Index

---

• Introduction
• North-western islands - Freeport, Nassau
• South-eastern islands - Abrahams Bay, Matthew Town
• Hurricanes
• When to go
• What to pack

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 more felt in 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, in Freeport, in the north-west, rainfall amounts to almost 1,500 millimetres (60 inches) per year, while it drops to 1,200 mm (47 in) in Nassau, 1,100 mm (43 in) in Eleuthera and San Salvador, 800 mm (31.5 in) in Mayaguana, and just 650 mm (25.5 in) in Inagua. In 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 the summer is hot and muggy everywhere.
In the coolest months (January and February), the average daily temperature is around 20 °C (68 °F) in the northernmost islands (Grand Bahama, Abaco), 21 °C (70 °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.
During winter, from December to March, cold air masses from the United States can lower the temperature for a few days, especially in the north-western islands, so that at night it can even 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) vary less from north to south, in fact the daily average is everywhere around 28 °C (82 °F).

North-western islands

---

Freeport

Here are the average temperatures of Freeport, located in the island of Grand Bahama, the most northwestern of the archipelago, where the temperatures resemble those of West Palm Beach (Florida), which is not far away.

In Freeport, 1,500 mm (60 in) of rain per year fall, with a maximum in August and September; however, even in the driest period, from December to April, some rain showers can occur.

Nassau

Here are the average temperatures in Nassau, located, as mentioned, in the island of New Providence, a little further to the south than Freeport, and at the same latitude as Miami.

In Nassau the rains are still quite abundant, however they are a bit less frequent than in Freeport. Here is the average precipitation.

The amount of sunshine in the Bahamas is good throughout the year, because 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. Here, for example, the average sunshine hours per day in Nassau.

The sea is warm enough for swimming all year round, even though in the northern islands it is slightly cooler, at least in the winter months: at Nassau the water temperature ranges from 24 °C (75 °F) in February and March, to 29 °C (84 °F) from July to September.

South-eastern islands

---

Abrahams Bay

Here are the average temperatures of Abrahams Bay, in the southern island of Mayaguana: as you can see, in winter the temperatures are a little higher than in the northwestern islands, especially at night.

In Abrahams Bay, 800 mm (32 in) of rain per year fall, 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.

Matthew Town

In the arid island of Inagua, the southernmost one, the rains are even scarcer. Here is the average precipitation in Matthew Town.

In Inagua, the temperatures are generally high even in winter, as can be seen in the following table.

In the southern islands the sea temperature is a little higher in winter than in the north, and it does not drop below 25/26 °C (77/79 °F) even in winter.

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 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, Irma in September 2017.

When to go

---

In general, the best time to visit the Bahamas is the dry season, from late November to mid-April. However, in the north-western islands, from December to March the temperature is often not high enough for a beach holiday, and sometimes there are also some cool and windy days. In the southernmost islands, however, and in particular in Inagua, the winter is warm enough to enjoy the sun and the sea, while in the northernmost islands you may prefer April and May (though in the latter the rains are a bit more frequent).
From May to October, the weather is hot and muggy, and thunderstorms can be intense (at least in the northern islands), although the sun is still frequent. If you want to choose the summer, the month of July will be preferable, because there's a relative decrease in the rains (though not in Nassau and in the north-westernmost islands), and because hurricanes are less likely than in August.

What to pack

---

From November to April, in the northernmost islands: light clothing, but also a sweatshirt or sweater, a scarf for the breeze, jacket and umbrella; in the southern islands: light clothes, a sweatshirt for the evening, a scarf for the breeze.
From May to October: light, tropical clothing, possibly a light sweatshirt and a light raincoat for thunderstorms.
For the reef, equipment for snorkeling, water shoes or rubber soled shoes.

Back to top