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May Weather in Buka Papua New Guinea

Daily high temperatures are around 84°F, rarely falling below 83°F or exceeding 85°F.

Daily low temperatures are around 82°F, rarely falling below 81°F or exceeding 83°F. The highest daily average low temperature is 82°F on May 28.

For reference, on November 30, the hottest day of the year, temperatures in Buka typically range from 82°F to 84°F, while on August 21, the coldest day of the year, they range from 81°F to 83°F.

Average High and Low Temperature in May in Buka

The daily average high (red line) and low (blue line) temperature, with 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands. The thin dotted lines are the corresponding average perceived temperatures.

The figure below shows you a compact characterization of the hourly average temperatures for the quarter of the year centered on May. The horizontal axis is the day, the vertical axis is the hour of the day, and the color is the average temperature for that hour and day.

Average Hourly Temperature in May in Buka

Average Hourly Temperature in May in BukaMay112233445566778899101011111212131314141515161617171818191920202121222223232424252526262727282829293030313112 AM12 AM2 AM2 AM4 AM4 AM6 AM6 AM8 AM8 AM10 AM10 AM12 PM12 PM2 PM2 PM4 PM4 PM6 PM6 PM8 PM8 PM10 PM10 PM12 AM12 AMAprJunwarm
frigid 15°F freezing 32°F very cold 45°F cold 55°F cool 65°F comfortable 75°F warm 85°F hot 95°F sweltering
The average hourly temperature, color coded into bands. The shaded overlays indicate night and civil twilight.

San Andrés, Colombia (8,575 miles away) is the far-away foreign place with temperatures most similar to Buka (view comparison).

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The month of May in Buka experiences essentially constant cloud cover, with the percentage of time that the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy remaining about 81% throughout the month.

The clearest day of the month is May 31, with clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy conditions 20% of the time.

For reference, on February 6, the cloudiest day of the year, the chance of overcast or mostly cloudy conditions is 90%, while on August 18, the clearest day of the year, the chance of clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy skies is 23%.

Cloud Cover Categories in May in Buka

Cloud Cover Categories in May in BukaMay11223344556677889910101111121213131414151516161717181819192020212122222323242425252626272728282929303031310%100%10%90%20%80%30%70%40%60%50%50%60%40%70%30%80%20%90%10%100%0%AprJunMay 118%May 118%May 3120%May 3120%May 1118%May 1118%May 2119%May 2119%partly cloudymostly cloudyovercastmostly clearclear
0% clear 20% mostly clear 40% partly cloudy 60% mostly cloudy 80% overcast 100%
The percentage of time spent in each cloud cover band, categorized by the percentage of the sky covered by clouds.

A wet day is one with at least 0.04 inches of liquid or liquid-equivalent precipitation. In Buka, the chance of a wet day over the course of May is gradually decreasing, starting the month at 65% and ending it at 62%.

For reference, the year's highest daily chance of a wet day is 74% on July 9, and its lowest chance is 56% on November 28.

Probability of Precipitation in May in Buka

The percentage of days in which various types of precipitation are observed, excluding trace quantities: rain alone, snow alone, and mixed (both rain and snow fell in the same day).

Rainfall

To show variation within the month and not just the monthly total, we show the rainfall accumulated over a sliding 31-day period centered around each day.

The average sliding 31-day rainfall during May in Buka is essentially constant, remaining about 7.3 inches throughout, and rarely exceeding 11.6 inches or falling below 3.6 inches.

The lowest average 31-day accumulation is 7.2 inches on May 20.

Average Monthly Rainfall in May in Buka

The average rainfall (solid line) accumulated over the course of a sliding 31-day period centered on the day in question, with 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands. The thin dotted line is the corresponding average snowfall.

Over the course of May in Buka, the length of the day is essentially constant. The shortest day of the month is May 31, with 11 hours, 50 minutes of daylight and the longest day is May 1, with 11 hours, 55 minutes of daylight.

