The climate of Merauke
Merauke, located in the easternmost region of
Indonesia, falls under the Aw category of the Köppen climate classification. This identifies the local climate as Tropical wet and dry, or otherwise known as Savanna, evoking images of warm weather throughout the year.
The weather in Merauke is characterized by high temperatures and humidity, paired with significant rainfall. Throughout the year, the high temperatures range from 28.4°C (83.1°F) to 32.4°C (90.3°F), while the low temperatures fluctuate mildly between 23.3°C (73.9°F) to 26°C (78.8°F). Humidity in this region is relatively high, with readings of 75% to 82%.
Rainfall in Merauke shows a stark contrast between wet and dry periods. The area receives considerable rainfall from 112mm (4.41") to 173mm (6.81") during the first five months of the year. However, the volume of rain significantly reduces from 31mm (1.22") to 14mm (0.55") during the months of
June and
July. This pattern aligns with the typical tropical climate characterized by a dry season and a wet season.
Daylight hours in Merauke remain quite stable throughout the year, varying from 11.6 hours to 12.6 hours. This uniformity in daylight hours showcases the region's equatorial position. Concurrently, the sea temperature also remains stable from 26°C (78.8°F) to 29°C (84.2°F), adding to the tropical climate appeal of the area.
The best time to visit Merauke
Given the tropical climate of
Merauke, determining the best time to visit hinges on preferences for a drier or a wetter climate. However, taking into account multiple factors - from rainfall to temperature - the driest months, from
June to
September, would likely make the best time to visit. During these months, rainfall reduces significantly from 31mm (1.22") to 19mm (0.75") and the relative humidity drops to around 76%.
The worst time to visit Merauke
For those seeking to avoid heavy rainfall and high humidity, the first five months of the year may not be the most suitable time to explore
Merauke.
January holds the record for the highest average rainfall at 167mm (6.57"), along with high humidity at 80%.
March also displays similarly adverse weather conditions, with rainfall reaching 173mm (6.81") coupled with 81% humidity.
Spring weather in Merauke
Springtime in
Merauke does not quite display the usual hallmarks of mild and pleasant weather. Instead, the region continues to experience high temperatures ranging from 30.7°C (87.3°F) to 30°C (86°F) and a relatively high level of rainfall at 148mm (5.83") to 112mm (4.41") during
March to
May.
Summer weather in Merauke
Merauke's summer months are characterized by decreasing rainfall, dropping progressively from 112mm (4.41") in
May to a drastic reduction to 14mm (0.55") by
July. Summer also brings about a slight dip in temperatures, with high temperatures hovering between 30°C (86°F) and 28.4°C (83.1°F) and low temperatures dropping to 23.7°C (74.7°F).
Autumn weather in Merauke
In
Merauke, autumn represents a transition from the drier months back towards the wetter season.
September exhibits a slight increase in rainfall from 19mm (0.75") to 29mm (1.14"). Correspondingly, the temperatures also rise gradually from 28.4°C (83.1°F) to 29.9°C (85.8°F) in high temperatures and from 23.7°C (74.7°F) to 24.6°C (76.3°F) in low temperatures from September to
November.
Winter weather in Merauke
Winter in
Merauke is synonymous with the onset of the wet season. Rainfall starts to rise from 61mm (2.4") in
November to 110mm (4.33") by
December. Concurrently, temperatures also notably increase, with highs reaching 32°C (89.6°F) to 32.4°C (90.3°F) and with lows in the range of 25.5°C (77.9°F) to 26°C (78.8°F) in December. Despite these shifts in weather, daylight remains steady, only varying slightly from 12.3 hours to 12.6 hours from November to December.
Weather in January
Weather in February
The weather in
February continues much in the same vein as
January, although there is a slight drop in rainfall. The temperatures remain almost unchanged but the days become a smidgen shorter. On the horizon, the weather forecast for
March indicates an increase in both rainfall and relative humidity.
Weather in February »Weather in March
As
March embarks,
Merauke,
Indonesia experiences a slight increase in rainfall relative to
February, yet the weather remains steadily tropical. The slight increase in humidity is offset by the continuation of warm temperatures from the prior month.
Weather in March »
Weather in April
In
Merauke,
Indonesia, the month of
April usually signifies the start of a drier spell, with a substantial decrease in rainfall from 173mm (6.81") in
March down to 121mm (4.76"). The weather forecast for
May indicates that this trend will continue, with further decreases in both temperature and rainfall.
Weather in April »Weather in May
May brings about a significant reduction in sunshine hours in
Merauke,
Indonesia, with only 6.9 hours averaged each day compared to 8 hours in
April. This coincides with lesser rainfall than in the preceding month, indicating a shift towards the dry season.
Weather in May » Weather in June
Indonesia's
Merauke region heralds the onset of the dry season in
June, with rainfall dropping to just 31mm (1.22") across 13 days. It represents a noticeable shift from
May, bringing below-average levels of rainfall. Forecasts reveal that
July will follow a similar weather pattern, albeit with a minor drop in temperature.
Weather in June »
Weather in July
As the dry season advances in
Merauke,
Indonesia,
July witnesses a further dip in rainfall, bringing it down to only 14mm (0.55") over approximately 10 days. This is significant when compared to
June’s already lower-than-average rainfall.
Weather in July »Weather in August
Moving into
August,
Merauke sees a small rise in rainfall levels, with a corresponding increase in the average number of rainy days. However, it is only a minor deviation from
July's weather, staying within the parameters of the dry season.
Weather in August »Weather in September
With
September, a substantial increase in rainfall in
Merauke,
Indonesia signals the end of the dry spell. While the weather remains consistent with
August in terms of relative humidity and temperatures, ongoing changes indicate the transition into the wet season.
Weather in September »
Weather in October
October is the month when the wet season gains momentum, with rainfall hitting 61mm (2.4") spread over roughly 14 days. It is a marked difference from
September’s rainfall, making October noticeably wetter. However,
November promises even higher rainfall, alerting locals and visitors to anticipate more umbrellas in sight.
Weather in October » Weather in November
Weather in December
December concludes the year in
Merauke,
Indonesia, round-off the weather patterns experienced over the past 12 months. There is a significant rise in rainfall from
November’s average, taking it up to 110mm (4.33"). Looking ahead, the forecast predicts that
January will continue the trend of high precipitation and similar temperatures.
Weather in December »