Weather in Sulawesi

The weather now and the next ten days for 24 places across Sulawesi, with air quality, clouds from space, earthquakes and the latest news. Plan ahead with the weather by month: rain since 1981, sun, sea temperature and waves.

The weather in Sulawesi changes fast, above all in the mountains and at sea. We gather these figures from public sources and from visitors' reports, and they can be late or wrong. Before a boat trip, a climb or a flight, check with your operator, guide or airline.

Figures of 12:03 WITA
Temperature
Wind speed

Weather facts

  • Right now it is 34° in Makassar and 25° in Mount Gandangdewata.
  • Satellites saw 881 fires in and around Sulawesi in the last 48 hours.
  • NOAA's El Niño index for August to October 2026 is +2.5. In past El Niño years, July to October brought Sulawesi 52% of its usual rain.
  • Makassar gets about 4 mm of rain in August and 689 mm in December (averages 1991-2020).
  • Close to the equator, a day in Makassar lasts from 11 h 50 min to 12 h 25 min: only 35 minutes apart all year.
  • Bunaken gets about 3,090 mm of rain a year; Luwuk about 1,270 mm.
  • October 2026 brought 229 hours of smoke or haze to Makassar airport, the most of any month since 2010.
  • The strongest recent earthquake near Sulawesi was magnitude 5.7, 122 km from Togean Islands.
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Select a province or a place on the map.Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors, geoBoundaries (ODbL)

All times are Sulawesi time (WITA, UTC+8).

Sulawesi weather by month

What to expect in each place in any month: rain, cloud, temperature, sea and waves, from the records of past years. Choose a month.

Month
  • Driest in November: Luwuk (65 mm), Banggai Archipelago (75 mm) and Wakatobi (103 mm).
  • Wettest: Bunaken (330 mm), Manado (279 mm) and Tangkoko (256 mm).
  • Calmest seas: Palu (0.1 m), Togean Islands (0.1 m) and Luwuk (0.1 m).
  • Sea temperature: 29° to 30°.
The weather of November in 24 places in Sulawesi
PlaceRainCloud by dayHigh / lowSeaWaves at sea
North Sulawesi
279 mmWet in 30 of 30 years73%30° / 25°29°0.3 m0% over 1.25 m
330 mmWet in 30 of 30 years73%30° / 25°29°0.3 m0% over 1.25 m
251 mmWet in 30 of 30 years73%–––
256 mmWet in 29 of 30 years62%30° / 25°29°0.7 m1% over 1.25 m
254 mmWet in 29 of 30 years62%30° / 25°29°0.7 m1% over 1.25 m
Gorontalo
134 mmWet in 25 of 30 years65%–30°0.2 m0% over 1.25 m
Central Sulawesi
115 mmWet in 20 of 30 years83%–29°0.1 m0% over 1.25 m
129 mmWet in 25 of 30 years79%27° / 16°––
183 mmWet in 27 of 30 years79%–––
137 mmWet in 25 of 30 years73%31° / 27°30°0.1 m0% over 1.25 m
65 mmDry in 12 of 30 years70%–29°0.1 m0% over 1.25 m
75 mmDry in 11 of 30 years59%32° / 25°29°0.2 m0% over 1.25 m
172 mmWet in 19 of 30 years58%30° / 26°30°0.2 m0% over 1.25 m
West Sulawesi
234 mmWet in 30 of 30 years76%30° / 26°29°0.3 m<1% over 1.25 m
205 mmWet in 28 of 30 years80%28° / 16°––
South Sulawesi
191 mmWet in 25 of 30 years70%33° / 26°30°0.3 m0% over 1.25 m
240 mmWet in 26 of 30 years78%33° / 26°––
215 mmWet in 27 of 30 years80%28° / 18°––
118 mmWet in 16 of 30 years56%31° / 27°29°0.3 m0% over 1.25 m
150 mmWet in 17 of 30 years55%31° / 27°30°0.3 m0% over 1.25 m
125 mmWet in 13 of 30 years56%30° / 27°30°0.3 m<1% over 1.25 m
Southeast Sulawesi
109 mmWet in 14 of 30 years58%34° / 24°29°0.2 m0% over 1.25 m
150 mmWet in 19 of 30 years56%33° / 26°29°0.3 m0% over 1.25 m
103 mmWet in 14 of 30 years53%30° / 27°30°0.3 m<1% over 1.25 m

