Samoa (Apia - 1137  sq.mi - 176908 hab.)

Weather & seasons

Samoa

Samoa benefit from a tropical humid climate, tempered by trade winds, blowing from the South-East. Average temperatures remain between 24 and 28°C all year long. The climate does have some variations, but is mainly based on three permanent features:
the rain season, from November to April, with its hot and very humid, stifling atmosphere, an often cloudy sky and violent storms in late afternoon. Storms, hurricanes even, can come from December to March. The ocean, however, reaches then maximum temperatures, around 28°C.
A dry or "cool" season, from May to September, the most favourable for a holiday, with very sunny weather, pleasant temperatures (22 to 26°C) and a delightful sea (24-25°C), especially in the lagoons.
Whatever the season, there are important contrasts depending on the topography and the orientation. The islands of volcanic origin get a lot of rain, because the relief stops the trade winds, whereas the coral islands, with flat relief, can sometimes suffer from drought. It always rains more on façades facing the wind and on the southern slopes of mountains than on coasts "under the wind" and on northern slopes.