Caribbean weather – Best time to visit the Caribbean

The Caribbean enjoys a tropical climate with year-round sunshine divided into dry and wet seasons.

November to early December is probably the best time to visit the Caribbean: rates are still low, the weather is good and you avoid the peak-season crowds.

Temperatures are almost always moderate with little seasonal variation. You can expect averages between 24°C to 29°C (75°F and 85°F) in both winter and summer. However, it can get chilly in the early morning and at night.

Winter, from mid-December to mid-April, is generally the driest season, but it can still rain in mountainous areas. December averages a high of 28°C (83°F) and a low of 22°C (73°F).

Generally, rainfall varies with elevation, geographic size and seawater currents. You can expect short afternoon showers, especially in December and January, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, in northeast Jamaica, on Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominica and St. Lucia. Aruba is one of the driest islands where it hardly ever rains.

Summer, from May through to October, is the wet season, although this is usually limited to brief tropical rain showers. Temperatures average a high of 30°C (87°F) and a low of 25°C (78°F) in June.

The official hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30. Typically, satellite forecasts give sufficient warning so that precautions can be taken. Not all Caribbean islands are within the hurricane zone.

Seasons
High season: The Caribbean is a year-round destination. The high season runs from mid-December to mid-April, when you can expect the highest hotel prices. March and April are best avoided as this coincides with the spring-break for US college kids.

Low season: In summer, from mid-April to mid-December, when most hotels slash their winter rates by up to 50 per cent. Beaches are less crowded but restaurants often close and hotels will often use this period to refurbish. In August and September, some hotels close for a month.