AI-generatedSão Tomé at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Sep
- Warmest month
- Mar · 28°
- Warmest sea
- Mar · 29.2°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,100 h
- Rain a year
- 1,287 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+0
- Elevation
- 140 m
Climate in São Tomé
São Tomé has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. March is the warmest month with average highs of 28 °C, while July is the coolest at 25 °C. With around 2,100 hours of sunshine a year, São Tomé is moderately sunny; February is the sunniest month with 6.0 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: June – September
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 25°
- Midday, 13:00: about 26°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 26°
- Evening, 20:00: about 25°
- Night, 23:00: about 24°
05:1617:22
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 05:03–05:43 · evening 16:54–17:35
- Blue hour
- Morning 04:55–05:03 · evening 17:35–17:43
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.
What is the weather like in São Tomé in October?
In October, São Tomé is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 165 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in São Tomé.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 6 min05:16 – 17:22
- UV index
- 14 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 21 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 74 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+0Africa/Sao_Tome
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %42 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in São Tomé
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 26.3 – 27.4 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in São Tomé ranges from 25.7 °C in August to 29.2 °C in March. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
The sea temperature varies from year to year: in March, eight out of ten years were between 28.8 and 29.7 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 28.5° | 28.0° | 29.1° | warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 28.9° | 28.3° | 29.4° | warm |
| MarchMar | 29.2° | 28.8° | 29.7° | very warm |
| AprilApr | 29.1° | 28.6° | 29.6° | very warm |
| MayMay | 28.4° | 27.5° | 28.9° | warm |
| JuneJun | 26.8° | 25.7° | 27.6° | warm |
| JulyJul | 26.0° | 25.2° | 26.6° | warm |
| AugustAug | 25.7° | 25.3° | 26.2° | pleasant |
| SeptemberSep | 26.1° | 25.7° | 26.7° | warm |
| OctoberOct | 26.9° | 26.3° | 27.4° | warm |
| NovemberNov | 27.5° | 27.0° | 28.0° | warm |
| DecemberDec | 28.1° | 27.7° | 28.6° | warm |
Sunshine hours in São Tomé
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 5.5 of 12.1 hours of daylight in São Tomé, 45 % of the day.
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.
UV index in São Tomé
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 March (UV 15).
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 it, 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.
Rain in São Tomé: 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, São Tomé has about 22 rainy days with 165 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in São Tomé
How breezy and how cloudy São Tomé 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 São Tomé typically peaks at 21 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: May – Oct.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 74 % of the sky over São Tomé: mostly cloudy, with about 5.5 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 and humidity in São Tomé
How often the day gets hot in São Tomé (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, São Tomé has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 26 °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
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in São Tomé
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
HotOctober: nights around 24°. Hot nights: air conditioning makes sleeping much easier. Muggy on about 31 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in July (23°), the warmest in March (25°). 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) on about 364 days a year, mostly all year round.
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 | 60 | 27° | 25° | 28.5° | 5.9 h | 23 | 133 |
| FebruaryFeb | 58 | 27° | 25° | 28.9° | 6.0 h | 19 | 113 |
| MarchMar | 54 | 28° | 25° | 29.2° | 5.5 h | 20 | 133 |
| AprilApr | 55 | 28° | 25° | 29.1° | 5.4 h | 18 | 133 |
| MayMay | 61 | 27° | 25° | 28.4° | 5.7 h | 17 | 120 |
| JuneJun | 89 | 25° | 24° | 26.8° | 6.0 h | 5 | 24 |
| JulyJul | 90 | 25° | 23° | 26.0° | 6.0 h | 2 | 8 |
| AugustAug | 90 | 25° | 23° | 25.7° | 5.9 h | 3 | 14 |
| SeptemberSep | 80 | 25° | 24° | 26.1° | 5.8 h | 8 | 47 |
| OctoberOct | 58 | 26° | 24° | 26.9° | 5.5 h | 22 | 165 |
| NovemberNov | 58 | 26° | 24° | 27.5° | 5.5 h | 25 | 216 |
| DecemberDec | 59 | 26° | 24° | 28.1° | 5.8 h | 26 | 182 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, 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
0.34° N, 6.73° E · 140 m · Africa/Sao_Tome
Best time to visit São Tomé
The best time to visit São Tomé is from June to September. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from June to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from June to September. Rain is most frequent from October to May; the wettest month is November with 216 mm.
São Tomé through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
São Tomé in the dry season
Jun – Sep
Excellent
- 25 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 17 rainy days in all
São Tomé in the rainy season
Oct – May
Fair
- 26–28 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 170 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in São Tomé for you.
