Best time to visit British Virgin Islands
The best time to visit the British Virgin Islands (BVI) for a beach holiday is during the dry season from December to April, with the months of January through March the most comfortable.
BVI is considered a year-round destination with sunny, clear skies interspersed with brief rain showers.
British Virgin Islands weather
The British Virgin Islands experience a hot, tropical maritime climate influenced by the trade winds: December to March is pleasant, with an average temperature around 26°C (79°F); while May to October is hot and muggy, with the daily average around 29°C (84°F).
Here are the average temperatures of Road Town, the capital, on the island of Tortola.
What is the best month to visit the British Virgin Islands?
January through March are the best months to visit the British Virgin Islands, since it's the least hot and rainy time of year – you can expect warm, sunny weather and little or no rainfall.
However, anytime during the dry season from December through April is good for a range of outdoor activities.
Which is the hottest month in British Virgin Islands?
The hottest months in the British Virgin Islands are usually August and September, with daytime average high temperatures of 31°C (87°F) and a low of 27°C (80°F)
The hot season lasts from mid-June to mid-October, with an average daily high temperature above 30°C (86°F).
Which is the coldest month in British Virgin Islands?
The coldest month of the year in Road Town is February, with an average high of 28°C (82°F) and low of 24°C (75°F).
The cool season lasts from mid-December through March, with an average daily high temperature below 29°C (84°F).
Which is the sunniest month in the British Virgin Islands?
The sunniest month of the year in the British Virgin Islands is March, with nine hours of bright sunshine per day; that's an average of 73% of daylight hours.
When is the sea warmest in the British Virgin Islands?
The sea is usually at its warmest in the British Virgin Islands in September when the water temperature reaches 29°C (84°F), which is pleasant for swimming.
The sea water is warm enough for swimming year-round in the British Virgin Islands.
Which month has the most rain in the British Virgin Islands?
September and October are usually the wettest months in the British Virgin Islands with 145mm (6in) of rainfall on average, and 14 days with some rain.
The wet season lasts from May to early-December, with a greater than 17% chance of a given day being a wet day. Rainfall is variable, with brief but heavy downpours.
However, even during the peak rainy season from September to November, when you can expect rain most afternoons, there is still plenty of sunshine.
The dry season lasts from January through April: February and March are the driest months.
What are the windiest months in British Virgin Islands?
The windiest month in BVI is July, with an average hourly wind speed of 25 kilometres per hour (13 knots; 15mph).
The windy part of the year lasts from early-June to the end of August, with average wind speeds of more than 22 kilometres per hour (12 knots; 13mph).
The calmer time of year lasts from September through to early-June. The month with the least amount of wind month of the year in BVI is October, with an average hourly wind speed of 19kilometres per hour (10 knots; 12mph).
The predominant average hourly wind direction in Road Town, Tortola is from the east throughout the year.
Is there a risk of a tropical storm in British Virgin Islands?
The likelihood of a tropical storm in the British Virgin Islands is greatest during the hurricane season, with a risk of 3.7% in September. The hurricane season lasts from June to early-November.
The British Virgin Islands lie directly in the track of Atlantic hurricanes traveling from the centre of the Atlantic towards Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The risk of a hurricane striking is greatest from July to October.
Tortola, BVI Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average daily max (°C) | |||||||||||
| 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 |
| Average daily min (°C) | |||||||||||
| 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 77 | 76 | 76 | 78 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 79 | 77 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 8 | 10 | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 70 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 105 | 75 | 85 | 110 | 145 | 145 | 130 | 80 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 24 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 24 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
| Road Town, Tortola, BVI | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
High Season: December to May; Low season: June to November.
Note: Meteorological data for the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1991 to 2020, and is sourced from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Additional data is sourced from the closest weather station, Cyril E. King Airport (STT), located on the southwest side of St Thomas Island, USVI, which is around 40km (24mi) from Tortola Island, BVI.
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.
Latest update: Best time to visit British Virgin Islands: 11 July, 2023
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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