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Weather & Climate in Vao, New Caledonia
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Vao has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 72°F (22°C). Winters average 77°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 243 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 51.0 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 46 feet.
Temperature
77°F Jan (25°C)
67°F Jul (19°C)
| Annual Average | 72.1°F |
| 34% above US avg | |
| January Average | 77°F (25°C) |
| July Average | 67°F (19°C) |
| Sunny Days | 243 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Area | 248.3 sq mi (643.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 8/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -22.6665°N, 167.4963°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Noumea |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
25 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.6.
| Dec 3, 1990 | 53 km SSE of Mont-Dore, New Caledonia | M5.6 | 82 km | 12 km |
| Feb 24, 1991 | 47 km S of Mont-Dore, New Caledonia | M5.2 | 88 km | 33 km |
| Jun 11, 2022 | 123 km SE of Vao, New Caledonia | M5.0 | 123 km | 10 km |
| Nov 8, 2017 | 65 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia | M4.7 | 149 km | 10 km |
| Feb 25, 2006 | 67 km ESE of Vao, New Caledonia | M4.7 | 67 km | 10 km |
| Mar 6, 2005 | 149 km E of Vao, New Caledonia | M4.7 | 150 km | 10 km |
| Feb 6, 2003 | 65 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia | M4.6 | 142 km | 33 km |
| Mar 1, 2000 | 144 km ESE of Vao, New Caledonia | M4.6 | 145 km | 33 km |
| Jun 28, 2012 | 101 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia | M4.6 | 145 km | 35 km |
| Mar 17, 2023 | 39 km SE of Vao, New Caledonia | M4.6 | 39 km | 10 km |
| Jan 17, 2009 | 35 km NW of Vao, New Caledonia | M4.5 | 35 km | 10 km |
| Feb 21, 2022 | 132 km E of Vao, New Caledonia | M4.5 | 132 km | 10 km |
| Feb 10, 1997 | 93 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia | M4.4 | 141 km | 33 km |
| Jun 17, 2017 | 114 km E of Vao, New Caledonia | M4.3 | 115 km | 10 km |
| Nov 9, 2017 | 50 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia | M4.2 | 150 km | 23 km |
| Apr 26, 1996 | 92 km ESE of Vao, New Caledonia | M4.2 | 93 km | 33 km |
| Feb 19, 1999 | 29 km SE of Mont-Dore, New Caledonia | M4.2 | 82 km | 33 km |
| Aug 22, 1995 | 114 km ESE of Vao, New Caledonia | M4.1 | 115 km | 33 km |
| Jan 10, 2019 | 136 km E of Vao, New Caledonia | M4.1 | 137 km | 10 km |
| Feb 21, 2005 | 136 km E of Vao, New Caledonia | M4.1 | 137 km | 58 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
28 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 5.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2022 | Dovi | Category 2 | 92 mph | 12 km |
| 2022 | Ruby | Category 1 | 63 mph | 46 km |
| 2021 | Niran | Category 3 | 98 mph | 102 km |
| 2018 | Hola | Category 2 | 81 mph | 217 km |
| 2018 | Gita | Category 2 | 92 mph | 138 km |
| 2017 | Cook | Category 2 | 98 mph | 185 km |
| 2017 | Donna | Category 1 | 63 mph | 233 km |
| 2016 | Ula | Category 4 | 115 mph | 248 km |
| 2015 | Pam | Category 5 | 155 mph | 257 km |
| 2006 | Jim | Category 1 | 92 mph | 168 km |
| 2004 | Ivy | Category 3 | 104 mph | 229 km |
| 2003 | Erica | Category 4 | 104 mph | 12 km |
| 2003 | Beni | Category 2 | 75 mph | 232 km |
| 1999 | Frank | Category 2 | 92 mph | 159 km |
| 1999 | Dani | Category 2 | 86 mph | 144 km |
| 1997 | Drena | Category 2 | 92 mph | 122 km |
| 1996 | Beti | Category 3 | 104 mph | 116 km |
| 1994 | Theodore | Category 3 | — | 94 km |
| 1994 | Sarah | Category 2 | — | 253 km |
| 1993 | Prema | Category 4 | — | 218 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 2.0 m (7 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1997 | NEW CALEDONIA | Unknown | 2.0 m | — | 119 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 77°F (25°C) | 5.9 in | |
| February | 78°F (25°C) | 6.7 in | Warmest |
| March | 77°F (25°C) | 7.6 in | Wettest |
| April | 74°F (23°C) | 5.0 in | |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 2.9 in | |
| June | 69°F (20°C) | 4.3 in | |
| July | 67°F (19°C) | 3.1 in | |
| August | 66°F (19°C) | 2.8 in | Coldest |
| September | 68°F (20°C) | 2.3 in | Driest |
| October | 70°F (21°C) | 2.4 in | |
| November | 73°F (23°C) | 4.1 in | |
| December | 75°F (24°C) | 4.1 in |
Vao has a seasonal temperature swing of 11°F / from 66°F in August to 78°F in February. Total annual precipitation is 51.0 inches, with March being the wettest month (7.6") and September the driest (2.3").