Cocos Island Area Climate

Cocos Island experiences an equatorial oceanic climate with wet and dry seasons.

The mean annual rainfall is 1998mm most of which falls between January and July. Rainfall is fairly uniformly spread through this period although March and April are the wettest months. The driest period is from September to November.

Because of the oceanic influence, the mean maximum temperature varies only from 28-30C during the year and the minimum temperature from 24-25C. The relative humidity ranges between about 70 and 80% at 9am and 3pm.

During the wettest period wind speeds are generally lighter and directions more variable but from May to November persistent southeast trade winds affect the island. The trade winds average 25-30km/h.

Tropical cyclones often develop in the waters adjacent to the island during the season between November and April and rarely in May. Most are in an early stage of development and pass by without causing any significant damage. A small number of cyclones have caused severe damage on the island during the last 150 years.