Best time to visit the Bahamas

The best time to visit the Bahamas is from November to April during the winter dry season.

Considered a year-round destination, the Bahamas are the most northerly of the Caribbean islands, and comprise a chain of more than 700 islands (of which less than 30 are inhabited) and 2000 small islands or reefs (called cays) that stretch for 96km (60mi) across the Atlantic Ocean southeast of Florida.

The northernmost islands are located to the east of Florida, while the southernmost ones are located to the northwest of Haiti.


Bahamas weather

The Bahamas experience a hot tropical climate with a warm, winter dry season from November to April, and a hot, rainy summer season from May to October.

The northern and more western islands, including Grand Bahama, Great Abaco, Andros, Eleuthera and New Providence Island – where the capital, Nassau, is located – are cooler in winter and wetter in summer than the southern islands in the archipelago. There is some rainfall all year but the wettest months are from May to October.

Temperatures on the most northwestern island of Grand Bahama resemble those of West Palm Beach in Florida.

In winter, from December to March, cold air from the United States can lower the temperature for a few days in the northwestern islands, with night-time temperatures occasionally dropping below 10°C (50°F) in Grand Bahama and New Providence islands. You can also expect more rain, clouds and wind during winter.

In the cooler months of winter, during January and February, the average daily temperature is around 20°C (68°F) on the northernmost islands (Grand Bahama, Abaco), around 22°C (71°F) in New Providence and Eleuthera, 22°C (71°F) in San Salvador, 23°C (73°F) in Mayaguana, and 24°C (75°F) in Inagua.

However, in the warmest months of summer, July and August, temperatures are similar throughout the islands: the daily average everywhere is around 28-29°C (82-84°F).


Here are the average temperatures of the capital, Nassau, located on New Providence Island.

What is the best month to visit the Bahamas?
February, March and April are the best months to visit the Bahamas, since this is the driest time of year, with warm, sunny weather, mainly clear skies and good conditions for swimming.

However, any month during the dry season, from late-November to mid-April, is good.

Which is the hottest month in the Bahamas?
The hottest month in the Bahamas is usually August, when daytime maximum temperatures reach 33°C (91°F) on average, with very high heat and humidity, and a low of 25°C (77°F).

The hot season lasts from mid-June through September, with an average daily high temperature above 32°C (89°F).

Which is the coldest month in the Bahamas?
The coldest month in the Bahamas is January, with an average high temperature of 26°C (78°F) and an average low temperature of 18°C (64°F).

The cool season lasts from early-December to late-March, with an average daily high temperature below 28°C (82°F).

Which is the sunniest month in the Bahamas?
The sunniest month of the year in the Bahamas is usually April, with nine hours of bright sunshine per day; that's an average of 71% of daylight hours.

When is the sea warmest in the Bahamas?
The sea is usually at its warmest in the Bahamas in August when the water temperature reaches 30°C (86°F), which is pleasant for long swims.

The time of year with warmer water lasts from late-June to mid-October, with an average temperature above 28°C (82°F).

However, the sea is warm enough for swimming year round in the Bahamas.


Bahamas – Temperature averages

(°F)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average high temperature (°C)
26 27 28 29 30 32 33 33 32 31 29 27
Average low temperature (°C)
18 18 19 21 22 24 25 25 25 24 21 20
Average daily sunshine (hrs)
7 8 8 9 9 8 8 8 7 7 7 7
Average daily daylight (hrs)
11 11 12 13 13 14 14 13 12 12 11 11
Comfort level – heat
Low heat & humidity icon Moderately hot icon Moderately hot icon Moderately hot icon High heat & humidity icon High heat & humidity icon High heat & humidity icon High heat & humidity icon High heat & humidity icon High heat & humidity icon Moderately hot icon Moderately hot icon
Average sea temperature (°C)
24 24 24 25 26 28 29 30 29 28 26 25

Weather station: Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS), formerly known as Nassau International Airport, located on New Providence Island, 14km (8mi) west of central Nassau. Source: Bahamas Meteorology Department, Nassau. Climate data collected during 1992 to 2021. Additional climate data sourced from United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).


What is the humidity in the Bahamas?
The Bahamas experience little seasonal variation in perceived humidity, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 71% – 77% over the course of the year. Typically, it's humid all year round.

What do the humidity conditions feel like in the Bahamas?
We derive the humidity comfort level – what conditions feel like – from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the atmosphere: a higher dew point feels more humid, while a lower dew point feels drier.

Meteorologists agree that dew point temperature is a more consistant indication of 'absolute humidity' than relative humidity, which fluctuates with temperature. 

The average annual dew point in the Bahamas is 21°C (70°F), and varies over the course of the year from comfortable at 17°C (62°F) to unpleasantly muggy at 24°C (75°F). 

The more humid time of year in the Bahamas lasts from mid-April through December, when you can expect the comfort level to be muggy at least 60% of the time.

The months with the highest humidity in the Bahamas are May through October, when almost every day in each month is muggy or oppresssive.

January through March is slightly more comfortable. February has the least number of muggy days, with an average of 13 days that are muggy.


Bahamas – Humidity and UV averages

(°F)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Comfort level – humidity (#muggy days)
15 13 15 18 26 29 31 31 30 28 21 18
Average dew point temperature (°C)
17 18 18 19 21 24 24 24 24 23 20 19
Average relative humidity (%)
75 75 71 71 74 76 74 76 77 77 75 77
UV Index (max)
6 8 10 11 11 11 11 11 10 8 6 5

Which month has the most rain in the Bahamas?
June is usually the wettest month in the Bahamas with 225mm (9in) of rainfall on average. There are normally 15 days in June with some rainfall.

The wet, summer season lasts from late-May to late-October, with a greater than 21% chance of any given day being a wet day, although rainfall is often limited to periodic showers and thunderstorms in the late afternoon or evening.

Which is the windiest month in the Bahamas?
The windiest month of the year in the Bahamas is November, with an average hourly wind speed of 23 kilometres per hour (12 knots; 14mph).

The windy part of the year lasts from mid-October through to late-April, with average wind speeds of more than 20 kilometres per hour (10 knots; 12mph).

The less-windy time of year lasts from late-April through to mid-October. The calmest month of the year in the Bahamas is August, with an average hourly wind speed of 17 kilometres per hour (9 knots; 11mph).

The predominant average hourly wind direction in the Bahamas is from the east throughout the year.

Is there a risk of a tropical storm in the Bahamas?
The likelihood of a tropical storm in the Bahamas is greatest during the wet season with a risk of around 3% in August and September.

Although hurricanes are infrequent around the Bahamas, June through November marks the official Atlantic hurricane season.


Bahamas – Rainfall and wind averages

(in/mph)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average days of rainfall (≥1mm)
8 6 6 6 10 15 17 18 17 14 9 8
Average monthly rainfall (mm)
50 50 65 65 115 225 150 215 180 135 80 50
Average wind speed (km/h)
22 21 21 20 20 18 17 16 17 20 23 22

Holiday seasons

High season: From mid-December to mid-April hotel prices are at there highest and it's best to book well in advance. March and April coincides with the spring-break for US college kids.

Low season: Lasts approximately from mid-April to mid-December and offers huge discounts (up to 60 per cent) on hotel rooms.


Weather in the Bahamas by island…


Weather in the Bahamas by month


Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.


More about the Bahamas…


Latest update: Best time to visit the Bahamas: 11 July, 2024


Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.



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