AI-generatedLae at a glance
- Best time
- All year
- Warmest month
- Jan · 29°
- Warmest sea
- Jan · 30.1°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,420 h
- Rain a year
- 6,048 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+10
- Elevation
- 44 m
Climate in Lae
Lae has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. January is the warmest month with average highs of 29 °C, while July is the coolest at 27 °C. With around 1,420 hours of sunshine a year, Lae is rather dull; October is the sunniest month with 4.6 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Lae
The best time to visit Lae is all year round. The sea reaches 30.1 °C in January, but frequent rain gets in the way of a classic beach holiday. The wettest month is April with 617 mm of precipitation.
Lae through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Lae in spring
Sep – Nov
Good
- 27–28 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 4.3 h of sun a day
- 84 rainy days in all
Lae in summer
Dec – Feb
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 3.6 h of sun a day
- 87 rainy days in all
Lae in autumn
Mar – May
Good
- 28–29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 3.7 h of sun a day
- 88 rainy days in all
Lae in winter
Jun – Aug
Good
- 27 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 4.0 h of sun a day
- 84 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
All year
Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Lae for you.
Your best months: June, August, October
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: all year
Where to go in OctoberSea temperature in October
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 23°
- Midday, 13:00: about 28°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 27°
- Evening, 20:00: about 24°
- Night, 23:00: about 22°
05:5018:05
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:37–06:18 · evening 17:37–18:18
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:29–05:37 · evening 18:18–18:26
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
October in Lae compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs rise from about 27° at the start of the month to 28° at the end.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 27° | 28° |
| Night-time low | 20° | 21° |
| Sea | 29° | 29° |
| Daylight | 12.2 h | 12.3 h |
What is the weather like in Lae in October?
In October, Lae is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 29.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 4.6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 28 days, adding up to 471 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Lae.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 15 min05:50 – 18:05
- UV index
- 14 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 7 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 86 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 2 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+10offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %100 %
- Seaweight 25 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %27 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Compare two months in Lae
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
October and June bring similar holiday weather to Lae (score 65 and 64). In June, days are 1 °C cooler than in October. The sea is about as warm in both months. The sun shines an hour less a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 65 | 64 |
| Daytime high | 28° | 27° |
| Night-time low | 21° | 21° |
| Sea | 29.1° | 28.8° |
| Sunshine | 4.6 hbetter | 4.1 h |
| Rainy days | 28 | 28 |
| Rainfall | 471 mm | 479 mm |
| Muggy days | 31 | 30better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Lae month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
62January29° · Sea 30° · 3.5 h
In January, Lae is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 30.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.5 hours a day. It rains often – on about 30 days, adding up to 478 mm. On about 8 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in Lae.
Lae in January61February29° · Sea 30° · 3.4 h
In February, Lae is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 30.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 492 mm. On about 8 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in Lae.
Lae in February61March29° · Sea 30° · 3.4 h
In March, Lae is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 29.9 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 30 days, adding up to 585 mm. On about 8 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Lae.
Lae in March62April29° · Sea 30° · 3.6 h
In April, Lae is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 29.7 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.6 hours a day. It rains often – on about 29 days, adding up to 617 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Lae.
Lae in April63May28° · Sea 29° · 4.0 h
In May, Lae is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 29.3 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 4.0 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 30 days, adding up to 524 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Lae.
Lae in May64June27° · Sea 29° · 4.1 h
In June, Lae is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 28.8 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 4.1 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 28 days, adding up to 479 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Lae.
Lae in June63July27° · Sea 28° · 3.8 h
In July, Lae is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. The sea averages 28.3 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 29 days, adding up to 433 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Lae.
Lae in July64August27° · Sea 28° · 4.1 h
In August, Lae is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. The sea averages 28.0 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 4.1 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 28 days, adding up to 428 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Lae.
Lae in August64September27° · Sea 28° · 4.3 h
In September, Lae is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. The sea averages 28.3 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 4.3 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 27 days, adding up to 472 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Lae.
Lae in September65October28° · Sea 29° · 4.6 h
In October, Lae is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 29.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 4.6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 28 days, adding up to 471 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Lae.
Lae in October64November28° · Sea 30° · 4.1 h
In November, Lae is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 29.7 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 4.1 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 28 days, adding up to 503 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Lae.
Lae in November63December29° · Sea 30° · 3.8 h
In December, Lae is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 30.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 30 days, adding up to 568 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Lae.