Your best months: June – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in São Tomé
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
July has the better holiday weather in São Tomé: score 90 against 58. In July, days are 1 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 1 °C cooler in July. July has 20 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in July.
| Month | October | July |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 58 | 90better |
| Day high | 26° | 25° |
| Night low | 24° | 23° |
| Sea | 26.9° | 26.0° |
| Sunshine | 5.5 h | 6.0 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 22 | 2better |
| Rainfall | 165 mm | 8 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 31 | 30better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Jun – Sep
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jun – Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Oct – May
12 or more rainy days
São Tomé month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
60January27° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In January, São Tomé is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.5 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 23 days, totalling 133 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in São Tomé.
São Tomé in January58February27° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In February, São Tomé is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 19 days, totalling 113 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is a so-so month for a holiday in São Tomé.
São Tomé in February54March28° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In March, São Tomé is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.2 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 20 days, totalling 133 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is a so-so month for a holiday in São Tomé.
São Tomé in March55April28° · Sea 29° · 5 h
In April, São Tomé is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 18 days, totalling 133 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in São Tomé.
São Tomé in April61May27° · Sea 28° · 6 h
In May, São Tomé is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 28.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 17 days, totalling 120 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in São Tomé.
São Tomé in May89June25° · Sea 27° · 6 h
In June, São Tomé is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.8 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 24 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in São Tomé.
São Tomé in June90July25° · Sea 26° · 6 h
In July, São Tomé is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 26.0 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It hardly ever rains. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in São Tomé.
São Tomé in July90August25° · Sea 26° · 6 h
In August, São Tomé is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 25.7 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 14 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in São Tomé.
São Tomé in August80September25° · Sea 26° · 6 h
In September, São Tomé is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.1 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 47 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in São Tomé.
São Tomé in September58October26° · Sea 27° · 6 h
In October, São Tomé is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 26.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 22 days, totalling 165 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in São Tomé.
São Tomé in October58November26° · Sea 28° · 6 h
In November, São Tomé is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 27.5 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 25 days, totalling 216 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in São Tomé.
São Tomé in November59December26° · Sea 28° · 6 h
In December, São Tomé is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.1 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 26 days, totalling 182 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is a so-so month for a holiday in São Tomé.
São Tomé in DecemberSão Tomé compared
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São Tomé vs. Libreville
In October São Tomé has the better holiday weather (score 58 vs. 49). During the day Libreville is 2 °C warmer than São Tomé. The sea is about equally warm. Libreville gets 2 fewer hours of sunshine a day.
| in October | São Tomé | Libreville |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 58 | 49 |
| Daytime high | 26° | 28° |
| Sea | 27° | 27° |
| Sunshine | 6 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 22 | 31 |
| Best time | Jun – Sep | Jul – Aug |
Through the year
Planning a trip to São Tomé
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
São Tomé 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.
São Tomé has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 90) and its weakest during the Easter holidays (score 55).
- 55
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 5.4 h of sun a day
- 19 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 67
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 27 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 5.8 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 90
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 25 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 5.9 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming, Sightseeing & walks
- 58
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 26 °C by day
- Sea 27 °C
- 5.5 h of sun a day
- 22 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 60
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Good
- 27 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 5.9 h of sun a day
- 25 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 7 h 25 min
- Distance
- 5,730 km
- Time zone
- UTC+0
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about São Tomé
When is the best time to visit São Tomé?
The best time to visit São Tomé is from June to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in São Tomé?
The sea temperature in São Tomé ranges from 25.7 °C in August to 29.2 °C in March. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in São Tomé in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 26.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming.
What is the warmest month in São Tomé?
March is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C and nights around 25 °C. July is the coolest month at 25 °C.
When does it rain most in São Tomé?
Rain is most frequent from October to May; the wettest month is November with 216 mm. The driest month is July with 8 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does São Tomé get?
São Tomé gets around 2,100 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is February with 6.0 hours a day; in April there are 5.4 hours a day.
What time zone is São Tomé in?
São Tomé uses the time zone Africa/Sao_Tome, which matches UTC all year.
How long is the flight from London to São Tomé?
A nonstop flight from London to São Tomé takes about 7 h 25 min, for a straight-line distance of about 5,730 km.
Which school holidays are best for São Tomé?
São Tomé has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 90) and its weakest during the Easter holidays (score 55). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 55, May half-term 67, Summer holidays 90, October half-term 58, Christmas holidays 60.
Near São Tomé
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like São Tomé
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to São Tomé's – good alternatives.