Season by season
Dry season (December–June)
Trade winds, lower humidity and the least rain — showers tend to be short. The lagoon is clear and boats to Managaha run most days. These are also the busiest and dearest weeks, particularly around New Year and Lunar New Year.
Wet season (July–November)
Hotter and more humid, with heavy bursts of rain, often in the afternoon or overnight. Mornings are frequently fine and the lagoon stays warm and swimmable. Hotels are usually quieter outside the school summer holidays and around Chuseok.
Sea conditions & typhoons
The barrier reef keeps the west coast calm in most weather, but strong winds make the lagoon choppy and can stop boats and parasailing for a day or more. Typhoons are possible in any month and likeliest from about August to November; Typhoon Yutu did severe damage here in October 2018. Follow your hotel’s advice if a warning is issued.
Month by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°C | 23°C | 95 mm | Very busy |
| February | 29°C | 23°C | 70 mm | Very busy |
| March | 30°C | 23°C | 60 mm | Busy |
| April | 31°C | 24°C | 65 mm | Busy |
| May | 31°C | 25°C | 85 mm | Busy |
| June | 31°C | 25°C | 125 mm | Quiet |
| July | 31°C | 25°C | 215 mm | Busy |
| August | 31°C | 24°C | 320 mm | Very busy |
| September | 31°C | 24°C | 290 mm | Quiet |
| October | 31°C | 24°C | 270 mm | Quiet |
| November | 30°C | 24°C | 160 mm | Quiet |
| December | 29°C | 24°C | 110 mm | Very busy |
Temperatures and rainfall are approximate long-term averages; individual years vary, and a single typhoon can change a month completely.
Festivals & events
- Spring: the Flame Tree Arts Festival brings crafts, dance and food stalls to the Garapan waterfront (dates vary from year to year)
- May: Taste of the Marianas, a food festival usually held on Saturday evenings at American Memorial Park — check whether it is running
- June: commemorations of the 15 June 1944 landings are held at American Memorial Park and along the invasion beaches
- July: Liberation Day on 4 July, Saipan’s main holiday, with a parade along Beach Road and a carnival in the weeks around it
- Year-round: the Garapan Street Market, usually on Thursday evenings, and village patron-saint fiestas in different months
Our advice
For settled weather without the highest prices, aim for late February to April or May to mid-June, avoiding the big East Asian holiday weeks. In the wet season, do boat trips in the morning and keep a spare day in hand. The flame trees along Beach Road are usually at their reddest from about April to June. More on the regional climate is on the when to go page.
