Season by season
Dry season (December–June)
Trade winds, lower humidity and mostly brief showers. The dirt roads to the bird sanctuary and the Sabana are at their best, and the plateau can feel pleasantly cool. Winter trade-wind swell can make the north and east coasts rough, so the Swimming Hole is not always usable.
Wet season (July–November)
Hot, humid and green, with heavy rain that leaves the coral roads rutted and slippery. Between weather systems the sea is often at its flattest, which suits diving and the Swimming Hole. Squalls can delay the small aircraft, so leave room in your plans.
Sea conditions & typhoons
Sasanhaya Bay, on the sheltered side of the Songsong isthmus, is usually diveable when other coasts are not, and visibility is often remarkable. Typhoons are possible in any month and most likely from about August to November; flights stop when one approaches and the island can be cut off for a few days.
Month by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C | 24°C | 130 mm | Quiet |
| February | 30°C | 24°C | 110 mm | Quiet |
| March | 30°C | 24°C | 70 mm | Quiet |
| April | 31°C | 25°C | 80 mm | Quiet |
| May | 31°C | 25°C | 110 mm | Quiet |
| June | 31°C | 25°C | 165 mm | Quiet |
| July | 31°C | 25°C | 300 mm | Quiet |
| August | 31°C | 24°C | 410 mm | Quiet |
| September | 31°C | 24°C | 360 mm | Quiet |
| October | 31°C | 24°C | 300 mm | Quiet |
| November | 31°C | 25°C | 210 mm | Quiet |
| December | 30°C | 24°C | 150 mm | Quiet |
Temperatures and rainfall are approximate long-term averages; individual years vary, and a single typhoon can change a month completely.
Festivals & events
- March–April: Holy Week and Easter are observed with church services and processions in Songsong
- May–June: the flame trees flower along the roadsides, usually at their best in late spring
- July: CNMI Liberation Day on 4 July is a public holiday, celebrated mainly on Saipan
- October: the fiesta of San Francisco de Borja, Songsong’s patron saint, is the biggest event of Rota’s year, usually in early to mid October (check the date) — book rooms and flights early
- December: Christmas and New Year bring families home from Guam and Saipan, and flights fill up
Our advice
For dry roads and comfortable temperatures, come between February and May. Come in October if you want to see the island at its most sociable, but reserve everything months ahead. Whenever you travel, do not schedule your flight off Rota for the same day as an international departure. More on the regional climate is on the when to go page.
