How do the trade winds affect the climate of French Polynesia?

French Polynesia is situated within the trade-wind zone, which significantly influences the region's tropical climate. These dominant winds typically blow from the north and northeast, though they shift toward the southeast between May and October.1

The trade winds contribute to regional climatic variations based on island exposure; because the windward coasts face these prevailing currents, they receive more abundant precipitation than leeward areas. While the trade winds generally bring consistent airflow, the region experiences long periods of calm between April and June. Additionally, the interaction between these winds and the islands' geography helps define the overall warm and humid conditions, characterized by high relative humidity and frequent, often violent, rain storms.1