Lae in DecemberClimate in detail
Year & climate table
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Lae
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Warm 20–24°
- muggy month (15+ muggy days)
WarmOctober: nights around 21°. Tropical nights: a fan or air conditioning helps. Muggy on about 31 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in August (20°), the warmest in March (22°). Nights stay tropical all year (20 °C and more), so a room with air conditioning or at least a fan pays off. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) all year, on about 363 days a year.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 62 | 29° | 22° | 30.1° | 3.5 h | 30 | 478 |
| FebruaryFeb | 61 | 29° | 22° | 30.0° | 3.4 h | 27 | 492 |
| MarchMar | 61 | 29° | 22° | 29.9° | 3.4 h | 30 | 585 |
| AprilApr | 62 | 29° | 22° | 29.7° | 3.6 h | 29 | 617 |
| MayMay | 63 | 28° | 21° | 29.3° | 4.0 h | 30 | 524 |
| JuneJun | 64 | 27° | 21° | 28.8° | 4.1 h | 28 | 479 |
| JulyJul | 63 | 27° | 20° | 28.3° | 3.8 h | 29 | 433 |
| AugustAug | 64 | 27° | 20° | 28.0° | 4.1 h | 28 | 428 |
| SeptemberSep | 64 | 27° | 20° | 28.3° | 4.3 h | 27 | 472 |
| OctoberOct | 65 | 28° | 21° | 29.1° | 4.6 h | 28 | 471 |
| NovemberNov | 64 | 28° | 21° | 29.7° | 4.1 h | 28 | 503 |
| DecemberDec | 63 | 29° | 22° | 30.0° | 3.8 h | 30 | 568 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
6.72° S, 147.00° E · 44 m · Pacific/Port_Moresby
Sea temperature
Sea temperature in Lae
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 28.3 – 29.6 °C
Swimming season: all year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Lae ranges from 28.0 °C in August to 30.1 °C in January. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
The sea temperature varies from year to year: in January, eight out of ten years were between 29.7 and 30.6 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 30.1° | 29.7° | 30.6° | very warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 30.0° | 29.6° | 30.5° | very warm |
| MarchMar | 29.9° | 29.4° | 30.2° | very warm |
| AprilApr | 29.7° | 29.3° | 30.2° | very warm |
| MayMay | 29.3° | 28.8° | 29.9° | very warm |
| JuneJun | 28.8° | 28.4° | 29.3° | warm |
| JulyJul | 28.3° | 27.7° | 28.6° | warm |
| AugustAug | 28.0° | 27.4° | 28.7° | warm |
| SeptemberSep | 28.3° | 27.7° | 28.8° | warm |
| OctoberOct | 29.1° | 28.3° | 29.6° | very warm |
| NovemberNov | 29.7° | 29.3° | 30.4° | very warm |
| DecemberDec | 30.0° | 29.6° | 30.4° | very warm |
Sunshine
Sunshine hours in Lae
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 4.6 of 12.2 hours of daylight in Lae, 38 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain
Rain in Lae: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Lae has about 28 rainy days with 471 mm of rain in total.
UV index
UV index in Lae
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 14 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in October (UV 14).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 10 min
- Light brown skin
- about 15 min
- Olive skin
- about 20 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Wind & clouds
Wind and clouds in Lae
How breezy and how cloudy Lae is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Lae typically peaks at 7 km/h during the day: Beaufort 2, light breeze or less.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
The daily breeze rarely reaches Beaufort 4 (20 km/h), so wind sports depend on single windy days.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 86 % of the sky over Lae: mostly overcast, with about 4.6 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat & humidity
Heat and humidity in Lae
How often the day gets hot in Lae (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Lae has about 2 hot days, with an average daytime high of 28 °C: often muggy. The air feels warmer than the thermometer says: light, airy clothes and slow days help.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Planning a trip to Lae
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Lae in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Lae has similar weather in all school holidays (scores 62 to 65).
- 62
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 3.5 h of sun a day
- 29 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 63
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 4.0 h of sun a day
- 29 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 64
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Good
- 27 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 4.0 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 65
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 4.6 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 63
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 3.7 h of sun a day
- 30 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 17 h 35 min
- Distance
- 14,210 km
- Time zone
- UTC+10
- Jet lag
- About 9 days (9 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Good to know: Papua New Guinea
- Currency
- Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)
- Languages
- English, Hiri Motu
- Sockets
- Type I · 240 V
- Traffic
- Drives on the left
- Dialling code
- +675
- Emergency number
- 112
UK plugs need a travel adapter
Sources: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0). Please check details before you travel.
Compare & alternatives
Compare with another place
Lae compared
Put Lae side by side with another destination.
Lae vs Madang
In October the holiday weather in Lae and Madang is about equally good (score 65 vs 69). During the day Madang is 2 °C warmer than Lae. The sea is about equally warm. Madang gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | Lae | Madang |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 65 | 69 |
| Daytime high | 28° | 30° |
| Sea | 29° | 29° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 6 h |
| Rainy days | 28 | 22 |
| Best time | All year | May – Nov |
Through the year
Best places in the country
Papua New Guinea in October: the best places
In October, Lae ranks 3 of 5 destinations in this country.
- Madang30°29°69
- 2Rabaul31°30°69
- 3LaeThis page28°29°65
- 4Mount Hagen24°54
- 5Port Moresby31°27°34
Places nearby
Near Lae
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climate
Places with a climate like Lae
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Lae's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Lae
When is the best time to visit Lae?
The best time to visit Lae is all year round. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Lae?
The sea temperature in Lae ranges from 28.0 °C in August to 30.1 °C in January. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Lae in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 29.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath.
What is the warmest month in Lae?
January is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C and nights around 22 °C. July is the coolest month at 27 °C.
When does it rain most in Lae?
The wettest month is April with 617 mm of precipitation. The driest month is August with 428 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Lae get?
Lae gets around 1,420 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is October with 4.6 hours a day; in February there are 3.4 hours a day.
What time zone is Lae in?
Lae is on UTC+10 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Lae?
A nonstop flight from London to Lae takes about 17 h 35 min, for a straight-line distance of about 14,210 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for Lae?
Lae has similar weather in all school holidays (scores 62 to 65). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 62, May half-term 63, summer holidays 64, October half-term 65, Christmas holidays 63.