DryMoistWet

Rain: CHIRPS averages of 1991 to 2020, for an area about 16 km wide around each place. A dry month has under 60 mm and a wet month over 100 mm, the lines of the Schmidt-Ferguson classification used in Indonesia. Cloud and temperatures: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2025, about 50 km cells. Sea temperature: NOAA Coral Reef Watch, 1991 to 2020. Waves: NOAA WAVEWATCH III, 2017 to 2026, in the open sea near each place: bays and straits are calmer. BMKG warns small boats from 1.25 m.

Dry years and El Niño

El Niño is a warming of the Pacific Ocean that moves rain away from Indonesia. In El Niño years, Sulawesi's dry season gets much less rain. La Niña brings more.

El Niño is under way: NOAA's index for August to October 2026 is +2.5.

July to September 2026 brought our 24 places 30% of their usual rain.

In the 12 El Niño years since 1981, July to October brought 52% of the usual rain. In the 10 La Niña years, 156%.

Rain from July to October in all our places, each year against the average of 1991 to 2020
  1. 1981: 116% of the usual rain
  2. 1982: 25% of the usual rain, an El Niño year
  3. 1983: 109% of the usual rain
  4. 1984: 120% of the usual rain
  5. 1985: 125% of the usual rain
  6. 1986: 92% of the usual rain, an El Niño year
  7. 1987: 34% of the usual rain, an El Niño year
  8. 1988: 148% of the usual rain, a La Niña year
  9. 1989: 151% of the usual rain
  10. 1990: 89% of the usual rain
  11. 1991: 53% of the usual rain, an El Niño year
  12. 1992: 86% of the usual rain
  13. 1993: 50% of the usual rain
  14. 1994: 46% of the usual rain
  15. 1995: 104% of the usual rain, a La Niña year
  16. 1996: 136% of the usual rain
  17. 1997: 50% of the usual rain, an El Niño year
  18. 1998: 155% of the usual rain, a La Niña year
  19. 1999: 121% of the usual rain, a La Niña year
  20. 2000: 129% of the usual rain
  21. 2001: 96% of the usual rain
  22. 2002: 32% of the usual rain, an El Niño year
  23. 2003: 82% of the usual rain
  24. 2004: 52% of the usual rain, an El Niño year
  25. 2005: 105% of the usual rain
  26. 2006: 44% of the usual rain, an El Niño year
  27. 2007: 98% of the usual rain, a La Niña year
  28. 2008: 179% of the usual rain
  29. 2009: 71% of the usual rain, an El Niño year
  30. 2010: 244% of the usual rain, a La Niña year
  31. 2011: 100% of the usual rain, a La Niña year
  32. 2012: 104% of the usual rain
  33. 2013: 140% of the usual rain
  34. 2014: 69% of the usual rain
  35. 2015: 31% of the usual rain, an El Niño year
  36. 2016: 161% of the usual rain
  37. 2017: 170% of the usual rain
  38. 2018: 78% of the usual rain, an El Niño year
  39. 2019: 46% of the usual rain
  40. 2020: 165% of the usual rain, a La Niña year
  41. 2021: 213% of the usual rain, a La Niña year
  42. 2022: 211% of the usual rain, a La Niña year
  43. 2023: 63% of the usual rain, an El Niño year
  44. 2024: 121% of the usual rain
  45. 2025: 168% of the usual rain
  46. 2026, July to September: 30% of the usual rain

El Niño yearLa Niña yearOther yearThe usual rain (100%)

Past El Niño years, month by month

Rain against the usual, from June of the El Niño year to February of the next.

