1 | 135 km | 61 km |
| Oct 29, 2000 | 191 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M7.0 | 109 km | 50 km |
| Oct 16, 2013 | 62 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | M6.8 | 116 km | 35 km |
| Jun 23, 2009 | 190 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.7 | 103 km | 64 km |
| Apr 18, 1994 | 63 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | M6.7 | 119 km | 26 km |
| Apr 21, 1994 | 165 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | M6.7 | 68 km | 28 km |
| Jan 10, 2003 | 191 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.7 | 108 km | 72 km |
| Apr 14, 2013 | 98 km W of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | M6.6 | 116 km | 31 km |
| Aug 16, 1995 | 205 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.6 | 99 km | 19 km |
| Apr 19, 2014 | 57 km SW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | M6.6 | 144 km | 29 km |
| May 2, 1996 | 202 km NNW of Arawa, Papua New Guinea | M6.6 | 100 km | 500 km |
| Aug 17, 1995 | 159 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.4 | 139 km | 21 km |
| Jan 28, 1999 | 156 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.4 | 147 km | 101 km |
| Oct 17, 2003 | 174 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | M6.4 | 57 km | 133 km |
| Aug 17, 1995 | 146 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | M6.4 | 75 km | 14 km |
| Feb 8, 2016 | 88 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | M6.4 | 132 km | 29 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
9 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 6.0 m (20 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1971 | SOLOMON SEA | Earthquake | 6.0 m | 3 | 86 km |
| 1975 | SOLOMON SEA | Earthquake | 2.0 m | — | 136 km |
| 1949 | SOLOMON SEA | Earthquake | 0.3 m | — | 75 km |
| 1995 | SOLOMON SEA | Earthquake | 0.3 m | — | 68 km |
| 1983 | NEW BRITAIN | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 135 km |
| 2017 | BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.0 m | 3 | 106 km |
| 2009 | SOLOMON SEA | Earthquake | — | — | 103 km |
| 1923 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | — | — | 99 km |
| 1919 | SOLOMON SEA | Earthquake | — | — | 114 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
4 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Billy Mitchell (96 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Billy Mitchell | Pyroclastic shield | 1,544 m (5,066 ft) | 1580 | 96 km |
| Bagana | Lava cone | 1,855 m (6,086 ft) | 2020 | 98 km |
| Loloru | Pyroclastic shield | 1,887 m (6,191 ft) | -1050 | 160 km |
| Ambitle | Stratovolcano | 450 m (1,476 ft) | -350 | 188 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 83°F (28°C) | 11.2 in | Warmest |
| February | 78°F (26°C) | 11.1 in | |
| March | 78°F (26°C) | 13.7 in | |
| April | 78°F (26°C) | 11.8 in | |
| May | 78°F (26°C) | 10.1 in | |
| June | 77°F (25°C) | 10.9 in | |
| July | 77°F (25°C) | 14.6 in | Coldest, Wettest |
| August | 77°F (25°C) | 12.6 in | |
| September | 77°F (25°C) | 11.5 in | |
| October | 78°F (25°C) | 10.7 in | |
| November | 78°F (26°C) | 9.6 in | |
| December | 79°F (26°C) | 9.4 in | Driest |
Buka has a seasonal temperature swing of 6°F / from 77°F in July to 83°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 137.2 inches, with July being the wettest month (14.6") and December the driest (9.4").