WEATHER ON BALI

Bali Weather and When to Go

Bali is located only 8º (890 km) south of the equator. Thus, Balinese weather is tropical to say the least - reliably hot and sunny. Days are almost always 12 hours long. Around sunrise, 6:20 a.m, locals can be seen on the beach blessing the new day, playing with their families in the surf or harnessing their nets for a day of fishing. The sun then sets around 6:30 p.m when families generally retreat inside. The daytime temperature averages between 80º F (27ºC) to 90º F (32ºC) in the southern lowlands. In Bali however, it is quite humid at about 75% so often times it feels much hotter. The mountains tend to be significantly cooler at around 70º F (21ºC) to 80º F (27ºC). At night the mountains can get pretty chilly.  

Bali’s tropical monsoon climate has two distinct seasons: dry (between May to September) and wet (between October to April). Monsoon refers to the wind, not the rain. However even in the wet monsoon, in this tropical paradise it is still likely it will be sunny for a good part of the day.

May, June and July are generally considered to be the best time to travel to Bali in terms of the weather. However, depending on whether the traveler is a surfer or explorer, preferences may change. During the dry season, May to October, the western side of the peninsula creates some of the world's best waves. The best advice is to check the estimated weather during time of travel and pack accordingly.

Dry season- May to September

The dry season, Bali’s version of summer, occurs between the months of May and September. It is the favoured half of the year for both locals and tourists alike boasting bright sunny days, lower humidity levels compared to the wet season and, of course, very little rain.

The dry season is an extremely popular time for people to explore Bali, particularly throughout July and August as this time coincides with the Australian winter and the school holiday season.

It’s the perfect time to explore the island by day and enjoy candlelight dinners on the beach by night.

Weather in Bali in May

May tends to be one of Bali’s cooler months, but for those that are visiting from anywhere that experiences a real winter, it will seem comfortably warm. The average temperature is 28ºC and while this may not seem drastically different from the rest of the year, you will find that locals and long-term expats talk of turning down the AC at night and having to put jackets on. Cut them some slack though, compared to the high humidity and intense heat of the wet season, May feels like a winter wonderland.

Weather in Bali in June

Humidity levels are at their lowest from June until October and so Bali experiences some of its lowest temperatures.

The month of June is host to the famous Bali Arts Festival. The month long celebration of Indonesian culture includes performances held at the Bali Art Centre in Denpasar as well as the Bali Kite festival and sees many people head to the island to experience its unique culture and festivities.

Things pick up in June as thousands of tourists scurry to the island for the start of the busiest holiday season of the year, the July-August period.

Weather in Bali in July

The weather in July in Bali continues to be relatively cool and comfortable, making it a very desirable time to jump on a plane and explore the island.

Skies are almost always blue and it is the perfect time to try your hand at water sports or to have an outdoor dinner by the beach.

Weather in Bali in August

August is Bali’s driest month and so rain is not something you will have to worry about. With a monthly average rainfall of 40 millilitres that occurs over roughly three days, August is the perfect month to maximise your outdoor time in Bali.

It will be hot during the day so don’t forget to lather on the sunscreen. Evenings in August and all throughout the dry season enjoy beautiful breezes, making it a lovely time to sit outside and enjoy a meal.

Weather in Bali in September

The weather in September in Bali is characterised by sunny picturesque days, great for sunbathing or doing a spot of holiday shopping and on average, sees highs of between 30ºC to 32ºC. With nine hours of sunshine per day, it is many people’s preferred time to visit Bali. If it does rain, it is usually very little (about 90 millilitres on average for the entire month) and occurs in the late afternoon or evening.