Hours of Daylight and Twilight in May in Buka

The number of hours during which the Sun is visible (black line). From bottom (most yellow) to top (most gray), the color bands indicate: full daylight, twilight (civil, nautical, and astronomical), and full night.

The earliest sunrise of the month in Buka is 6:40 AM on May 2 and the latest sunrise is 3 minutes later at 6:44 AM on May 31.

The latest sunset is 6:35 PM on May 1 and the earliest sunset is 2 minutes, 28 seconds earlier at 6:33 PM on May 23.

Daylight saving time is not observed in Buka during 2024.

For reference, on December 21, the longest day of the year, the Sun rises at 6:26 AM and sets 12 hours, 26 minutes later, at 6:52 PM, while on June 20, the shortest day of the year, it rises at 6:48 AM and sets 11 hours, 49 minutes later, at 6:37 PM.

Sunrise & Sunset with Twilight in May in Buka

Sunrise & Sunset with Twilight in May in BukaMay11223344556677889910101111121213131414151516161717181819192020212122222323242425252626272728282929303031312 AM4 AM6 AM8 AM10 AM12 PM2 PM4 PM6 PM8 PM10 PM12 AMAprJun6:40 AM6:40 AMMay 26:35 PMMay 26:35 PM6:42 AM6:42 AMMay 236:33 PMMay 236:33 PMSolarMidnightSolarMidnightSolarNoonSunriseSunset
The solar day over the course of May. From bottom to top, the black lines are the previous solar midnight, sunrise, solar noon, sunset, and the next solar midnight. The day, twilights (civil, nautical, and astronomical), and night are indicated by the color bands from yellow to gray.

The figure below presents a compact representation of the sun's elevation (the angle of the sun above the horizon) and azimuth (its compass bearing) for every hour of every day in the reporting period. The horizontal axis is the day of the year and the vertical axis is the hour of the day. For a given day and hour of that day, the background color indicates the azimuth of the sun at that moment. The black isolines are contours of constant solar elevation.

Solar Elevation and Azimuth in May in Buka

Solar Elevation and Azimuth in May in BukaMay112233445566778899101011111212131314141515161617171818191920202121222223232424252526262727282829293030313112 AM12 AM2 AM2 AM4 AM4 AM6 AM6 AM8 AM8 AM10 AM10 AM12 PM12 PM2 PM2 PM4 PM4 PM6 PM6 PM8 PM8 PM10 PM10 PM12 AM12 AMAprJun001010202020303040405050506060700001010202030303040405050606060
northeastsouthwest
Solar elevation and azimuth over the course of May 2024. The black lines are lines of constant solar elevation (the angle of the sun above the horizon, in degrees). The background color fills indicate the azimuth (the compass bearing) of the sun. The lightly tinted areas at the boundaries of the cardinal compass points indicate the implied intermediate directions (northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest).

The figure below presents a compact representation of key lunar data for May 2024. The horizontal axis is the day, the vertical axis is the hour of the day, and the colored areas indicate when the moon is above the horizon. The vertical gray bars (new Moons) and blue bars (full Moons) indicate key Moon phases. The label associated with each bar indicates the date and time that the phase is obtained, and the companion time labels indicate the rise and set times of the Moon for the nearest time interval in which the moon is above the horizon.

