Climate Bali
Bali, subject to the monsoon regime, has two seasons: dry from April to October, wet from November to March. The average temperature is 26°C. The humidity in the wet season can reach 95%, while the average in the year remains around 75%. February is considered the hottest month (average 29°C), while July remains the coolest (average 27°C). Mountainous island, this implies important temperature variations according to the altitude. The South, from Denpasar, enjoys a microclimate that protects it from rainfall. As for the peninsula of Bukit, the drought makes it a desolate land and dedicated to the cultivation of kapok tree. Bali is located close to the equator line, so the day rises and sets at almost the same time all year (6am and 6:30pm). The shortest day, at the end of June, and the longest, at the end of December, have only one hour difference!
The dry season: from April to October
Bali is located in the southern hemisphere, so its seasons are reversed from those of France, but the climate is quite different because of the humidity and temperatures on average always higher. The monsoon is a climatic phenomenon that mainly affects Asian countries. It consists of winds going from the sea to the land, or conversely, from the land to the sea, thus expelling the accumulated humidity. In some years, the two seasons are shifted by one month.
The dry season is dominated by southeast winds. The best time to go to Bali is undoubtedly the month of June, when there are not yet too many tourists, low humidity and little rainfall. Because dry season does not necessarily mean no rain. They are rarer and usually occur at the end of the day and at night, which leaves you all day to enjoy the beach, hiking, and activities that Bali offers.
Temperatures during the dry season are between 24 and 32°C during the day. During the evening, they tend to drop more significantly than in the wet season. Sunscreen and headgear are essential because the sun is very strong: in one hour the skin can quickly get sunburned! In August, the weather is dry, but it is the coolest, which is quite relative for a Westerner: about 26°C.The wet season: from November to March
The wet season is dominated by winds from the northeast. Avoid coming in January because it is the worst month, combining intense rain and high heat (nearly 25 days of rain and 245 mm of rainfall in December and January). During the rainy season, from November to March, showers are heavy, generally localized and humidity is high. It is therefore not impossible to have good weather on the coasts while the mountains and volcanoes are wet. As it is the hot season, the atmosphere can be difficult to bear and you will need some time to acclimatize. Nevertheless, the sunshine is always present.
Throughout the year in Bali, it is impossible to give a precise picture of the types of rainfall. We have experienced wet seasons without rain with hellish heat, and August in Ubud with daily rain and a light sweater. In general, the rains are more frequent in the north than in the south of the island. Although the rainy episodes are rarely long, it happens that they last during the wet season several days, accompanied by thunderstorms. It is not uncommon for temperatures to exceed 30°C.Beware of temperature variations: think of the (small) wool
The north of Bali is crossed by a volcanic chain, the "Pacific Ring of Fire", where the famous volcano Gunung Agung (3 142 m), the highest on the island, is still active. In this region, the weather is cooler. If you plan to go there, warmer clothes (jacket, sweater, pants) and waterproof (anorak, umbrella) are essential. It is these temperature variations that we are talking about, since the difference in temperature between the dry and wet seasons is about 2°C on average. A little wool, to accompany a light outfit, will not be refused during the evening. For hiking and mountain climbing, don't forget to bring good walking shoes.
As for the water temperature, it remains ideal all year round, around 29°C.Cyclones in Bali?
The 2004 tsunami that first hit Indonesia following the earthquake of magnitude 9.1 on the Richter scale, December 26, has very little affected Bali, a chance when we know the magnitude of this natural disaster (nearly 250 000 victims!). Nevertheless, earthquakes are likely to occur because the archipelago is at the convergence of two tectonic plates. Regarding tropical cyclones, Bali's position, close to the equator, allows it to avoid being in the direct path of cyclones, typhoons or storms. From January to April the risk is the highest. Generally unaffected unlike its neighbors Java and the eastern Sunda Islands, these events bring intense winds and rain on Bali for a few days. In 2013, Cyclone Narelle brought strong winds, intense rain, waves of 5 meters high, falling trees, near Denpasar. In March 2019, tropical storm Savannah caused quite a lot of damage in the vicinity of Buleleng.
