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Climate - Bahamas


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Bahamas

Map - Bahamas

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Index


  • Introduction
  • North-western islands - Freeport, Nassau
  • South-eastern islands - Abraham's Bay, Matthew Town
  • Hurricanes

Introduction



The archipelago of the Bahamas is stretched along a northwest-southeast axis: the northernmost islands are located to the east of Florida, while the southernmost ones are located to the northwest of Haiti. The climate is tropical, with a hot and rainy season from May to October (in which, however, the breezes temper the heat) and a cooler season from November to April, which is felt more on the north-western islands.
Proceeding from north-west to south-east, there is an increase in the winter temperatures as well as a decrease in the summer precipitation: this means that the north-western islands (Grand Bahama, Little Abaco, Andros and New Providence, where the capital, Nassau, is located) are cooler in winter and rainier in summer.
In fact, rainfall amounts to almost 1,500 millimeters (60 inches) per year in Freeport, in the north-west, while it drops to 1,400 mm (55 in) in Nassau, to 1,100 mm (43 in) in Eleuthera and San Salvador, to 800 mm (31.5 in) in Mayaguana, and to just 650 mm (25.5 in) in Inagua. On the south-eastern islands, not only the total amount of rainfall is quite scarce, but also there is a fairly significant decrease in the summer rains, especially in July.
As for the temperatures, the main differences occur in winter, which is cooler in the northwest and warmer in the southeast, while summer is hot and muggy everywhere.
In the coolest months (January and February), the average daily temperature is around 20 °C (68 °F) on the northernmost islands (Grand Bahama, Abaco), around 22 °C (72 °F) in New Providence and Eleuthera, 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) in San Salvador, 23 °C (73.5 °F) in Mayaguana, and 24.5 °C (76 °F) in Inagua.
In winter, from December to March, cold air masses from the United States can lower the temperature for a few days, especially on the north-western islands, so much so that at night it can get cold, even below 10 °C (50 °F) in Freeport and Nassau; in addition, weather fronts can bring a bit of rain, clouds and wind.
On the other hand, the temperatures in the warmest months (July and August) are similar throughout the islands, in fact the daily average is everywhere around 28/29 °C (82/84 °F).

North-western islands


Freeport


Climate chart - Freeport

In Freeport, located on the island of Grand Bahama, the most northwestern of the archipelago, the temperatures resemble those of West Palm Beach (Florida), which is not far away.
Normally, in winter the temperatures are pleasantly warm, but the island is particularly exposed to cold air outbreaks because of its location. The temperature dropped to 3 °C (37 °F) in January 1977 (and it seems that there was also a brief snowfall), to 6 °C (43 °F) in January 1981, and to 5 °C (41 °F) in February 1996, in January 2010 and in January 2022.
Here are the average temperatures in Freeport.
Freeport - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January172520.7627669.2
February172521.3637770.3
March182622.1647971.7
April202823.8688274.8
May223025.6718578.1
June243127.7758981.9
July253228.6779083.5
August253328.7779183.7
September243227.9758982.3
October223026.2728679.2
November202723.6688174.5
December182622657871.6
Year2128.724.869.883.776.5

In Freeport, 1,500 mm (60 in) of rain fall per year, with a maximum in August and September. However, even in the driest period, from December to April, some rain showers can occur. Here is the average rainfall.
Freeport - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January853.39
February7538
March953.78
April652.67
May1054.111
June1756.914
July1656.516
August2108.319
September2158.518
October1455.711
November953.710
December7539
Year149558.9140

Nassau


Climate chart - Nassau

As mentioned, Nassau is located on the island of New Providence, a little further to the south than Freeport, and at the same latitude as Miami. Here too, from December to March there may be short cool periods, sometimes a bit cold. The temperature dropped to 7 °C (44.5 °F) in January 1977, to 6 °C (43 °F) in January 1981, to 7 °C (44.5 °F) in February 1996, and to 9 °C (48 °F) in January 2010. Here are the average temperatures.
Nassau - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January182722.5658072.4
February192722.8658173.1
March192823.4668274.2
April212925708477
May223026.5728779.7
June243228.2769082.8
July253329779184.2
August253329.1779184.5
September253228.6779083.5
October243127.3758881.2
November212925708477
December202723.5678174.2
Year2229.925.971.685.878.5

