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Weather & Climate in Lae, Papua New Guinea

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Lae has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 78°F (25°C). Winters average 79°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 116 sunny days per year, below the national average of 205. Annual precipitation totals 121.4 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 144 feet.

Temperature

79°F Jan (26°C) 75°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average77.5°F
44% above US avg
January Average79°F (26°C)
July Average75°F (24°C)
Sunny Days116 days/yr

Geography

Elevation144 ft (44 m)
Area316.3 sq mi (819.2 km²)
Population Density241/sq mi
Coordinates-6.7233°N, 146.9961°W
TimezonePacific/Port_Moresby

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 121.4"
219% above US avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Jul) 12.64"
Driest Month (Nov) 7.99"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

3,026 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.6.

Sep 10, 2022 70 km E of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea M7.6 72 km 116 km
May 15, 1992 61 km NNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea M7.2 96 km 58 km
May 6, 2019 32 km NW of Bulolo, Papua New Guinea M7.1 67 km 146 km
Oct 13, 1993 47 km NNE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea M6.9 142 km 25 km
Apr 17, 2012 140 km N of Lae, Papua New Guinea M6.8 141 km 198 km
Feb 27, 1992 50 km NW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea M6.7 87 km 39 km
Oct 25, 1993 44 km NNE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea M6.7 143 km 30 km
Mar 21, 2012 11 km ENE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea M6.6 127 km 118 km
Oct 14, 2011 4 km ESE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea M6.5 99 km 37 km
Mar 10, 2013 36 km E of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea M6.5 131 km 28 km
Aug 4, 2010 118 km ESE of Madang, Papua New Guinea M6.5 139 km 220 km
Apr 5, 1997 49 km W of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea M6.5 53 km 69 km
Oct 13, 1993 50 km NE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea M6.5 128 km 33 km
Dec 9, 1999 67 km NNE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea M6.4 149 km 58 km
Apr 6, 1999 21 km N of Lae, Papua New Guinea M6.4 22 km 33 km
Jun 5, 2001 45 km NW of Bulolo, Papua New Guinea M6.4 70 km 10 km
Oct 22, 2003 56 km NNW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea M6.3 110 km 54 km
Jan 1, 2008 eastern New Guinea region, Papua New Guinea M6.3 95 km 34 km
Oct 16, 1993 57 km NE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea M6.3 127 km 27 km
Mar 14, 2023 118 km E of Madang, Papua New Guinea M6.3 146 km 213 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tsunami History

6 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 1.5 m (5 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1987 SOLOMON SEA Earthquake 1.5 m 3 104 km
1972 SOLOMON SEA Meteorological 1.5 m — 3 km
1913 SOLOMON SEA Earthquake 0.1 m — 115 km
1969 BISMARCK SEA Eruption + Earthquake — — 17 km
1938 SOLOMON SEA Earthquake — — 120 km
1857 BISMARCK SEA Eruption + Earthquake — — 136 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

2 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Long Island (152 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Long Island Complex 1,280 m (4,199 ft) 1993 152 km
Umboi Complex 1,548 m (5,079 ft) Unknown 159 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 79°F (26°C) 9.4 in
February 79°F (26°C) 8.6 in Warmest
March 79°F (26°C) 9.6 in
April 78°F (26°C) 10.4 in
May 78°F (25°C) 10.1 in
June 76°F (25°C) 10.2 in
July 75°F (24°C) 12.6 in Coldest, Wettest
August 75°F (24°C) 12.1 in
September 77°F (25°C) 10.2 in
October 77°F (25°C) 10.8 in
November 78°F (26°C) 8.0 in Driest
December 79°F (26°C) 9.6 in

Lae has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 75°F in July to 79°F in February. Total annual precipitation is 121.4 inches, with July being the wettest month (12.6") and November the driest (8.0").

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