  1. Jun77%
  2. Jul58%
  3. Aug53%
  4. Sept53%
  5. Oct45%
  6. Nov71%
  7. Dec74%
  8. Jan86%
  9. Feb80%

The air over our places was about 0.6 °C warmer in 2016 to 2025 than in 1981 to 1990. The sea was about 0.6 °C warmer than in 1985 to 1994 (the middle value of our places).

Rain: CHIRPS (Climate Hazards Center, UC Santa Barbara). El Niño: NOAA's Oceanic Niño Index for August to October; a year counts from +0.5 (El Niño) or -0.5 (La Niña). Warming: NASA POWER and NOAA Coral Reef Watch.

Reports from visitors

No reports from visitors right now. If you are near one of the places on this page, report the weather there.

Visitors pick from fixed choices only. A report shows when two visitors agree (their position was checked, or they are on an Indonesian network), when three visitors agree, when the measured data agree, or when our team confirms it. Each report stays up for 1.5 to 12 hours, by kind.

Live news

Headlines from ANTARA's Sulawesi sites and Google News, about weather and natural hazards in Sulawesi, checked every 15 minutes. Headlines in another language are machine-translated (MyMemory). Each opens the outlet's own story.

Weather alerts by email

We email you when something happens at your places, and only then. Each email has a link to stop.

Where?
What?

We keep your address only to send the emails you chose. We do not share it. Every email has a link to stop.

Air and flights

Air quality by place, the smoke the airports report, fires seen by satellite, and the airspace warnings over Sulawesi. Facts and forecasts, no guesses.

Air quality now, worst first

A PM2.5 index (US AQI) from the Copernicus CAMS forecast model, about 45 km wide. It is a model, not a sensor in the street: smoke can be thicker in one valley or town. See the airports' smoke reports below.

Smoke at the airports (last 24 hours)

  • Makassar Hasanuddin AirportSmoke or haze in 28 of 49 reports, visibility down to 4 kmLatest report 5 Nov, 11:30 WITA, visibility 7 kmFires in 48 hours: 35 within 100 km, 147 within 300 km
  • Manado Sam Ratulangi AirportNo smoke or haze in 47 reportsLatest report 5 Nov, 11:30 WITA, visibility 10+ kmFires in 48 hours: 27 within 100 km, 127 within 300 km

881 fires seen by satellite around Sulawesi in 48 hours

Airspace warnings over Sulawesi

  • Volcanic ash (ERUPTION MT DUKONO) · until 5 Nov, 13:10 WITA

International SIGMETs through aviationweather.gov. Volcanic ash can close airports and routes. Airlines decide on flights: check yours with your airline.

Smoke history at Makassar and Manado airports

Makassar Sultan Hasanuddin Airport

Share of hours with haze or smoke, by month, since 2010.

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D
  • 14 Oct 2026: 24 hours of smoke, visibility down to 1.7 km
  • 30 Oct 2015: 24 hours of smoke, visibility down to 4 km
  • 26 Oct 2026: 23 hours of smoke, visibility down to 2 km

Manado Sam Ratulangi Airport

Share of hours with haze or smoke, by month, since 2010.

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D
  • 24 Oct 2015: 24 hours of smoke, visibility down to 3 km
  • 22 Oct 2026: 24 hours of smoke, visibility down to 3 km
  • 24 Oct 2026: 24 hours of smoke, visibility down to 3 km

Earthquakes around Sulawesi

The latest earthquakes BMKG lists in and near Sulawesi: magnitude 5 or more, and every earthquake people felt. BMKG writes the place and the reports in Indonesian.

