Average weather, temperature, rainfall, when to go, what to pack
In Curaçao the climate is
tropical, hot all year round, with daytime temperatures ranging from around 28/29 degrees Celsius (82/84 °F) in December, January and February, to around 31 °C (88 °F) from May to October. The period from May to October is the most sultry, but the trade winds blow constantly, tempering the heat.
Curaçao is an island, and like the neighbouring islands of
Bonaire and
Aruba, it's part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Here are the average temperatures of the capital Willemstad.
Willemstad - Average temperatures| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|
| Min (°C) | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
|---|
| Max (°C) | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 |
|---|
| Min (°F) | 75 | 75 | 77 | 77 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 77 |
|---|
| Max (°F) | 82 | 84 | 86 | 86 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 86 | 84 |
|---|
The climate is
sunny and dry, so that about 550 millimetres (21.6 inches) of rain fall per year. The only relatively rainy period goes from October to December, when, however, precipitation does not go beyond 80/100 mm (3.1/4 in) per month. From November to January or mid-February, the northeast trade winds bring showers quite frequently, although usually not abundant.
Here is the average precipitation.
Willemstad - Average precipitation| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|
| Prec.(mm) | 45 | 25 | 14 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 40 | 42 | 49 | 84 | 97 | 100 | 555 |
|---|
| Prec.(in) | 1.8 | 1 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 21.9 |
|---|
| Days | 9 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 70 |
|---|
Curaçao is an almost entirely flat island: its highest point is located at 375 metres (1,200 feet) above sea level.
The amount of
sunshine is good all year round, as can be seen in the following table.
Willemstad - Sunshine| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|
| Hours | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
|---|
The
sea in Curaçao is warm enough to swim in throughout the year: the water temperature goes from 26 °C (79 °F) in February and March, to 29 °C (84 °F) in September and October. Here are the average sea temperatures.
Curaçao - Sea temperature| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|
| Temp (°C) | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
|---|
| Temp (°F) | 81 | 79 | 79 | 81 | 81 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 84 | 84 | 82 | 81 |
|---|
Hurricanes
From June to November, but especially from August to October, there is the danger of
tropical storms and hurricanes, which, however, are rare in Curaçao and the Leeward Antilles because of their southern location. However, sometimes hurricanes can also reach this island, as happened with Hurricane Irene in September 1971, Joan in October 1988, Bret (tropical storm) in August 1993, Ivan in September 2004, and Felix in September 2007.
When to go
The best time to visit Curaçao runs from
mid-February to May. The period from October to December (and sometimes even January and the first half of February) is quite rainy.
What to pack
All year round: light, loose fitting clothes, possibly a light raincoat for thunderstorms, especially from October to January. Those who are sensitive to cold can bring a light sweatshirt for the evening.
When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.