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Weather & Climate in Palu, Indonesia
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Palu 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 205 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 72.1 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 30 feet.
Temperature
80°F Jan (27°C)
79°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 79.7°F |
| 48% above US avg | |
| January Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| July Average | 79°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 205 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 30 ft (9 m) |
| Area | 318.4 sq mi (824.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,172/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -0.9083°N, 119.8708°W |
| Timezone | Asia/Makassar |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
364 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.7.
| May 21, 1998 | 127 km NNW of Palu, Indonesia | M6.7 | 128 km | 33 km |
| May 29, 2017 | 37 km WNW of Poso, Indonesia | M6.6 | 76 km | 12 km |
| Jan 23, 2005 | 32 km SSE of Palu, Indonesia | M6.3 | 33 km | 11 km |
| Aug 18, 2012 | 51 km SSE of Palu, Indonesia | M6.3 | 52 km | 10 km |
| Feb 23, 1999 | 127 km NNW of Palu, Indonesia | M6.2 | 129 km | 33 km |
| Sep 9, 2023 | 101 km N of Palu, Indonesia | M6.0 | 102 km | 13 km |
| Oct 10, 1998 | 55 km N of Palu, Indonesia | M6.0 | 56 km | 33 km |
| May 19, 1995 | 49 km NNW of Poso, Indonesia | M5.9 | 72 km | 26 km |
| Oct 10, 1998 | 57 km N of Palu, Indonesia | M5.9 | 58 km | 33 km |
| Jul 9, 2005 | 31 km SSE of Palu, Indonesia | M5.9 | 31 km | 32 km |
| Mar 28, 2020 | 73 km WSW of Poso, Indonesia | M5.9 | 96 km | 10 km |
| Aug 16, 2025 | 13 km NNW of Poso, Indonesia | M5.8 | 103 km | 8 km |
| Jan 3, 1993 | 70 km SSW of Palu, Indonesia | M5.7 | 71 km | 37 km |
| Mar 2, 2009 | 21 km S of Palu, Indonesia | M5.6 | 22 km | 11 km |
| Jul 23, 2017 | 139 km NNE of Palu, Indonesia | M5.5 | 140 km | 67 km |
| Feb 25, 1999 | 133 km NNW of Palu, Indonesia | M5.5 | 134 km | 33 km |
| Feb 27, 2023 | 60 km WSW of Poso, Indonesia | M5.5 | 89 km | 39 km |
| Mar 24, 2019 | 58 km SSW of Poso, Indonesia | M5.5 | 129 km | 10 km |
| Jun 16, 2010 | 84 km SW of Palu, Indonesia | M5.4 | 84 km | 55 km |
| Dec 28, 2000 | 49 km N of Palu, Indonesia | M5.4 | 50 km | 33 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 15.0 m (49 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1927 | SULAWESI | Earthquake | 15.0 m | 50 | 98 km |
| 2018 | SULAWESI | Eruption + Earthquake | 10.7 m | 4,340 | 73 km |
| 1968 | BANDA SEA | Earthquake | 10.0 m | 200 | 124 km |
| 1938 | MAKASSAR STRAIT | Earthquake | 3.0 m | 17 | 121 km |
| 2025 | SULAWESI | Earthquake | 0.0 m | 2 | 104 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 80°F (27°C) | 5.9 in | |
| February | 80°F (26°C) | 5.3 in | |
| March | 80°F (27°C) | 4.7 in | Driest |
| April | 80°F (27°C) | 5.8 in | |
| May | 80°F (27°C) | 7.4 in | Wettest |
| June | 79°F (26°C) | 7.0 in | |
| July | 79°F (26°C) | 7.3 in | Coldest |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 6.2 in | |
| September | 80°F (27°C) | 6.1 in | |
| October | 80°F (27°C) | 5.3 in | Warmest |
| November | 80°F (27°C) | 6.2 in | |
| December | 80°F (27°C) | 5.0 in |
Palu has a seasonal temperature swing of 2°F / from 79°F in July to 80°F in October. Total annual precipitation is 72.1 inches, with May being the wettest month (7.4") and March the driest (4.7").