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Island Climate

    The land surface of Kwajalein Island, which has very little effect on the climate of the locality, has an average elevation of less than 10 feet above mean sea level (msl). Highest points of the island are 12-15 feet above msl.  Kwajalein, located less than 700 nmi north of the Equator, has a tropical marine climate characterized by (1) relatively high annual rainfall, and (2) warm to hot, humid weather throughout the year.  Temperatures vary little from day to day and month to month.   Because of the low latitude there are only slight seasonal variations in the length of daylight periods and the altitude of the sun at Kwajalein.  As a result, the variation of the amount of solar energy received is small.  The small variation in solar energy and the marine influence are the principal reasons for the uniform temperature between the coldest month and the warmest month, a variance of about 2 degrees Fahrenheit.  The average daily temperature range is less than 10 degrees. Highs occur in the early afternoon and lows occur with showers at any time of the day, or in the early morning if there are no showers.  The principal rainfall season extends from mid-May to mid-December. On the average, about 75 percent of the annual rainfall is recorded during this period.  September, October and November are the wettest months. Light easterly winds, almost constant cloudiness, and frequent moderate to heavy showers prevail during the wet season. The dry season includes the period from mid-December to mid-May and is characterized not so much by a lack of showers as by light showers of short duration.   In this season, the trade winds are persistent, blowing from the northeast at 15-20 knots almost continuously.  Cloudiness is at a minimum and the sky is less than one-half covered most of the time, but clear skies are rare.  Severe storms and damaging winds are rare in the vicinity of Kwajalein. However, weaker depressions may form near the island during any season.  Some of these intensify and eventually develop into typhoons after moving westward away from the island. These depressions can cause heavy rainfall in the Kwajalein Atoll.  The relative humidity is uniformly high throughout the year, and is slightly higher in the wet season than in the dry season. The combination of high humidity and proximity of the salt water ocean presents a corrosion problem.