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Suva, the capital of Fiji, sits on the southeastern coast of the island of Viti Levu in the South Pacific, on a peninsula backed by rainforested hills at approximately -18.14°S, 178.44°E. Facing the prevailing southeast trade winds, it has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) — warm, humid and very rainy year-round with no true dry season — and lies in the South Pacific cyclone belt.
The warmer, wetter season, from November to April — the austral summer — is hot and humid, with highs around 30–31°C and warm, sticky nights. This is when the heaviest rain falls, in frequent downpours and thunderstorms, and it coincides with the South Pacific cyclone season, when tropical cyclones can strike Fiji with destructive winds, torrential rain and storm surge.
The cooler, drier season, from May to October — the austral winter — brings slightly lower temperatures, with highs around 27–28°C and comfortable nights near 20–21°C, and less rain. Even so, Suva's windward position keeps showers frequent, so 'dry' is relative; this milder, brighter stretch is nonetheless the most comfortable time of year.
Suva is very wet, receiving on the order of 3,000–3,300 mm of rain a year, with rain in every month and no true dry season, though the wet season from November to April brings the heaviest falls; its position on the windward, southeastern side of Viti Levu makes it far wetter than the sheltered leeward coast. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.
Suva's position on the windward side of Viti Levu, facing the southeast trade winds that are forced up over the island's mountains, makes it drenchingly wet year-round — while the leeward western coast, in the rain shadow, is sunny and dry enough to host Fiji's beach resorts. Tropical cyclones between November and April are the chief hazard, capable of devastating the islands.
To follow any single measurement in Suva more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.