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Weather & Climate in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Rabaul has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 79°F (26°C). Winters average 79°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 162 sunny days per year, below the national average of 205. Annual precipitation totals 95.8 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 39 feet.
Temperature
79°F Jan (26°C)
78°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 79.2°F |
| 47% above US avg | |
| January Average | 79°F (26°C) |
| July Average | 78°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 162 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Area | 317.6 sq mi (822.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 25/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -4.2004°N, 152.1630°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Port_Moresby |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
3,243 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M8.0.
| Nov 16, 2000 | 2000 New Ireland Earthquake | M8.0 | 25 km | 33 km |
| May 14, 2019 | 48 km NE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M7.6 | 51 km | 10 km |
| Mar 29, 2015 | 53 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M7.5 | 74 km | 41 km |
| May 5, 2015 | 131 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M7.5 | 144 km | 55 km |
| May 16, 1999 | 51 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M7.1 | 71 km | 74 km |
| Jan 19, 1999 | 110 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M7.0 | 127 km | 114 km |
| Nov 18, 2000 | 112 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.8 | 122 km | 33 km |
| Aug 31, 2016 | 90 km NE of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea | M6.8 | 90 km | 476 km |
| Mar 11, 2003 | 114 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.8 | 131 km | 40 km |
| Mar 8, 2018 | 103 km E of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.8 | 117 km | 23 km |
| May 1, 2015 | 109 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.8 | 119 km | 44 km |
| Aug 14, 1995 | 99 km WSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.7 | 101 km | 128 km |
| Apr 30, 2015 | 126 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.7 | 138 km | 31 km |
| Sep 6, 1993 | 111 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.6 | 128 km | 49 km |
| May 13, 1998 | 108 km SW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.6 | 116 km | 61 km |
| Mar 20, 2010 | New Ireland region, Papua New Guinea | M6.6 | 94 km | 415 km |
| Jun 7, 2003 | 87 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.6 | 106 km | 33 km |
| May 17, 1999 | 113 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.6 | 133 km | 27 km |
| Dec 6, 2000 | 52 km ENE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.5 | 62 km | 31 km |
| Nov 16, 2000 | 118 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea | M6.5 | 137 km | 33 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
17 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 10.0 m (33 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1971 | SOLOMON SEA | Earthquake | 10.0 m | — | 139 km |
| 2000 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | 3.0 m | 2 | 29 km |
| 1994 | PAPUA NEW GUINEA | Astronomical | 3.0 m | 4 | 7 km |
| 1937 | RABAUL | Astronomical | 2.5 m | 507 | 9 km |
| 1985 | NEW IRELAND | Eruption + Earthquake | 1.3 m | — | 78 km |
| 2015 | NEW BRITAIN | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 144 km |
| 2015 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | 0.5 m | — | 74 km |
| 1994 | RABAUL HARBOR | Eruption | 0.3 m | — | 30 km |
| 1941 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | 0.2 m | 4 | 11 km |
| 1967 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 44 km |
| 2017 | SOLOMON SEA | Earthquake | 0.0 m | — | 133 km |
| 1955 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | — | — | 131 km |
| 1916 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | — | — | 74 km |
| 1900 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | — | — | 29 km |
| 1899 | EAST COAST, NEW IRELAND | Earthquake | — | — | 135 km |
| 1878 | BISMARCK SEA | Earthquake | — | 1 | 11 km |
| 1768 | CAPE SAINT GEORGE, NEW IRELAND | Earthquake | — | — | 101 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
6 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Rabaul (9 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Rabaul | Pyroclastic shield | 688 m (2,257 ft) | 2014 | 9 km |
| Lihir | Compound | 700 m (2,297 ft) | Unknown | 131 km |
| Lolobau | Caldera | 858 m (2,815 ft) | 1912 | 137 km |
| Ambitle | Stratovolcano | 450 m (1,476 ft) | -350 | 166 km |
| Hargy | Stratovolcano | 1,148 m (3,766 ft) | 950 | 172 km |
| Sulu Range | Stratovolcano(es) | 610 m (2,001 ft) | Unknown | 198 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 79°F (26°C) | 11.3 in | |
| February | 79°F (26°C) | 10.7 in | |
| March | 79°F (26°C) | 12.8 in | Wettest |
| April | 79°F (26°C) | 9.7 in | |
| May | 80°F (26°C) | 5.9 in | |
| June | 79°F (26°C) | 5.2 in | |
| July | 78°F (26°C) | 5.4 in | Coldest |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 5.4 in | |
| September | 79°F (26°C) | 4.8 in | Driest |
| October | 80°F (26°C) | 5.6 in | |
| November | 80°F (27°C) | 7.1 in | Warmest |
| December | 79°F (26°C) | 12.1 in |
Rabaul has a seasonal temperature swing of 2°F / from 78°F in July to 80°F in November. Total annual precipitation is 95.8 inches, with March being the wettest month (12.8") and September the driest (4.8").