Moon Rise, Set & Phases in May in Buka

Moon Rise, Set & Phases in May in BukaMay112233445566778899101011111212131314141515161617171818191920202121222223232424252526262727282829293030313112 AM12 AM4 AM4 AM8 AM8 AM12 PM12 PM4 PM4 PM8 PM8 PM12 AM12 AMAprJunApr 95:22 AMApr 95:22 AMApr 2410:50 AMApr 2410:50 AMMay 82:23 PMMay 82:23 PMMay 2412:54 AMMay 2412:54 AMJun 611:38 PMJun 611:38 PMJun 2212:09 PMJun 2212:09 PM6:48 AM6:48 AM7:06 PM7:06 PM6:04 PM6:04 PM6:35 AM6:35 AM6:23 AM6:23 AM6:35 PM6:35 PM6:11 PM6:11 PM6:58 AM6:58 AM6:06 AM6:06 AM6:14 PM6:14 PM5:48 PM5:48 PM6:42 AM6:42 AM
The time in which the moon is above the horizon (light blue area), with new moons (dark gray lines) and full moons (blue lines) indicated. The shaded overlays indicate night and civil twilight.
May 2024IlluminationMoonriseMoonsetMoonriseMeridian PassingDistance
1
50%12:02 AMESE12:51 PMWSW-6:28 AMS233,747 mi
2
46%1:00 AMESE1:43 PMWSW-7:23 AMS231,298 mi
3
34%1:56 AMESE2:33 PMWSW-8:15 AMS229,070 mi
4
23%2:49 AME3:20 PMW-9:05 AMS227,253 mi
5
14%3:41 AME4:06 PMW-9:54 AMN226,054 mi
6
6%4:34 AME4:54 PMW-10:43 AMN225,662 mi
7
2%5:27 AMENE5:43 PMWNW-11:34 AMN226,207 mi
8
0%6:23 AMENE6:35 PMWNW-12:28 PMN227,726 mi
9
1%7:22 AMENE7:31 PMWNW-1:25 PMN230,137 mi
10
5%8:23 AMENE8:29 PMWNW-2:25 PMN233,248 mi
11
12%9:23 AMENE9:29 PMWNW-3:26 PMN236,780 mi
12
20%10:22 AMENE10:26 PMWNW-4:25 PMN240,415 mi
13
29%11:17 AMENE11:21 PMWNW-5:20 PMN243,845 mi
14
39%12:06 PMENE--6:10 PMN246,810 mi
15
50%-12:12 AMWNW12:51 PMENE6:56 PMN249,118 mi
16
58%-12:59 AMWNW1:32 PMENE7:38 PMN250,653 mi
17
68%-1:43 AMWNW2:10 PME8:18 PMN251,370 mi
18
76%-2:24 AMW2:47 PME8:56 PMN251,291 mi
19
84%-3:06 AMW3:24 PME9:35 PMN250,491 mi
20
91%-3:47 AMW4:01 PME10:15 PMS249,089 mi
21
96%-4:30 AMWSW4:41 PMESE10:57 PMS247,232 mi
22
99%-5:16 AMWSW5:24 PMESE11:43 PMS245,074 mi
23
100%-6:05 AMWSW6:11 PMESE--
24
100%-6:58 AMWSW7:03 PMESE12:33 AMS242,769 mi
25
99%-7:54 AMWSW7:59 PMESE1:27 AMS240,452 mi
26
95%-8:53 AMWSW8:58 PMESE2:25 AMS238,225 mi
27
89%-9:51 AMWSW9:57 PMESE3:25 AMS236,160 mi
28
81%-10:47 AMWSW10:56 PMESE4:24 AMS234,293 mi
29
72%-11:40 AMWSW11:51 PMESE5:20 AMS232,640 mi
30
61%-12:30 PMWSW-6:12 AMS231,216 mi
31
50%12:44 AMESE1:17 PMW-7:02 AMS230,053 mi

We base the humidity comfort level on the dew point, as it determines whether perspiration will evaporate from the skin, thereby cooling the body. Lower dew points feel drier and higher dew points feel more humid. Unlike temperature, which typically varies significantly between night and day, dew point tends to change more slowly, so while the temperature may drop at night, a muggy day is typically followed by a muggy night.

The chance that a given day will be muggy in Buka is essentially constant during May, remaining around 100% throughout.

For reference, on January 1, the muggiest day of the year, there are muggy conditions 100% of the time, while on November 5, the least muggy day of the year, there are muggy conditions 100% of the time.

