Skip to main content

 Climates to travel
 World climate guide
 
 
 Home
 Africa
 N.America
 S.America
 Antarctica
 Asia
 Caribbean
 Europe
 M.East
 Oceania
 All the countries
 Home
 Africa
 N.America
 S.America
 Antarctica
 Asia
 Caribbean
 Europe
 M.East
 Oceania
 All the countries

Climate - Cuba


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Cuba

Map - Cuba

You are here: Home --> Caribbean --> Cuba



Index


  • Introduction
  • North-west - Havana
  • South-east - Santiago de Cuba
  • Hurricanes

Introduction



In Cuba, the climate is tropical, with a dry and relatively cool season from late November to mid-April, and a rainy and muggy season from late April to early November. The climate is fairly uniform from one area to the other, but there are some differences that are worth considering.

Annual precipitation is generally between 1,000 and 1,500 millimeters (40 and 60 inches). In the south, where the only mountainous areas are found, there is a greater difference between the north-facing slopes, which are very wet, and those exposed to the south, where precipitation drops below 700 mm (27.5 in) per year (see Guantanamo Bay).

Winter in Cuba is pleasantly warm in the north and even quite hot in the south, with daytime temperatures around 26 degrees Celsius (79 °F) from December to February in Havana, and around 28 °C (82 °F) in the southernmost areas. The rains are not frequent but they are still possible, and they are more likely on the northern slopes, which are also exposed to cold air masses coming from the United States. These short cold outbreaks, from December to March, may bring some days characterized by cool weather, and a bit of cold at night, especially in the north-western part (see Havana, Varadero). Sometimes in Havana the minimum temperature drops to around 10 °C (50 °F) or even below.

These cool air masses reach the southern side of the northwest (see Cayo Largo, Isla de la Juventud) less often, and even less in the south-east of the country, and particularly rarely on the south coast (see Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo), which is more sheltered.
In winter, you can visit cities and go on excursions: the sea is warm but the sun is not always guaranteed, and the air temperature is not always warm enough for swimming, at least for those who are sensitive to cold. Nevertheless, in the south-east, as mentioned, the coast south of Sierra Maestra is sheltered from the north winds, so in winter has a warmer microclimate and is usually nice for a beach holiday.

During the rainy season, there's muggy heat everywhere, which is sometimes hard to bear, even though it is tempered by the breeze. The hottest months are July and August. The daytime temperature rarely exceeds 33/34 °C (91/93 °F), but moisture makes the heat sweltering. The rains are often intense, but they occur mostly in the form of showers or thunderstorms in late afternoon. In July, there's often a relative break in the rains, especially in the south, when rain showers become less frequent (even though the heat is still intense).

North-west



In northwestern Cuba, winter is pleasantly warm, but it's less warm than in the rest of the island. As mentioned, the north-west is the area that, in winter, is more exposed to short and sudden outbreaks of cool air from the United States, which can bring some days a bit cool and windy, and some rain.
Occasionally, a particularly cold air mass can arrive, as happened for example in January 1977 (when the temperature dropped to 6 °C or 43 °F in Havana), in January 1981, in February 1996 (when the absolute cold record in Cuba was recorded, 0.6 °C or 33 °F in Bainoa), and in January 2010 (when a low of 4 °C or 39 °F was recorded at Havana airport). In the previous century, it seems that in January 1857 it even snowed in Cárdenas, and frosts ruined the crops. However, even in these cases the temperature remained fairly mild during the day, around 15/20 °C (59/68 °F).
Further to the south-east, in Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo, we move away from the area most exposed to cold outbreaks, but we are still on the north side, and occasionally from December to March it can get a little cold here too.