  • 3.4M

    4 Nov, 15:56 WITA

    Pusat gempa berada di darat 40 km timur laut Sigi

    10 km deep · 36 km from Lore Lindu

    Felt: III Sigi, II Palu

    Shake map (BMKG)
  • 4.1M

    4 Nov, 04:28 WITA

    Pusat gempa berada di darat 61 km utara Luwu Timur

    6 km deep · 53 km from Lake Poso

    Felt: II - III Morowali Utara

  • 4.8M

    3 Nov, 23:37 WITA

    Pusat gempa berada di laut 86 km Selatan Kota Gorontalo

    87 km deep · 86 km from Gorontalo

    Felt: III Kab. Gorontalo, II - III Kab. Bone Bolango, II - III Kab. Gorontalo Utara, II - III Kota Gorontalo, II - III Kab. Banggai, II - III Kab. Banggai Kepulauan

  • 5.3M

    2 Nov, 16:13 WITA

    Pusat gempa berada di darat 1 km Barat Daya Tomohon

    148 km deep · 4 km from Tomohon

    No tsunami risk (BMKG)

    Felt: II - III Ternate, II Minahasa

Near the coast, after strong or long shaking, go to high ground at once. Do not wait for a warning.

Where the figures come from

  • BMKG

    Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. Its official forecast for each village, every three hours for three days, and its lists of earthquakes. We ask for the forecast every hour and for the earthquakes every five minutes.

    Last answer: 5 Nov, 11:40 WITA

    bmkg.go.id

  • MET Norway

    The Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Its global forecast, each hour for two days, then to ten days. We ask for it again as soon as it changes. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0.

    Last answer: 5 Nov, 11:40 WITA

    met.noCC BY 4.0

  • Airport reports (METAR)

    What the airports measure, through aviationweather.gov (NOAA). Today only Makassar and Manado send them every half hour. A place uses its airport's report only when the airport is near and at the same height.

    Last answer: 5 Nov, 12:02 WITA

    aviationweather.gov

  • NASA FIRMS

    Fires seen by the NOAA-20 and Suomi NPP satellites in the last 48 hours. We acknowledge the use of data from NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS). A hotspot is a heat source: most are fires.

    Last answer: 5 Nov, 11:40 WITA

    NASA FIRMS

  • Air quality (Copernicus CAMS)

    The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) forecast, the model most air-quality maps show: PM2.5 and PM10 every 3 hours for five days, about 45 km wide, read from ECMWF's public map service. We ask for each new daily run and compute the US AQI from PM2.5. Contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information.

    Last answer: 5 Nov, 11:42 WITA

    Copernicus CAMSECMWF

  • Waves (NOAA WAVEWATCH III)

    NOAA's WAVEWATCH III global wave model, run by PacIOOS (University of Hawaii): the waves every 3 hours for about six days in the open sea near each place on the coast, read every 3 hours. Free to use. Before a crossing, check BMKG's marine forecast.

    Last answer: 5 Nov, 11:40 WITA

    PacIOOSBMKG maritim

  • News

    Headlines from ANTARA, Indonesia's national news agency, on its Sulawesi sites, and from Google News, kept when they are about weather or natural hazards in Sulawesi, checked every 15 minutes. Translations: MyMemory (machine translation, free).

    Last answer: 5 Nov, 11:56 WITA

    ANTARAGoogle NewsMyMemory

  • Climate and history

    Rain in every month since 1981: CHIRPS (Climate Hazards Center, UC Santa Barbara, public domain). El Niño and La Niña: NOAA's Oceanic Niño Index. Cloud and temperatures: NASA POWER. Sea temperature: NOAA Coral Reef Watch. Waves: NOAA's WAVEWATCH III model, run by PacIOOS (University of Hawaii). The airports' haze history: the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport reports.

    Last answer: 5 Nov, 11:40 WITA

    CHIRPSNOAA ONINASA POWERNOAA Coral Reef WatchPacIOOS WAVEWATCH IIIIEM

Licence: This data is free to reuse. Credit sulawesi.com and the source of each figure. Each source's own terms also apply. News headlines belong to their publishers.

A forecast can be wrong, and the weather in the mountains and at sea changes fast. Before a boat trip or a climb, ask your boat operator, your guide or the harbour about the conditions on the day.