Humidity Comfort Levels in May in Buka

Humidity Comfort Levels in May in BukaMay11223344556677889910101111121213131414151516161717181819192020212122222323242425252626272728282929303031310%0%10%10%20%20%30%30%40%40%50%50%60%60%70%70%80%80%90%90%100%100%AprJunMay 16100%May 16100%May 1100%May 1100%May 31100%May 31100%miserablemiserableoppressiveoppressive
dry 55°F comfortable 60°F humid 65°F muggy 70°F oppressive 75°F miserable
The percentage of time spent at various humidity comfort levels, categorized by dew point.

This section discusses the wide-area hourly average wind vector (speed and direction) at 10 meters above the ground. The wind experienced at any given location is highly dependent on local topography and other factors, and instantaneous wind speed and direction vary more widely than hourly averages.

The average hourly wind speed in Buka is gradually increasing during May, increasing from 7.7 miles per hour to 8.6 miles per hour over the course of the month.

For reference, on August 23, the windiest day of the year, the daily average wind speed is 11.4 miles per hour, while on December 5, the calmest day of the year, the daily average wind speed is 7.0 miles per hour.

The lowest daily average wind speed during May is 7.6 miles per hour on May 5.

Average Wind Speed in May in Buka

The average of mean hourly wind speeds (dark gray line), with 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands.

The hourly average wind direction in Buka throughout May is predominantly from the east, with a peak proportion of 67% on May 31.

Wind Direction in May in Buka

Wind Direction in May in BukaMay11223344556677889910101111121213131414151516161717181819192020212122222323242425252626272728282929303031310%100%20%80%40%60%60%40%80%20%100%0%AprJunwestsoutheastnorth
northeastsouthwest
The percentage of hours in which the mean wind direction is from each of the four cardinal wind directions, excluding hours in which the mean wind speed is less than 1.0 mph. The lightly tinted areas at the boundaries are the percentage of hours spent in the implied intermediate directions (northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest).

Buka is located near a large body of water (e.g., ocean, sea, or large lake). This section reports on the wide-area average surface temperature of that water.

The average surface water temperature in Buka is essentially constant during May, remaining around 85°F throughout.

Average Water Temperature in May in Buka

Average Water Temperature in May in BukaMay112233445566778899101011111212131314141515161617171818191920202121222223232424252526262727282829293030313182.0°F82.0°F82.5°F82.5°F83.0°F83.0°F83.5°F83.5°F84.0°F84.0°F84.5°F84.5°F85.0°F85.0°F85.5°F85.5°F86.0°F86.0°F86.5°F86.5°F87.0°F87.0°FAprJunMay 185°FMay 185°FMay 3185°FMay 3185°FMay 1185°FMay 1185°FMay 2185°FMay 2185°F
The daily average water temperature (purple line), with 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands.

Definitions of the growing season vary throughout the world, but for the purposes of this report, we define it as the longest continuous period of non-freezing temperatures (≥ 32°F) in the year (the calendar year in the Northern Hemisphere, or from July 1 until June 30 in the Southern Hemisphere).

Temperatures in Buka are sufficiently warm year round that it is not entirely meaningful to discuss the growing season in these terms. We nevertheless include the chart below as an illustration of the distribution of temperatures experienced throughout the year.

Time Spent in Various Temperature Bands and the Growing Season in May in Buka

Time Spent in Various Temperature Bands and the Growing Season in May in BukaMay11223344556677889910101111121213131414151516161717181819192020212122222323242425252626272728282929303031310%100%10%90%20%80%30%70%40%60%50%50%60%40%70%30%80%20%90%10%100%0%AprJun100%May 16100%May 16warmhot
frigid 15°F freezing 32°F very cold 45°F cold 55°F cool 65°F comfortable 75°F warm 85°F hot 95°F sweltering
The percentage of time spent in various temperature bands. The black line is the percentage chance that a given day is within the growing season.