In Nassau, the rains are still quite abundant; however, they are a bit less frequent than in Freeport. Here is the average precipitation.
Nassau - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January5028
February5026
March652.67
April652.66
May1154.510
June2258.915
July1505.917
August2158.518
September1807.117
October1355.314
November803.19
December5028
Year138054.3135

The summer rains fall mainly in the form of showers and thunderstorms, in late afternoon or in the evening, so the sky doesn't remain overcast for a long time. So, the amount of sunshine in the Bahamas is good throughout the year. Here, for example, are the average sunshine hours per day in Nassau.
Nassau - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January7.5225
February8225
March8250
April9.5280
May9280
June8240
July8.5265
August8.5260
September7.5220
October7.5235
November7.5220
December7210
Year7.92885

The sea is warm enough for swimming all year round, even though on the northern islands it is slightly cooler, at least in the winter months: in Nassau the water temperature ranges from 24.5 °C (76 °F) from January to March to 29.5 °C (85 °F) in August and September.
Nassau - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2576
February2476
March2476
April2577
May2680
June2883
July2984
August3085
September2985
October2883
November2780
December2578
Year26.880.2

South-eastern islands


Abrahams Bay


Climate chart - Abrahams Bay

Here are the average temperatures of Abraham's Bay, on the southern island of Mayaguana: as you can see, in winter the temperatures are a little higher than on the northwestern islands, especially at night.
Abrahams Bay - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January202623687973.4
February212724708175.2
March212724708175.2
April222825728277
May233026.5738679.7
June243127.5758881.5
July253128778882.4
August253228.5779083.3
September243127.5758881.5
October243127.5758881.5
November222825728277
December212724708175.2
Year22.729.125.8572.884.478.5

In Abraham's Bay, 800 mm (32 in) of rain fall per year, and rainfall exceeds 100 mm (4 in) per month only between September and November. In July and August, there are only short showers, quite frequent but not intense.
Abrahams Bay - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January451.87
February401.66
March301.27
April451.87
May702.811
June803.111
July451.811
August652.612
September1054.113
October1305.114
November1054.19
December602.47
Year82032.3115

Matthew Town

On the arid island of Inagua, the southernmost one, the rains are even scarcer. Here is the average precipitation in Matthew Town.
Matthew Town - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January5026
February351.45
March351.44
April401.65
May853.36
June301.24
July200.84
August5025
September853.37
October1204.710
November702.88
December351.46
Year6602670

In Inagua, the temperatures are generally high even in winter, as can be seen in the following table.
Matthew Town - Average temperatures
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January212824.5708276.1
February212925708477
March212925708477
April223026728678.8
May233026.5738679.7
June253128778882.4
July253228.5779083.3
August253228.5779083.3
September253128778882.4
October243027758680.6
November232926738478.8
December222825728277
Year23.129.926.4573.685.979.5

On the southern islands, the sea temperature is a little higher in winter than in the northern ones, in fact it does not drop below 25/26 °C (77/79 °F).

Bahamas

Hurricanes



From June to November, the Bahamas can be affected by hurricanes, the tropical cyclones of the Atlantic and the Caribbean, which, however, are more likely to occur from August to October.
Some intense hurricanes that hit the archipelago were the «Nassau hurricane» in late July 1926, the «Bahamas hurricane» (or Great Abaco hurricane) in September 1932, hurricane Betsy in September 1965, Andrew in August 1992, Floyd in September 1999, Frances in September 2004, Wilma in October 2005, Irene in August 2011, Joaquin in October 2015, Matthew in October 2016, and Irma in September 2017.
In early September 2019, Hurricane Dorian was the most intense in history to hit the Bahamas.

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