Bali Weather and Seasons: A Month-by-Month Guide

Bali sits about eight degrees south of the equator, so it is warm all year. There is no winter, and day length barely changes: the sun rises around 6am and sets somewhere between about 6pm and 6.45pm in every month. What does change is rain, humidity and wind, and those shape everything from the surf to the traffic.

The island has two seasons. The dry season runs roughly from April to October, when south-easterly trade winds blow up from Australia. The wet season runs roughly from November to March, when the monsoon swings round to the west and brings heavy rain. This guide explains what each month is like, how different parts of the island compare, when to surf and dive, when the crowds arrive, what to pack, and how the climate shows up in daily life.

The two seasons in numbers

These averages are for Ngurah Rai airport in the south (1991 to 2020 normals):

• Temperature: daytime highs of about 29 to 32°C and night-time lows of about 24 to 25°C all year on the coast.
• Rain: about 1,740 mm a year. January is the wettest month, with nearly 390 mm over about 19 rainy days. August is the driest, with about 16 mm over two rainy days.
• Humidity: average relative humidity is above 80 percent from December to March, and drops to roughly 50 to 65 percent in the middle of the dry season.
• Sunshine: even January averages more than six hours of sunshine a day, against about nine in August.

The wet season rarely means rain all day. More often you get a bright morning, clouds building after lunch and a heavy downpour in the afternoon or evening.

A note on 2026

Indonesia's weather agency, BMKG, warned that the 2026 dry season would be longer and drier than usual because of a strong El Niño. It named northern Bali, Nusa Penida and southern Klungkung as most at risk of drought. As of early October 2026, BMKG expected the wet season to start in parts of Bali in November and across most of the island in December 2026, peaking around February 2027. Forecasts are updated regularly, so check BMKG before you plan around them.

Month by month

January. The wettest month, with frequent heavy downpours, grey spells and high humidity. The Christmas crowds thin out after the first week, and the east coast surf is in season. Galungan falls on 13 January 2027 and Kuningan on 23 January 2027.

February. Still wet, with around 300 mm of rain on average. Quieter and often cheaper, apart from holiday peaks such as Chinese New Year.

March. The rain starts to ease. In 2027, Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence, falls on Monday 8 March. The whole island shuts down for 24 hours, including the airport, and everyone stays indoors. Idul Fitri follows on 10 and 11 March 2027 (the final date is confirmed by Indonesia's religious affairs ministry), bringing domestic travellers.

April. The changeover month. Humidity drops, the landscape is still green, and Easter can bring a short rush.

May and June. Many people's favourite months. Dry, sunny and green, with cooler nights and fewer crowds than high summer. Indonesian school holidays begin in late June.

July. The heart of the dry season, with only around 30 mm of rain. It is windy, kites fill the sky above Sanur and Denpasar, the west coast surf is at its biggest, and crowds build with European summer and Australian school holidays.

August. The driest and busiest month. Expect clear skies, peak prices and the best chance of mola mola around Nusa Penida. Indonesian Independence Day on 17 August brings flags, parades and village competitions.

September. Still dry, with good surf and diving, and noticeably calmer once August ends.

October. Warmer and more humid. Rainfall averages around 68 mm, and the first storms often arrive late in the month.

November. The transition to the wet season. Afternoon storms become regular, the east coast surf starts to work and the island is fairly quiet.

December. Properly wet again, with around 300 mm on average. Christmas and New Year are the busiest and most expensive time of the year.

How the regions differ

The averages above describe the south: Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Sanur and Denpasar. The rest of the island can feel quite different.

The Bukit (Uluwatu, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua). A limestone plateau that is drier and breezier than the rest of the south. Rain drains away quickly, and by the late dry season the scrub turns brown and shade is scarce.

Ubud. A few hundred metres above sea level, Ubud is wetter and more humid than the coast, with slightly cooler evenings. In the wet season, afternoon storms are frequent, which is exactly why the rice fields and jungle stay so green.

The highlands (Bedugul, Munduk and Kintamani). Bedugul and the crater lakes sit at roughly 1,200 to 1,500 metres, and Kintamani on the rim of the Batur caldera at around 1,500 metres. Days are mild, often somewhere between 15 and 25°C, and nights and early mornings can feel genuinely cold. Cloud and mist often roll in by midday, and the mountains get far more rain than the coast. If you are doing the sunrise trek up Mount Batur, the summit is chilly before dawn.

The north (Lovina, Singaraja, Pemuteran). The central mountains block much of the rain, so the north coast is drier and sunnier, and the Bali Sea is usually calmer than the south coast. In dry years, water can run short here.

The east (Amed, Tulamben and the Karangasem coast). The driest part of the island, with arid slopes below Mount Agung and calm water most mornings.

