Eastern Caribbean Hurricanes, Climate and Average Weather

By Scott Bateman
Eastern Caribbean weather is a popular topic for anyone planning a cruise in that part of the world.

People are often interested in the topic because they want to figure out the best time to go there.

The Caribbean is known for its warm temperatures and sunny skies, but it also is known for the annual hurricane season, which officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30 each year.

Temperatures

Temperatures in the eastern Caribbean are rarely an issue because they usually average on a monthly basis from the low 80s Fahrenheit in the winter to high 80s Fahrenheit in the summer, sometimes exceeding 90 degrees.

The main exception is the northern part of the Caribbean where it meets the Atlantic Ocean.

The Bahamas are technically part of the Atlantic Ocean and not the Caribbean, but they are often included in eastern Caribbean cruises. In fact, the Bahamas are the No. 1 cruise destination in the region.

Average high temperatures there reach only the upper 70s from December through March, but they eventually reach the upper 80s from May through October.

Likewise, Turks and Caicos has similar although slightly warmer temperatures because they are located only about 30 miles southeast of the Bahamas.

Other major ports of call such as St. Thomas and San Juan are comfortably warm year round.

Rainfall

Total rainfall and the number of days it rains each month is not a major factor for an eastern Caribbean cruise from December through April each year.

Some destinations have a brief and mild rainy season during May.

Rain drops back down again in June and starts to pick up more noticeably in August. September and October are usually the worst months for rain and November is not far behind.

August is the worst month for the Bahamas at an average of nearly nine total inches of rainfall.

St. Thomas averages about 3.5 inches in August but receives more than five inches in September, October and November.

San Juan experiences five inches or more from August through November.

Best and Worst Months to Go

The temperature and rainfall patterns are consistent enough that anyone planning an eastern Caribbean cruise can know which destinations and months to avoid.

The best months and lowest risk for bad weather will usually run from April through July. It is the best time for a cruise that goes only to the Bahamas.

Anyone planning to go farther south can try December through July.

The highest risk is August through November for most locations.

However, there are two reasons to consider going during those times.

The first is that prices will be lower as a result of lower demand, especially in September and October.

The second related reason is that anyone with an appetite for risk might consider buying travel insurance.

It is worth mentioning that the Caribbean does have good weather at various times during the height of the hurricane season and that ships have the ability to avoid at least some of the bad weather.