Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe Climate & Monthly Averages
Sao Tome has a tropical wet-and-dry climate. March is the hottest month, averaging 85° by day; August is the coldest at 80°.
Rain, not cold, divides the year in Sao Tome
Sao Tome has one of the steadier climates in our dataset. Average highs move only 2°C across the whole year - from 80°F (27°C) in August to 85°F (29°C) in March - so the practical difference between seasons here is rainfall and daylight, not warmth.
The wet-and-dry rhythm at a glance
Warmth peaks in March: highs of 85°F (29°C), lows of 78°F (26°C). August is the coolest month, with highs of 80°F (27°C) and lows near 74°F (23°C). Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 90°F (32°C) and the lowest daily minimum 68°F (20°C). Between the average March and the average August lie 2°C, a narrower spread than all but 6% of the 3496 cities in our dataset.
Relative humidity averages 86% across the year, more humid than almost anywhere else we cover - enough that summer afternoons feel hotter than the thermometer says, which is what the dew point converter is for. Precipitation concentrates in October - 15.6 inches (396 mm) on 27 days - and thins out by July. Sunshine averages 8.8 hours a day over the year, peaking in June at 9.6 hours. Days and nights are about 4°C apart on average - narrower than almost anywhere else we cover.
More climate facts for Sao Tome
- Hottest month: March - highs near 85°F (29°C)
- Coldest month: August - highs near 80°F (27°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 90°F (32°C) high · 68°F (20°C) low
- Wettest month: October (27 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (9.6 h sun/day)
- Climate type: tropical wet-and-dry
- Annual swing: 2°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 4°C
- Average humidity: 86%
Choosing the right part of the year in Sao Tome
Choose dates by rain, not just temperature
Aim for May to September and January if you get the choice: the dry season is running but the afternoons are still bearable, and highs average 82°F (28°C) against roughly 20 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in May.
What the humidity changes
Pack for Sao Tome with light clothing for the warm months, proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. Note the gap between afternoon and night: March pairs 85°F (29°C) with 78°F (26°C).
Warm all year: the monthly rain pattern
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Sao Tome's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 26 days
- Sunshine
- 9.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
February
- Rain
- 24 days
- Sunshine
- 9.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
March
- Rain
- 24 days
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
April
- Rain
- 24 days
- Sunshine
- 8.8 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
May
- Rain
- 23 days
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
June
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 9.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
July
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 9.2 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
August
- Rain
- 19 days
- Sunshine
- 8.5 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
September
- Rain
- 24 days
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
October
- Rain
- 27 days
- Sunshine
- 8.3 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
November
- Rain
- 26 days
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
December
- Rain
- 28 days
- Sunshine
- 8.8 h
- Daylight
- 12.1 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Sao Tome's coolest part of the year: August, July, September.
Monthly temperature and rain table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 83° | 77° | 26 | 9.0 in | 9.4 h/day | 12.1 h | 85% | 87% |
| February | 84° | 78° | 24 | 8.2 in | 9.4 h/day | 12.1 h | 85% | 86% |
| March | 85° | 78° | 24 | 9.7 in | 8.6 h/day | 12.1 h | 79% | 86% |
| April | 85° | 78° | 24 | 9.1 in | 8.8 h/day | 12.1 h | 78% | 86% |
| May | 83° | 78° | 23 | 8.8 in | 8.6 h/day | 12.1 h | 75% | 86% |
| June | 82° | 75° | 13 | 2.9 in | 9.6 h/day | 12.1 h | 43% | 84% |
| July | 81° | 74° | 14 | 2.3 in | 9.2 h/day | 12.1 h | 46% | 83% |
| August | 80° | 74° | 19 | 4.8 in | 8.5 h/day | 12.1 h | 60% | 84% |
| September | 81° | 75° | 24 | 9.2 in | 8.4 h/day | 12.1 h | 80% | 86% |
| October | 81° | 76° | 27 | 15.6 in | 8.3 h/day | 12.1 h | 88% | 88% |
| November | 82° | 76° | 26 | 13.3 in | 8.6 h/day | 12.1 h | 86% | 88% |
| December | 82° | 77° | 28 | 11.8 in | 8.8 h/day | 12.1 h | 91% | 88% |
How Sao Tome compares for rain and warmth
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 272 days a year - more wet days than 97% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Annual precipitation is 104.5 inches (2655 mm) - wetter than 96% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Sao Tome averages 79°F (26°C) across the year - warmer than 89% of the 3496 cities we track.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.
How the calendar changes in warm-weather Sao Tome
March through May
March through May runs hot here - highs near 84°F (29°C), nights near 78°F (25°C), and rain falls on around 71 of the 90 days.
June through August
Through June through August, Sao Tome runs hot: 81°F (27°C) by day, 74°F (24°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 46 of the 90 days.
September through November
September through November brings hot afternoons here - highs near 81°F (27°C), nights near 76°F (24°C), and rain falls on around 77 of the 90 days.
December through February
December through February in Sao Tome is hot, with daytime highs averaging 83°F (28°C) and nights around 77°F (25°C); rain falls on around 78 of the 90 days.
Questions about heat and rain in Sao Tome
How hot does Sao Tome get in summer?
Are nights cold in Sao Tome?
How humid does Sao Tome get?
What should I pack for Sao Tome?
How much does the weather change through the year in Sao Tome?
How does Sao Tome compare to other cities?
Sao Tome temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.