Weather in French Polynesia: bulletins and warnings

Tahiti's weather is best checked first on the Météo-France Polynésie website, in French, supported by its marine bulletins, High Commission alerts and coverage from Polynésie la 1ère, TNTV, Radio1 and Tahiti Infos, all free online.

Météo-France, the official reference for the fenua

Météo-France's French Polynesia directorate, based in Faa'a near the airport, produces official forecasts for Tahiti, Moorea, Bora-Bora and the other archipelagos. Its public website offers forecasts up to fifteen days ahead and warning maps.

Two seasons in the tropics

The hot, humid season runs from November to April, with heavy showers and a cyclone risk. From May to October, the drier, cooler season is shaped by the mara'amu, a south-east trade wind that whips up the sea between Tahiti and Moorea.

Cyclones: who issues the alert?

Cyclone alert phases, from pre-alert to red alert, are decided by the High Commission of the Republic based on Météo-France analysis. The 1982-1983 season, marked notably by Cyclone Veena in Tahiti, remains a reference point in local memory.

Marine bulletins for sailors and fishers

Météo-France Polynésie's bulletin server provides coastal forecasts, swell data and charts for mariners. Schooner captains and bonito fishers check them before every trip, as do sailing yachts calling at the Papeete marina.

Southern swell and surfing at Teahupo'o

During the southern winter, swells from the south pound the Tahiti peninsula. High-swell warnings matter as much to Teahupo'o residents as to surfers, and competition results are followed on our Tahiti sports page.

Tsunamis: a warning centre in Tahiti

The Polynesian Tsunami Warning Centre monitors earthquakes across the Pacific, notably around Chile, Japan or Alaska. When a threat arises, coastal evacuation instructions are issued by the authorities and relayed immediately by radio and television.

How do radio and TV relay the weather?

Polynésie la 1ère and TNTV present a forecast in their bulletins and interrupt programmes during alerts. Radio1 airs regular flashes. For live audio, useful during power cuts, see the radio stations of Tahiti.

The outer archipelagos and their time zones

The Marquesas run on UTC-9:30 and the Gambier on UTC-9, against UTC-10 for Tahiti. Forecasts for Nuku Hiva, Rangiroa or Rurutu are published separately, since the climate varies greatly between the equator and the noticeably cooler Austral Islands.

Heavy rain and flood risk

Tahiti's valleys, such as the Papenoo or the Punaruu, can suffer flash floods during thunderstorms. Tahiti Infos then reports road and school closures decided by the communes and by the High Commission's crisis unit.

Weather and transport: flights and ferries

A strong mara'amu or a depression can disrupt crossings to Moorea and Air Tahiti inter-island flights. Before leaving, check the ferry shuttle timetables and the information from Tahiti-Faa'a airport, which publishes departures and arrivals.

Weather apps: treat global models with caution

Consumer apps rely on global models that poorly represent Tahiti's terrain and microclimates, between the sheltered west coast and the wetter east coast. For any important decision, the Météo-France Polynésie bulletin remains the better choice.

Climate and climate change in the press

Sea-level rise in the Tuamotu, coral bleaching and El Niño episodes are regularly covered by Polynésie la 1ère and Outremers360. These reports connect the daily weather with the long-term challenges facing the atolls and their inhabitants.

Monitoring Tahiti's weather from abroad

1. Bookmark the Météo-France Polynésie website to check forecasts and warning maps.
2. If you are sailing, download the detailed marine bulletins before each inter-island crossing.
3. During cyclone season, read the High Commission of the Republic's statements every day.
4. Keep the Polynésie la 1ère or Radio1 live stream within reach for real-time instructions.
5. Convert bulletin times, given in Papeete time, into your own time zone.
6. Cross-check any alert seen on social media against the official source before sharing it.

Polynesian weather sources: access

Weather and practical reference points

• Official service: Météo-France, French Polynesia directorate
• Cyclone alert authority: High Commission of the Republic
• Rainy and cyclone season: November to April
• Dry season: May to October, mara'amu wind
• Time zones: UTC-10 (Society, Tuamotu, Austral), UTC-9:30 (Marquesas), UTC-9 (Gambier)
• Relay media: Polynésie la 1ère, TNTV, Radio1, Tahiti Infos

What to avoid with Tahitian weather information

• Sharing a cyclone or tsunami rumour posted on social media without checking the Météo-France or High Commission website.
• Trusting a global app forecasting clear skies while a heavy rain warning is in force over Tahiti.
• Confusing a weather warning, a simple caution, with a cyclone alert phase that triggers mandatory measures.
• Reading an old bulletin reposted by a third-party site without checking its date and time of issue.
• Forgetting the time difference between Papeete, the Marquesas and the Gambier when reading a forecast time.

Frequent questions about the weather in Tahiti