Havana


Climate chart - Havana

The capital, Havana, is located in the north-west of Cuba, on the northern coast. Here are the average temperatures.
Havana - Average temperatures (1987-2016)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January192723668173.3
February192823.2668273.8
March192823.8678374.9
April213025.4708677.6
May223126.5728779.7
June243227.6758981.8
July243228759082.5
August243228.4769083.1
September243228759082.4
October233026.8748780.2
November212924.8708376.7
December202723.4678174.2
Year21.729.825.77185.778.5

In Havana, rainfall amounts to 1,200 mm (48 inches) per year, of which more than 100 mm (4 in) fall per month in the hot and rainy season, from May to October. From December to February, the rains are a little more frequent than in the south-east (see below).
Havana - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January702.86
February451.84
March451.84
April602.44
May1204.77
June1656.510
July1254.99
August1355.310
September1505.911
October1706.711
November803.17
December602.46
Year122548.289

The amount of sunshine in Cuba peaks in spring, when the winter disturbances decrease, and before the clouds and rains of the warm season. However, the sun quite often shines even in summer. Here are the sunshine hours per day in Havana.
Havana - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January7215
February7205
March9275
April9275
May8.5260
June8235
July9275
August8.5260
September7.5225
October6.5195
November7.5220
December6.5195
Year7.82830

Havana

As mentioned, the sea in Cuba is warm enough for swimming all year round: in winter the water temperature near Havana is about 25 °C (77 °F).
Havana - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2577
February2576
March2577
April2679
May2781
June2983
July2985
August3086
September3085
October2883
November2781
December2679
Year27.381.1

South-east



In the south-east, winter is warmer than in the north-west, especially along the south coast (see Marea del Portillo, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo Bay, San Antonio del Sur), where there are summer-like temperatures even from December to February.

Santiago de Cuba


Climate chart - Santiago de Cuba

Santiago de Cuba is located on the sheltered southern coast. Every now and then, from December to March, there may be some days a bit cool, with low around 16/17 °C (61/63 °F) and highs of 24/25 °C (75/77 °F), and therefore not as low as in the north-west. Here are the average temperatures.
Santiago - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January212824.4698376
February202924.5698376
March212924.7698476.5
April222925.7728578.2
May233026.3738579.3
June243027.2758780.9
July243127.7758881.8
August243127.9768982.3
September243127.6758881.6
October243027758780.7
November233026.2738679.2
December212925.2718477.4
Year22.629.826.1572.785.779

Here is the average precipitation in Santiago de Cuba. We can notice the decrease in July (as happens in some Caribbean areas) and the dryness in winter (because, as mentioned, this area is sheltered from the winds coming from the United States, which are able to bring rainfall in winter).
Santiago - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January301.23
February170.72
March401.64
April702.86
May1505.910
June1305.111
July552.26
August953.79
September1505.911
October2158.514
November1003.97
December301.23
Year108042.686

On the southern coast, the sea in winter is a little warmer than in the north-west; in fact, the temperature does not drop below 26/27 °C (79/81 °F).
Santiago - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2680
February2679
March2679
April2780
May2882
June2983
July2984
August2985
September3085
October2984
November2883
December2781
Year27.982.2

Hurricanes



From June to November, it's the hurricane season in Cuba and the Caribbean. Tropical storms and cyclones usually come from the east, and affect Cuba especially in the eastern part. The period when they are most likely runs from August to October. Hurricanes are not frequent, but sometimes they can be destructive, bringing torrential rains and gale force winds, so this period is not recommended for those who want to be on the safe side, but for the rest, in this period the weather, though hot and humid and accompanied by showers and thunderstorms, all in all would be acceptable.
Some hurricanes that caused extensive damage to the island were: the «Cuba Hurricane» of November 1932, Hurricane Flora in October 1963, Georges in September 1998, Gustav in late August 2008, Ike in September 2008, Sandy in late October 2012, and Irma in September 2017.

Back to top

When to go and what to pack in Cuba

© Copyright Climatestotravel.com. 

Back to Caribbean

All the countries


Share this page:
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Whatsapp Email

 See also (cities or regions):

 Cayo Largo
 Varadero

 Nearby countries:

 Bahamas
 Cayman Islands
 Dominican Republic
 Haiti
 Jamaica
 Turks and Caicos
 United States

 Continents:
 Africa
 North America
 South America
 Antarctica
 Asia
 Caribbean
 Europe
 Middle East
 Oceania

 Search in the website:


Home About Contact Us Link Policy
Home
About
Contact Us
Link
Policy