Average Summer Weather in Manila, Philippines: Key Climate Facts

When you picture summer in Manila, you’re probably imagining warm days, sticky air, and sudden rain showers. Average summer temperatures usually sit in the upper 80s to low 90s °F (about 30–33°C), and nights barely cool off, hanging around the upper 70s °F (roughly 25–27°C).

The air almost always feels damp, and the sky tends to stay cloudy or overcast for much of the season.

You’ll want to prepare for heavy rain, too, since summer lines up with the wet season. Rain falls often, sometimes every day, and the weather can flip from sunny to stormy in no time.

Daylight hours slowly shrink, and winds from the west get stronger as the summer goes on.

These conditions really shape how you plan your days. Whether you’re out exploring, scheduling outdoor activities, or just trying to stay comfortable, knowing the mix of heat, humidity, rain, and cloud cover helps you set expectations.

If you’re curious about Manila’s tropical summer climate, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Overview of Manila’s Summer Climate

Manila’s summer months bring high temperatures, thick humidity, and less rainfall compared to the rest of the year.

You’ll get hot days, warm nights, and all the quirks of a tropical city wrapped in concrete.

Tropical Climate Characteristics

Manila sits in a tropical wet-dry climate, so temperatures barely change during the year. In summer, daily highs usually hit 32–33°C (90–92°F), and nights stay warm at 24–26°C (75–78°F).

Humidity drops a little compared to the rainy season, averaging 66–70%, but honestly, the heat feels even stronger because of all the buildings and pavement.

The city acts like a heat island. Concrete and asphalt soak up heat during the day and let it out slowly at night, so evenings feel warmer than in the countryside.

You might notice there’s not much relief after sunset.

Rainfall stays pretty low in these months. April often gets less than 1 inch of rain, so you’ll see clearer skies, but the sun can be brutal, and sun protection is a must.

Seasonal Patterns

Summer in Manila runs from March to May, right after the cooler dry season and before heavy rains start in June.

Temperatures climb steadily, and May is usually the hottest month.

Humidity and rainfall hit their lowest in March and April, so the air feels a bit drier. By late May, you’ll notice more showers as the rainy season nears.

Here’s a quick look at average summer conditions:

You’ll get the driest, sunniest stretch in April. May starts to feel wetter, which hints at the coming rainy season.

Typical Summer Temperatures

Summers in Manila feel hot and humid, day and night. Temperatures don’t swing much, but the humidity makes the heat really stick to you.

Average Highs and Lows

In summer, daily highs usually land between 87°F and 91°F (31°C to 33°C). It rarely jumps above 95°F (35°C), but the humidity can make it feel even hotter.

Nighttime lows hover around 78°F to 80°F (25°C to 27°C). Even after sunset, the air keeps its warmth, so nights stay muggy.

Don’t expect cool evenings—temperatures almost never dip below 75°F (24°C).

The hottest part of the day usually hits in the early or mid-afternoon. Mornings and late evenings offer only a tiny bit of relief.

Because highs and lows don’t vary much, you’ll feel a steady warmth all season.

This is classic tropical monsoon climate—the sea and humidity keep temperatures stable.

Temperature Variations by Month

Manila’s summer stretches from June through August, and while the heat stays steady, you’ll notice small monthly shifts.

• June: Highs average around 91°F (33°C), with lows near 79°F (26°C). The rainy season usually starts, but the heat sticks around.
• July: Temperatures drop just a bit, with highs near 89°F (32°C) and lows around 79°F (26°C). Nights are still humid, and rain comes more often.
• August: Highs dip further to about 87°F (31°C) with lows near 78°F (25°C). It’s the mildest part of summer, but still, the humidity keeps it feeling hot.

These changes might seem small, but you’ll probably notice August feels a bit less intense than June.

Humidity Levels During Summer

Humidity in Manila jumps during summer, often peaking for the year. You’ll feel the air get heavy and damp, which really affects how hot it feels.

Daily and Monthly Humidity Trends

From June to August, average relative humidity in Manila usually ranges between 80% and 88%. July often brings the stickiest days, with humidity staying near the top of that range.

Humidity doesn’t stay the same all day. Early mornings feel the most humid, since cooler air holds more moisture. By mid-afternoon, it drops a little but still stays high compared to most places.

Here’s a simple look at summer humidity:

You’ll deal with humid conditions all season, with only slight daily changes.

Impact of Humidity on Comfort

High humidity makes warm air feel even hotter. For example, a day at 32°C can feel like several degrees more when humidity tops 80%.