Report a bug or idea

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Sulawesi weather today, by province

Figures of 5 Nov, 12:03 WITA.

  • North Sulawesi: 20 to 33 °C; rain expected at 5 of 5 places. The most rain: Manado, about 8.1 mm.
  • Gorontalo: 24 to 31 °C; rain expected at 1 of 1 place. The most rain: Gorontalo, about 3.3 mm.
  • Central Sulawesi: 17 to 33 °C; rain expected at 4 of 7 places. The most rain: Palu, about 3.7 mm.
  • West Sulawesi: 16 to 27 °C; rain expected at 2 of 2 places. The most rain: Mamuju, about 8.1 mm.
  • South Sulawesi: 20 to 32 °C; rain expected at 1 of 6 places. The most rain: Tana Toraja, about 1.6 mm.
  • Southeast Sulawesi: 24 to 34 °C; rain expected at 0 of 3 places.

Questions about the weather in Sulawesi

What is the weather like in Sulawesi today?
On 5 Nov, 12:03 WITA, temperatures across Sulawesi run from 16 °C in Mount Gandangdewata to 34 °C in Baubau. 13 of 24 places expect rain today.
When is the dry season in Sulawesi?
In Makassar, the driest month is August, with about 4 mm of rain. The wettest is December, with about 689 mm (CHIRPS averages, 1991-2020). The weather by month on this page shows every place.
Is the sea rough in Sulawesi today?
In the forecast of 5 Nov, 12:03 WITA, today's waves stay under 1.25 m at all 18 of our places on the coast. The calmest is Palu (0.1 m). Bays and straits are calmer than the open sea.
Does El Niño make Sulawesi drier?
Yes. In the 12 El Niño years since 1981, July to October brought Sulawesi 52% of its usual rain, and November 71%. NOAA's index shows El Niño now: +2.5 for August to October 2026. July to September 2026 brought 30% of the usual rain.
When is the sea calmest in Sulawesi?
Across our 18 places on the sea, waves of 1.25 m or more are rarest in November, April and October and most common in February, July and January (NOAA WAVEWATCH III, 2017 to 2026). BMKG warns small boats from 1.25 m. Each place shows its calmest months under "Best time".
How warm is the sea in Sulawesi?
The sea at our 18 places on the coast averages 27.9 °C in August and 29.5 °C in April, its coolest and warmest months (NOAA Coral Reef Watch, 1991 to 2020).
Is there smoke or haze in Sulawesi now?
Yes, in part. In the 24 hours to 5 Nov, 12:03 WITA, smoke or haze was reported at Makassar Hasanuddin Airport. Satellites saw 881 fires in and around Sulawesi in 48 hours.
How fast does the weather change in Sulawesi?
Fast. Afternoon thunderstorms can build within an hour, mountains are cooler and wetter than the coast, and the sea can turn rough with the wind. Treat a forecast as a guide and check again on the day.
Where does this weather data come from?
From public sources: BMKG (Indonesia's weather service), MET Norway, airport reports, NASA (satellite fires, climate and cloud pictures), Copernicus CAMS (air quality), BMKG's earthquake lists, and news from ANTARA and Google News. The weather by month uses CHIRPS (rain since 1981) and NOAA (El Niño, sea temperature and waves). The list at the end of the page says how often each one is checked.
Can I report the weather in Sulawesi?
Yes. If you are within 40 km of a place on this page, choose what the weather is doing, such as heavy rain, flooding or smoke. A report shows when another visitor or the measured data agree, or when our team confirms it.
Can I get weather alerts for Sulawesi?
Yes, free by email: choose all of Sulawesi or your places, and storms, earthquakes, air and smoke, or a morning summary. You confirm once by email, and every email has a link to stop.
Can AI assistants use this weather data?
Yes. The same data is open as JSON, described in OpenAPI at https://api.sulawesi.com/api/v1/weather/openapi.json, and through an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server at https://api.sulawesi.com/api/mcp.

This text was written at 12:03 WITA. The live figures higher up the page update every five minutes.