Surf seasons

West coast: April to October. In the dry season, the south-easterly trade winds blow offshore at the west-facing breaks: the Bukit reefs (Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Bingin, Impossibles), Kuta, Canggu and Medewi. The biggest swells usually arrive between June and August, and so do the crowds. Early mornings are cleanest before the wind picks up.

East coast: November to March. When the monsoon swings to the west, the east coast comes alive: Keramas, the Sanur reefs, Serangan and Nusa Dua. Swells are less consistent than in the dry season, so timing with the wind and tide matters more.

Beginners do best on the sandy beach breaks at Kuta and parts of Canggu. Many of Bali's famous waves break over shallow reef, and rip currents are common on the open beaches. Swim between the flags where lifeguards are on duty.

Diving seasons

You can dive in Bali all year, but the seasons change what you see.

• Nusa Penida and Lembongan. Mola mola (ocean sunfish) are most often seen from around July to October, sometimes a little earlier or later, when cold upwellings bring them up to the reefs. Water at depth can drop to around 20°C or colder, so a 5 mm wetsuit is sensible. Currents here are strong, and the deeper sites suit experienced divers. Manta rays can be seen year-round. Never touch a mola: their protective mucus layer is easily damaged.
• Tulamben and Amed. The USAT Liberty wreck and the east coast reefs are diveable all year and usually calmer in the dry season.
• Menjangan (north-west). Sheltered reefs with calm water, at their best in the dry season.
• Wet season. Run-off from rivers can reduce visibility near the south coast after heavy rain.

Busy periods

• International peaks: July and August (European summer holidays, plus Australian school holidays in early July), Christmas to New Year, Easter, and other Australian school holidays through the year.
• Indonesian holidays: Idul Fitri brings large numbers of domestic visitors, especially from Java. Indonesian school holidays from late June to mid-July, Christmas and New Year, and long weekends are busy too.
• Balinese calendar: Nyepi closes the airport for 24 hours, so plan arrivals and departures around it. Galungan and Kuningan fill the roads with ceremonies, decorated bamboo poles (penjor) line the streets, and some businesses close for a day or two.
• Quieter times: late January to March outside the holidays, May and June, and September to early December.

Villas and flights are most expensive at the peaks, so book early if your dates are fixed.

What to pack

• Light, breathable clothes that dry quickly.
• A lightweight rain jacket or poncho, even in the dry season.
• A warm layer and long trousers for the highlands and sunrise treks.
• A sarong and sash for temples (often available to borrow or rent) and something that covers your shoulders.
• High-SPF, reef-friendly sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. UV is strong even under cloud.
• Insect repellent, especially in the wet season, when dengue cases tend to rise. See a doctor promptly if you develop a high fever.
• Sandals that cope with puddles, closed shoes for walking and reef booties for surfing.
• A dry bag for boat trips and scooter rides in the rain, and a buff or mask for dusty roads.
• Any prescription medicines you need, in their original packaging.

How the climate shows up in daily life

Afternoon storms. In the wet season, plan outdoor activities for the morning. Storms can be intense, with heavy rain and lightning, so get out of the sea and off exposed hilltops when thunder starts. A poncho under the scooter seat is standard kit.

Flooding. Drains in Denpasar, Kuta, Seminyak and Canggu can be overwhelmed within minutes, turning streets into streams. Never ride or drive through moving water, and keep away from riverbanks in heavy rain. Floods are not limited to the wet season: in September 2025, extreme rainfall caused Bali's worst flooding in years, and at least 14 people died, most of them when rivers burst their banks. If heavy rain is forecast, stay put and wait it out.

Rubbish on the beaches. In the wet season, westerly winds and swollen rivers wash plastic onto the west-facing beaches, especially Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, often between December and March. Clean-up crews work daily, but some mornings look rough.

Humidity and mould. Residents learn to fight mould with airflow, dehumidifiers and silica gel for cameras. Leather goods and books suffer, and laundry dries slowly in the wet months.

Dust and dryness. In the dry season, unsealed roads and building sites throw up dust, fields on the Bukit turn brown, and some villages face water shortages. Use water carefully, particularly in dry years like 2026.

Wind and sea. July and August are breezy, and big dry-season swells can make boat crossings rough or cancel them. Leave a buffer day before international flights.

Heat. The midday sun is fierce all year. Drink plenty of water, rest in the shade and seek medical help if someone shows signs of heat exhaustion such as dizziness, confusion or vomiting.

Volcanic ash from elsewhere. Eruptions on other Indonesian islands, such as Lewotobi Laki-laki on Flores in 2024 and 2025, have occasionally cancelled flights in and out of Bali, even on clear days. Check your airline's updates if an eruption is in the news.