Aruba Hurricanes, Climate and Average Weather

© Aruba Tourism Authority

By Scott Bateman
The ABC islands are on the fringe of the hurricane belt. While they usually do not suffer serious damage from hurricanes, they are not out of reach. 

In 2008 Hurricane Omar damaged several of the beaches in Aruba, including Palm and Eagle beaches.

Geography

Aruba is a flat, desert like island without any rivers.

The areas of the island that are most calm are on the western and southern coasts. This is where much of the tourist industry has been built up, and where visitors can find Aruba’s famous white beaches.

The northern and eastern shorelines are much rockier, and not as sheltered from the ocean’s currents.

Seasons

Like its other Caribbean neighbors, Aruba’s weather year is divided into two seasons: the wet season and the dry season.

The dry season runs from December to May. During this time, there is virtually no threat of hurricanes.

The wet season, also known as the hurricane season, runs from June to November. Aruba receives more rain during this season, and is on the lookout for stormy weather.

Temperatures

Aruba has a dry and arid climate, and is warm year round.

The average monthly high temperature is a balmy 89 degrees Fahrenheit. Monthly lows usually hover around the low eighties, dropping to 79 degrees in January and February.

The warmest months of the year are August and September, when monthly highs can reach 91 degrees.

The coolest months are January, February and March.

Temperatures feel more comfortable on the coast, where they are accompanied by a breeze from the trade winds.

Water temperatures are warm year round, averaging between 79 and 83 degrees Fahrenheit.

Rainfall

Aruba receives very little rainfall. 

From January to September, Aruba receives less than one inch of rainfall per month. In March, the rainfall is almost non existent, averaging at zero inches.

Rainfall increases in October and November, averaging at three inches per month.

Most of the rain occurs in the form of a light, passing shower. Many tourists find the rain refreshing, and it is rarely enough to ruin outdoor plans.

The best time to visit Aruba is just about any month of the year except for September, although other months during the fall sometimes receive storms or a very rare nearby hurricane.