Growing degree days are a measure of yearly heat accumulation used to predict plant and animal development, and defined as the integral of warmth above a base temperature, discarding any excess above a maximum temperature. In this report, we use a base of 50°F and a cap of 86°F.

The average accumulated growing degree days in Buka are very rapidly increasing during May, increasing by 986°F, from 9,886°F to 10,872°F, over the course of the month.

Growing Degree Days in May in Buka

Growing Degree Days in May in BukaMay11223344556677889910101111121213131414151516161717181819192020212122222323242425252626272728282929303031319,800°F9,800°F10,000°F10,000°F10,200°F10,200°F10,400°F10,400°F10,600°F10,600°F10,800°F10,800°F11,000°F11,000°FAprJunMay 19,886°FMay 19,886°FMay 3110,872°FMay 3110,872°FMay 1110,217°FMay 1110,217°FMay 2110,541°FMay 2110,541°F
The average growing degree days accumulated over the course of May, with 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands.

This section discusses the total daily incident shortwave solar energy reaching the surface of the ground over a wide area, taking full account of seasonal variations in the length of the day, the elevation of the Sun above the horizon, and absorption by clouds and other atmospheric constituents. Shortwave radiation includes visible light and ultraviolet radiation.

The average daily incident shortwave solar energy in Buka is essentially constant during May, remaining within 0.1 kWh of 4.1 kWh throughout.

Average Daily Incident Shortwave Solar Energy in May in Buka

The average daily shortwave solar energy reaching the ground per square meter (orange line), with 25th to 75th and 10th to 90th percentile bands.

For the purposes of this report, the geographical coordinates of Buka are -5.433 deg latitude, 154.671 deg longitude, and 7 ft elevation.

The topography within 2 miles of Buka contains only modest variations in elevation, with a maximum elevation change of 184 feet and an average elevation above sea level of 37 feet. Within 10 miles contains only modest variations in elevation (1,535 feet). Within 50 miles contains very significant variations in elevation (8,921 feet).

The area within 2 miles of Buka is covered by trees (53%) and water (37%), within 10 miles by water (69%) and trees (26%), and within 50 miles by water (86%) and trees (11%).

This report illustrates the typical weather in Buka, based on a statistical analysis of historical hourly weather reports and model reconstructions from January 1, 1980 to December 31, 2016.

Buka is further than 200 kilometers from the nearest reliable weather station, so the weather-related data on this page were taken entirely from NASA's MERRA-2 satellite-era reanalysis . This reanalysis combines a variety of wide-area measurements in a state-of-the-art global meteorological model to reconstruct the hourly history of weather throughout the world on a 50-kilometer grid.

The temperature and dew point estimates are corrected for the difference between the reference elevation of the MERRA-2 grid cell and the elevation of Buka, according to the International Standard Atmosphere .

All data relating to the Sun's position (e.g., sunrise and sunset) are computed using astronomical formulas from the book, Astronomical Algorithms 2nd Edition , by Jean Meeus.

Land Use data comes from the Global Land Cover SHARE database , published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Elevation data comes from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) , published by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Names, locations, and time zones of places and some airports come from the GeoNames Geographical Database .

Time zones for airports and weather stations are provided by AskGeo.com .

Maps are © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Disclaimer

The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data is prone to errors, outages, and other defects. We assume no responsibility for any decisions made on the basis of the content presented on this site.

We draw particular cautious attention to our reliance on the MERRA-2 model-based reconstructions for a number of important data series. While having the tremendous advantages of temporal and spatial completeness, these reconstructions: (1) are based on computer models that may have model-based errors, (2) are coarsely sampled on a 50 km grid and are therefore unable to reconstruct the local variations of many microclimates, and (3) have particular difficulty with the weather in some coastal areas, especially small islands.

We further caution that our travel scores are only as good as the data that underpin them, that weather conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable, and that the definition of the scores reflects a particular set of preferences that may not agree with those of any particular reader.

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