Western Caribbean Hurricanes, Climate and Average Weather

By Scott Bateman
It may be sunny and warm in the western Caribbean most of the year like the rest of the region, but it's also sunny and warm in its own way.

The reason why many people care about western Caribbean weather is because of the many cruises that visit some key ports of call throughout the area.

Major ports of call include Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Roatan and Cozumel. They also often include Central American ports in Belize, Panama and Costa Rica, and sometimes Nicaragua.

Some of those Central American ports of call are different from the islands because they lead into countries with large rain forests and mountains, which end up with a great deal of rain each year.

Average Temperatures

The average high temperatures for the western Caribbean hover in the mid-80s Fahrenheit with small variations from one month to the next.

Jamaica and Grand Cayman see average highs in the upper 80s during the winter and the low 90s during the summar.

Cozumel is slightly cooler during the winter with average highs in the low 80s, but it also reaches the 90s quite often during the summer.

Belize and Costa Rica are cooler with average highs ranging from the low 80s to upper 80s.

But it's important to keep in mind that temperatures for Belize and Costa Rica are warmer along the Caribbean coast and quite a bit cooler in the interior, especially in the mountainous and rain forest areas.

Average Rainfall

Hurricane Wilma reaches Cozumel in 2005.
The Caribbean averages about 3-4 hurricanes
a year, mainly in the fall. Source: Wikimedia
Commons.

The temperatures are mostly predictable, but the rainfall is not. It varies wildly throughout the year thanks in part to the Caribbean hurricane season.

The hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30 each year, but storm activity is lowest in the early months and peaks in September and October for most destinations.

For example, Cozumel historically averages less than three inches of rain a month from January through April, which is one reason why it's one of the most popular times of the year to take a western Caribbean cruise.

But it averages about 10 inches a month in September and October.

The same pattern takes place for Jamaica and Grand Cayman with low rainfall in the early part of the year and peak rainfall in September and October, although not quite as much.

Although the Central American countries also have that pattern, there are a few small differences.

Belize, Costa Rica and Panama have especially heavy rain in December. Costa Rica is utterly drenched throughout most of the year with rainfall as high as 18 inches some months.

Best and Worst Times to Go

Making a recommendation about when to go is easy for weather in the western Caribbean.

It is a hugely popular cruise destination from January through April simply because that time of the year has the lowest average rainfall.

Then again, the popularity of going then also makes it a more expensive time of the year.

Anyone who wants lower prices, doesn't mind some heat and is willing to take on a little more risk with the weather might consider trying May through July.