Sweat doesn’t evaporate as fast, so your body struggles to cool down.

You might notice indoor spaces without air conditioning feel sticky, especially in the evenings when humidity goes up again.

If you’re traveling, you’ll probably find relief in shaded spots, malls, or air-conditioned vehicles.

If you want to do outdoor activities, stick to early mornings when humidity and heat stress are a bit lower.

Drinking water and wearing light, breathable clothes helps a lot in Manila’s summer.

Precipitation and Rainfall Patterns

Manila’s summer brings frequent rain, and totals can swing a lot depending on the month. You’ll get high humidity, short but intense downpours, and a clear split between wetter and drier parts of the season.

Rainfall Amounts and Frequency

During summer, Manila gets a big chunk of its yearly 1,700–1,800 mm of rain. June through September brings most of it.

Showers usually arrive in the afternoon or evening, often as quick, heavy bursts.

July gets about 335 mm over roughly 20 rainy days. June and August both bring more than 250 mm each, with rain falling on more than half the days.

You’ll want to plan for wet weather most days, even if the rain doesn’t last long. Carrying a light rain jacket or umbrella is smart, since showers can pop up fast.

The rain cools the city a bit, but it also cranks up the humidity, making the air feel warmer than the thermometer says.

Wettest and Driest Periods

The wettest stretch usually happens in July and August, when tropical systems and monsoon winds bring the biggest downpours.

Streets can flood quickly after strong showers, so expect some travel delays during these months.

On the flip side, April is the driest month, with only about 24 mm of rain over 3 days.

By May, rain picks up, signaling the wet season’s arrival.

This big difference between April’s dryness and July’s heavy rain really shows off Manila’s seasonal cycle.

If you visit during the wettest months, bring rain gear. Trips in late spring offer drier days but hotter afternoons.

Cloud Cover and Sunshine

In summer, Manila’s skies bounce between clear mornings and cloudier afternoons. You’ll see lots of cloud cover, especially in the wettest months, but sunshine still sneaks through for a few hours each day.

Average Cloud Cover

Cloud cover jumps during the summer wet season. From June to September, skies are often 60–80% covered with clouds.

That gives the city a more overcast look than the earlier, drier months.

Afternoons tend to get cloudier than mornings. As the day heats up, moisture builds and clouds form.

You’ll often wake up to clearer skies, then see the clouds roll in by midday.

Rain usually pairs with thick clouds. On days with heavy cloud cover, quick and intense showers are common.

Still, even on cloudy days, you’ll get breaks in the sky, especially once the rain stops.

If you’re traveling, expect the weather to change fast. Cloud cover doesn’t block the heat completely, so temperatures stay high even without direct sun.

Hours of Sunshine

Even with all those clouds, Manila still gets 4 to 6 hours of sunshine per day in summer.

That’s less than in the dry months, but you can usually count on some bright spells each day.

The strongest sun usually comes in the late morning, before the afternoon clouds and showers move in.

If you want to get outside, that’s probably your best window.

Here’s a quick guide to average sunshine hours in summer:

Don’t forget—UV levels stay high, even when it’s cloudy. Sun protection is a must, since UV rays slip through thin cloud layers.

Wind Conditions in the Summer Months

The southwest monsoon shapes Manila’s summer winds, bringing steady breezes and the occasional gust.

These winds affect how it feels outside, air quality, and even plans for trips on the water.

Average Wind Speeds

From June through August, you’ll usually get average wind speeds of 6 to 10 mph.

Winds are gentle to moderate—enough for a noticeable breeze, but not enough to ruin your plans.

Afternoons often feel windier than mornings. As the city heats up, air movement picks up, which helps knock down humidity a bit and makes the heat less stifling.

Here’s a quick look at typical summer wind speeds:

These breezes are great for water sports like sailing or windsurfing, and they’re still comfortable for walking or eating outside.

Seasonal Wind Trends

In Manila, summer winds mainly blow from the southwest. Locals call this the Habagat.

This monsoon brings a lot of moisture and steady breezes across the city. You’ll probably notice winds picking up around late June.

They usually peak in July, then ease off a bit in August.

Since the winds come from the southwest, coastal spots along Manila Bay catch stronger gusts than places farther inland.

These breezes sometimes carry salty air and bring in rain showers, especially late in the day.

Short periods of calm pop up between passing weather systems.

During these lulls, the air can feel stickier and a lot hotter until the breeze comes back.

If you’re planning to be outside, it’s usually more comfortable when the winds stay steady rather than shifting all over the place.

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