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Weather & Climate in Malapo, Tonga
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Malapo has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 76°F (25°C). Winters average 81°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 311 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 57.5 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 39 feet.
Temperature
81°F Jan (27°C)
72°F Jul (22°C)
| Annual Average | 76.1°F |
| 41% above US avg | |
| January Average | 81°F (27°C) |
| July Average | 72°F (22°C) |
| Sunny Days | 311 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Area | 4.4 sq mi (11.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 147/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -21.2011°N, 175.1546°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Tongatapu |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
1,543 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.9.
| Jun 23, 1990 | 139 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga | M6.9 | 144 km | 181 km |
| Dec 21, 1990 | 74 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga | M6.8 | 132 km | 13 km |
| Apr 13, 1999 | 132 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga | M6.8 | 137 km | 164 km |
| Dec 27, 1998 | 131 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga | M6.8 | 135 km | 144 km |
| Nov 24, 2009 | 104 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga | M6.8 | 129 km | 18 km |
| Jul 27, 2003 | 142 km W of Haveluloto, Tonga | M6.6 | 149 km | 213 km |
| Jul 28, 1995 | 19 km W of Haveluloto, Tonga | M6.4 | 25 km | 92 km |
| Nov 15, 1998 | 142 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga | M6.3 | 146 km | 149 km |
| Feb 3, 1999 | 54 km S of Pangai, Tonga | M6.3 | 129 km | 33 km |
| May 23, 2013 | 85 km NW of Nuku‘alofa, Tonga | M6.3 | 94 km | 150 km |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 72 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga | M6.2 | 150 km | 17 km |
| Mar 3, 1991 | 60 km S of ‘Ohonua, Tonga | M6.2 | 75 km | 16 km |
| Feb 12, 2011 | 56 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga | M6.1 | 65 km | 85 km |
| Mar 19, 2005 | 65 km S of Pangai, Tonga | M6.1 | 123 km | 18 km |
| Feb 13, 2010 | 65 km SSE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga | M6.1 | 88 km | 11 km |
| Apr 26, 2014 | 56 km NE of Kolonga, Tonga | M6.1 | 68 km | 45 km |
| Sep 10, 1997 | 58 km E of ‘Ohonua, Tonga | M6.1 | 81 km | 10 km |
| Aug 29, 1995 | 64 km ENE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga | M6.1 | 83 km | 19 km |
| Jun 15, 2019 | 82 km ENE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga | M6.1 | 102 km | 13 km |
| Apr 24, 2004 | 64 km SSE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga | M6.1 | 85 km | 8 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
6 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 4.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2019 | Pola | Category 3 | 104 mph | 279 km |
| 2014 | Ian | Category 4 | 127 mph | 153 km |
| 2006 | Vaianu | Category 1 | 81 mph | 179 km |
| 2002 | Waka | Category 3 | — | 263 km |
| 2000 | Mona | Category 1 | 81 mph | 88 km |
| 1999 | Cora | Category 2 | 92 mph | 52 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 22.0 m (72 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 2022 | TONGA ISLANDS | Astronomical | 22.0 m | 6 | 78 km |
| 2022 | TONGA ISLANDS | Astronomical | 0.4 m | — | 78 km |
| 2022 | TONGA ISLANDS | Astronomical | 0.2 m | — | 78 km |
| 1948 | TONGA TRENCH | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 122 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Tofua (162 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Tofua | Caldera | 515 m (1,690 ft) | 2014 | 162 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 81°F (27°C) | 8.2 in | Warmest |
| February | 80°F (26°C) | 8.3 in | |
| March | 79°F (26°C) | 8.9 in | Wettest |
| April | 77°F (25°C) | 6.9 in | |
| May | 74°F (23°C) | 4.9 in | |
| June | 73°F (23°C) | 3.7 in | Driest |
| July | 72°F (22°C) | 3.8 in | |
| August | 70°F (21°C) | 4.2 in | Coldest |
| September | 71°F (22°C) | 4.7 in | |
| October | 73°F (23°C) | 5.4 in | |
| November | 75°F (24°C) | 5.7 in | |
| December | 77°F (25°C) | 7.4 in |
Malapo has a seasonal temperature swing of 10°F / from 70°F in August to 81°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 72.0 inches, with March being the wettest month (8.9") and June the driest (3.7").