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Climate in Hilo, Hawaii: Monthly Weather Averages
Hilo sits at 38 feet above sea level, and its climate, as recorded at the Hilo International Airport, HI station, runs to a yearly mean of 74.0°F. The warmest month is August, averaging 76.6°F with typical highs of 82.9°F; the coldest is February, averaging 71.2°F with lows around 64.1°F. Across a normal year the city receives 120.4 in of precipitation. The full month-by-month picture below comes from the official 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals — the 30-year averages the National Weather Service itself uses — so it describes the Hilo climate you should actually plan around, whether you are timing a visit, weighing a move, or just settling an argument about which month is best.
Hilo climate month by month
The table below is the complete 1991–2020 normals profile for Hilo: average high, average low and mean temperature, rainfall, and snowfall for every month. Read down the Mean column to feel the year's rhythm — Hilo's temperature range runs from 71.2°F in February to 76.6°F in August.
| Month | Avg High (°F) | Avg Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Rain (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 78.7 | 64.1 | 71.4 | 7.86 | — |
| February | 78.4 | 64.1 | 71.2 | 10.22 | — |
| March | 78.5 | 65.2 | 71.9 | 12.68 | — |
| April | 79.0 | 66.1 | 72.5 | 9.40 | — |
| May | 80.7 | 67.3 | 74.0 | 6.99 | — |
| June | 81.8 | 68.7 | 75.2 | 7.30 | — |
| July | 82.8 | 69.9 | 76.3 | 9.24 | — |
| August | 82.9 | 70.4 | 76.6 | 11.30 | — |
| September | 83.3 | 69.8 | 76.5 | 8.70 | — |
| October | 82.4 | 69.0 | 75.7 | 10.24 | — |
| November | 80.3 | 67.6 | 74.0 | 14.39 | — |
| December | 78.8 | 65.7 | 72.2 | 12.07 | — |
| Year | 80.6 | 67.3 | 74.0 | 120.39 | — |
How to read the colors:below freezingcoldcoolmildwarmhot. Bands are colored by each cell's own temperature, so a whole year reads at a glance.
NOAA does not publish monthly snowfall normals for this station, so the snow column is shown as —; the temperature and precipitation normals for this station are complete.
Hilo through the seasons
Winter in Hilo averages highs of 78.4–78.8°F and lows of 64.1–65.7°F, a seasonal mean of 71.6°F. The three months together bring 30.2 in of precipitation — about 25% of the city's yearly total — with December the wettest of the three at 12.07 in. This is the city's gentle season — the coolest quarter of the year still averages shirt-sleeve afternoons, which is exactly why it draws winter visitors.
Spring in Hilo averages highs of 78.5–80.7°F and lows of 65.2–67.3°F, a seasonal mean of 72.8°F. The three months together bring 29.1 in of precipitation — about 24% of the city's yearly total — with March the wettest of the three at 12.68 in. The season is a transition: the average temperature climbs 2.1°F from March to May, and by late spring Hilo is firmly into warm territory, with May rainfall of 6.99 in to plan around.
Summer in Hilo averages highs of 81.8–82.9°F and lows of 68.7–70.4°F, a seasonal mean of 76.0°F. The three months together bring 27.8 in of precipitation — about 23% of the city's yearly total — with August the wettest of the three at 11.30 in. It is a warm, usable summer: afternoons are hot enough for swimming and lake or coast time, while evenings usually cool off comfortably.
Fall in Hilo averages highs of 80.3–83.3°F and lows of 67.6–69.8°F, a seasonal mean of 75.4°F. The three months together bring 33.3 in of precipitation — about 28% of the city's yearly total — with November the wettest of the three at 14.39 in. Temperatures ease off through the season — the monthly mean drops 2.5°F from September to November — and fall is when Hilo's weather turns cooler and wetter, while nights stay mostly frost-free into December.
Best and worst months to visit Hilo
Ranking every month by its normals — mild mean temperatures score best, heavy rain and snow count against — the most comfortable months to visit Hilo are:
JanuaryMayJune
January leads the list: average highs of 78.7°F, lows of 64.1°F, and 7.86 in of rain. The other picks, May and June, offer the same balance in Hilo's mild stretch of the year. At the other end, November is usually the month to avoid — the year's heaviest rain, with a mean temperature of 74.0°F and 14.39 in of precipitation.
How Hilo compares
Across the 114 cities in our dataset, the typical city averages 57.8°F for the year and 35.7 in of precipitation. Hilo runs 16.2°F warmer than that typical city and wetter by 84.7 in a year, ranking #10 of 114 for annual warmth and #1 of 114 for precipitation (wettest first). Its year-round temperature swing — warmest month minus coldest — is 5.4°F, which puts it in the mild, ocean- or latitude-softened camp.
Planning notes for Hilo
For anyone relocating: average lows never drop below freezing in any month, so hard freezes are events, not seasons; highs reach the 80s on average in 7 months, but 90°F average highs never arrive; 12 months of the year average between 55°F and 80°F, the band most people find comfortable without heating or cooling. Those four facts, all straight from the normals table above, shape everything from a Hilo wardrobe to its utility bills.
Hilo climate FAQ
What is the warmest month in Hilo?
August is the warmest month in Hilo, with a mean temperature of 76.6°F, average highs of 82.9°F and average lows of 70.4°F (1991–2020 normals).
What is the coldest month in Hilo?
February is the coldest month, averaging 71.2°F, with highs of 78.4°F and lows of 64.1°F.
How much rain does Hilo get in a year?
Hilo averages 120.39 in of precipitation a year. The wettest month is November (14.39 in) and the driest is May (6.99 in).
When is the best time of year to visit Hilo?
By the normals, the most comfortable months are January, May, June — mild average temperatures with moderate rainfall. November is typically the least comfortable month.
Source: 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) — ncei.noaa.gov. Station: Hilo International Airport, HI (USW00021504), elevation 38 ft. Figures checked October 2026.