Hot humid summer, warm winter

Where is it?

In Australia, this climate type is found in the north coastal zone. Darwin is an example.

Description:

Summer (usually known as the wet season) in this climatic zone is hot and very humid. In most parts of the zone, summer will be rainy. Winter ("the dry") is warm, dry and sunny. Coastal areas are subject to tropical cyclones. The summer/wet season climate is stressful: this is the least comfortable Australian summer climate. The body's natural cooling system (the evaporation of perspiration) does not work well, because the air is already so full of water vapour that it cannot hold much more. North of the tropic of Capricorn, the sun will be in the southern sky during summer.

House design aim:

It's crucial to maximise cross-ventilation and to minimise building heat gain.
Check the wind-rose chart - what is the usual direction of the summer breeze in your area? Often a trade-off must be made between building orientation for ventilation and for minimal heat gain (solar orientation). See our Darwin case study.
Click here for design tips for the hot, humid climate.

Suitable building block:

Access to the prevailing wind in summer is crucial. Check our wind-roses - what is the usual direction of the summer breeze in your area? The windiest spots are the tops of hills or on the coast. On the other hand, while exposed sites are more comfortable in this climate, they are also more vulnerable to damage from tropical cyclones. Check our cyclone information.

Look at the path that summer breezes will take to reach your block. A smooth path will exert less frictional drag on the moving air, so air passing over water or flat, cleared land will move faster than if it passes over a built-up suburban area. Windward sides of hills will be breezier than lee sides.

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