Weather & Climate in Downtown, British Indian Ocean Territory
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Downtown has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 81°F (27°C). Winters average 82°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. Annual precipitation totals 101.3 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 20 feet.
Temperature
82°F Jan (28°C)
80°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 81.3°F |
| 51% above US avg | |
| January Average | 82°F (28°C) |
| July Average | 80°F (26°C) |
Geography
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Coordinates | 7.2623°S, 72.3768°E |
| Timezone | Indian/Chagos |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
20 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.2.
| Sep 7, 2012 | Chagos Archipelago region | M5.2 | 48 km | 10 km |
| Dec 29, 1994 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.9 | 109 km | 10 km |
| Jul 15, 2022 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.9 | 85 km | 10 km |
| Jun 14, 2006 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.8 | 43 km | 11 km |
| Jul 18, 2000 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.8 | 109 km | 10 km |
| Nov 10, 2013 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.8 | 117 km | 10 km |
| Nov 24, 1992 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.8 | 44 km | 10 km |
| Jan 23, 2020 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.8 | 88 km | 10 km |
| Jan 24, 2012 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.8 | 48 km | 10 km |
| Sep 5, 1996 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.7 | 74 km | 10 km |
| Oct 17, 2024 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.7 | 78 km | 10 km |
| Dec 30, 1996 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.7 | 75 km | 10 km |
| Jan 7, 2015 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.6 | 49 km | 10 km |
| Sep 6, 2022 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.6 | 77 km | 10 km |
| Jul 18, 2006 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.6 | 94 km | 10 km |
| Feb 18, 2002 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.6 | 101 km | 10 km |
| May 6, 2012 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.5 | 68 km | 12 km |
| Mar 19, 2020 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.5 | 76 km | 10 km |
| Aug 15, 2012 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.5 | 133 km | 10 km |
| Jan 30, 2021 | Chagos Archipelago region | M4.5 | 145 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
3 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 5.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2023 | Fabien | Category 3 | 104 mph | 194 km |
| 2005 | Bentojana | Category 5 | 132 mph | 258 km |
| 1995 | Albertine | Category 3 | 78 mph | 202 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980-2026).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 1.5 m (5 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1983 | CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO REGION | Earthquake | 1.5 m | - | 54 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 82°F (28°C) | 12.4 in | Wettest |
| February | 82°F (28°C) | 10.7 in | |
| March | 83°F (28°C) | 8.5 in | |
| April | 83°F (28°C) | 6.9 in | Warmest |
| May | 82°F (28°C) | 6.3 in | |
| June | 81°F (27°C) | 5.5 in | Driest |
| July | 80°F (26°C) | 5.5 in | |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 6.0 in | Coldest |
| September | 80°F (27°C) | 9.5 in | |
| October | 81°F (27°C) | 10.6 in | |
| November | 82°F (28°C) | 8.6 in | |
| December | 82°F (28°C) | 10.9 in |
Downtown has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 79°F in August to 83°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 101.3 inches, with January being the wettest month (12.4") and June the driest (5.5").