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Weather & Climate in Port-Vila, Vanuatu
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Port-Vila has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 77°F (25°C). Winters average 80°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 172 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 91.1 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 33 feet.
Temperature
80°F Jan (27°C)
73°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 76.5°F |
| 42% above US avg | |
| January Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| July Average | 73°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 172 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Area | 9.1 sq mi (23.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 3,941/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -17.7365°N, 168.3137°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Efate |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
2,253 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.5.
| Nov 26, 1999 | 92 km ESE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu | M7.5 | 146 km | 33 km |
| Aug 10, 2010 | 33 km NW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | M7.3 | 34 km | 25 km |
| Aug 20, 2011 | 71 km SSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | M7.2 | 72 km | 32 km |
| Jan 2, 2002 | 50 km WNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | M7.2 | 51 km | 21 km |
| Mar 5, 1990 | 69 km SSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | M7.1 | 70 km | 21 km |
| Aug 20, 2011 | 64 km S of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | M7.1 | 65 km | 28 km |
| Feb 2, 2012 | 125 km W of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | M7.1 | 125 km | 23 km |
| Feb 11, 1994 | 85 km N of Isangel, Vanuatu | M6.9 | 146 km | 206 km |
| Jan 23, 2015 | 81 km NNE of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | M6.8 | 82 km | 220 km |
| Jan 3, 2002 | 33 km WNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | M6.6 | 34 km | 10 km |
| Aug 20, 2011 | 65 km SSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | M6.5 | 66 km | 35 km |
| Oct 1, 1994 | 67 km W of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | M6.5 | 67 km | 17 km |
| Feb 16, 1994 | 135 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu | M6.4 | 141 km | 13 km |
| Sep 29, 2001 | 86 km S of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | M6.4 | 87 km | 33 km |
| Jan 23, 2006 | 74 km WNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | M6.4 | 74 km | 23 km |
| Jul 24, 1994 | 97 km S of Lakatoro, Vanuatu | M6.4 | 116 km | 21 km |
| Sep 23, 1990 | 74 km W of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | M6.4 | 74 km | 10 km |
| Feb 19, 2015 | Vanuatu | M6.4 | 146 km | 10 km |
| Sep 20, 2017 | 85 km NNW of Isangel, Vanuatu | M6.4 | 143 km | 197 km |
| May 13, 2003 | 78 km NW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu | M6.3 | 78 km | 33 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
36 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 5.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2024 | Lola | Category 4 | 127 mph | 162 km |
| 2023 | Kevin | Category 4 | 115 mph | 42 km |
| 2023 | Judy | Category 3 | 115 mph | 26 km |
| 2020 | Harold | Category 5 | 144 mph | 195 km |
| 2018 | Hola | Category 3 | 104 mph | 211 km |
| 2017 | Donna | Category 3 | 115 mph | 273 km |
| 2017 | Cook | Category 2 | 98 mph | 98 km |
| 2016 | Zena | Category 1 | 58 mph | 250 km |
| 2015 | Pam | Category 5 | 155 mph | 44 km |
| 2012 | Jasmine | Category 3 | 121 mph | 207 km |
| 2011 | Atu | Category 4 | 104 mph | 139 km |
| 2008 | Funa | Category 1 | 63 mph | 295 km |
| 2007 | Becky | Category 1 | 69 mph | 95 km |
| 2004 | Ivy | Category 3 | 104 mph | 4 km |
| 2003 | Beni | Category 4 | 115 mph | 169 km |
| 2001 | Paula | Category 2 | 98 mph | 64 km |
| 2001 | Sose | Category 1 | 69 mph | 106 km |
| 2000 | Iris | Category 1 | 92 mph | 82 km |
| 1999 | Dani | Category 2 | 92 mph | 81 km |
| 1998 | Yali | Category 2 | 81 mph | 71 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
15 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 12.0 m (39 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1878 | TANNA ISLAND | Earthquake | 12.0 m | — | 142 km |
| 2015 | VANUATU ISLANDS | Earthquake | 8.0 m | — | 146 km |
| 1999 | VANUATU ISLANDS | Earthquake | 6.6 m | 10 | 146 km |
| 2002 | VANUATU ISLANDS | Earthquake | 3.0 m | — | 51 km |
| 1950 | VANUATU ISLANDS | Earthquake | 2.5 m | — | 103 km |
| 1961 | VANUATU ISLANDS | Earthquake | 0.9 m | — | 77 km |
| 2024 | VANUATU ISLANDS | Earthquake | 0.3 m | 14 | 30 km |
| 2010 | VANUATU ISLANDS | Earthquake | 0.2 m | — | 34 km |
| 2011 | VANUATU ISLANDS | Earthquake | 0.2 m | — | 72 km |
| 2011 | VANUATU ISLANDS | Earthquake | 0.2 m | — | 65 km |
| 2012 | VANUATU ISLANDS | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 125 km |
| 2023 | EAST EPI VOLCANO | Astronomical | 0.1 m | — | 118 km |
| 2012 | VANUATU ISLANDS | Earthquake | — | — | 145 km |
| 1933 | VANUATU ISLANDS | Earthquake | — | — | 110 km |
| 1878 | TANNA ISLAND | Earthquake | — | — | 142 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
5 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: North Vate (30 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| North Vate | Stratovolcano(es) | 594 m (1,949 ft) | Unknown | 30 km |
| Kuwae | Caldera | -2 m (-7 ft) | 1974 | 104 km |
| Epi | Stratovolcano(es) | 833 m (2,733 ft) | 2004 | 118 km |
| Traitor's Head | Stratovolcano | 817 m (2,680 ft) | 1881 | 149 km |
| Ambrym | Pyroclastic shield | 1,334 m (4,377 ft) | 2018 | 167 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 80°F (27°C) | 11.5 in | |
| February | 80°F (27°C) | 10.9 in | Warmest |
| March | 80°F (27°C) | 13.4 in | Wettest |
| April | 78°F (26°C) | 9.0 in | |
| May | 76°F (24°C) | 7.2 in | |
| June | 74°F (23°C) | 6.1 in | |
| July | 73°F (23°C) | 4.9 in | |
| August | 73°F (23°C) | 5.4 in | Coldest |
| September | 74°F (23°C) | 4.2 in | Driest |
| October | 75°F (24°C) | 5.1 in | |
| November | 77°F (25°C) | 6.5 in | |
| December | 79°F (26°C) | 7.0 in |
Port-Vila has a seasonal temperature swing of 8°F / from 73°F in August to 80°F in February. Total annual precipitation is 91.2 inches, with March being the wettest month (13.4") and September the driest (4.2").