The climate of Cayenne is
tropical, hot and humid throughout the year, with a relatively dry, slightly warmer season from July to November and a rainy season from December to June, during which the rains are very abundant, at monsoon level. Sometimes, in February or March, there can be a period of fairly good weather for one or two weeks, "the short summer of March".
The city is the capital of French Guiana and is located in the central part of the coast, at almost 5 degrees north latitude, between the mouths of the rivers Cayenne to the north and Mahury to the south, where the port of Dégrad des Cannes is located.
Off the city are some small islands, although the more famous Devil's Island is further north, off the city of Kourou.
Since the dry season is short and not very pronounced, the area around the city, and French Guiana in general, is covered by rainforest. However, the driest months are September and October.
From January to April, the north-east trade winds blow at a moderate intensity, while from June to August, the wind is weaker.
Cayenne - Climate data
The
average temperature of the coldest months (January, February) is of 26.4 °C (79.5 °F), that of the warmest months (September, October) is of 27.4 °C (81.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Cayenne - Average temperatures (1991-2020) Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
---|
January | 23.4 | 29.4 | 26.4 | 74 | 85 | 79.5 |
---|
February | 23.5 | 29.3 | 26.4 | 74 | 85 | 79.5 |
---|
March | 23.7 | 29.8 | 26.8 | 75 | 86 | 80.2 |
---|
April | 23.8 | 30 | 26.9 | 75 | 86 | 80.4 |
---|
May | 23.6 | 30.1 | 26.8 | 74 | 86 | 80.3 |
---|
June | 23 | 30.5 | 26.8 | 73 | 87 | 80.2 |
---|
July | 22.5 | 31.1 | 26.8 | 72 | 88 | 80.2 |
---|
August | 22.5 | 31.8 | 27.2 | 72 | 89 | 80.9 |
---|
September | 22.5 | 32.4 | 27.4 | 72 | 90 | 81.4 |
---|
October | 22.4 | 32.5 | 27.4 | 72 | 90 | 81.4 |
---|
November | 22.7 | 31.7 | 27.2 | 73 | 89 | 81 |
---|
December | 23.1 | 30.3 | 26.7 | 74 | 87 | 80.1 |
---|
Year | 23.1 | 30.7 | 26.85 | 73.5 | 87.3 | 80.5 |
---|
Precipitation amounts to 3350 millimeters (131.9 inches) per year: it is therefore very abundant. It ranges from 55 mm (2.2 in) in the driest month (October) to 580 mm (22.8 in) in the wettest one (May). Here is the average precipitation.
Cayenne - Average precipitationMonth | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
---|
January | 350 | 13.8 | 25 |
---|
February | 330 | 13 | 22 |
---|
March | 290 | 11.4 | 22 |
---|
April | 415 | 16.3 | 23 |
---|
May | 580 | 22.8 | 27 |
---|
June | 395 | 15.6 | 25 |
---|
July | 265 | 10.4 | 21 |
---|
August | 135 | 5.3 | 14 |
---|
September | 60 | 2.4 | 7 |
---|
October | 55 | 2.2 | 7 |
---|
November | 140 | 5.5 | 13 |
---|
December | 335 | 13.2 | 23 |
---|
Year | 3350 | 131.9 | 229 |
---|
The
sea temperature ranges from 27 °C (81 °F) in January, February to 28.5 °C (83 °F) in June, July, August, September. Here are the average sea temperatures.
Cayenne - Sea temperatureMonth | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
---|
January | 27 | 81 | February | 27 | 81 | March | 27.5 | 81 | April | 27.5 | 82 | May | 28 | 82 | June | 28.5 | 83 | July | 28.5 | 83 | August | 28.5 | 83 | September | 28.5 | 83 | October | 28 | 83 | November | 28 | 82 | December | 27.5 | 82 | Year | 27.9 | 82.2 |
There are on average around 2005
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Cayenne - Sunshine hoursMonth | Average | Total |
---|
January | 3 | 95 | February | 3.5 | 95 | March | 4 | 120 | April | 4 | 125 | May | 4 | 120 | June | 5 | 150 | July | 6.5 | 200 | August | 7.5 | 235 | September | 8.5 | 255 | October | 8.5 | 255 | November | 7 | 210 | December | 4.5 | 145 | Year | 5.5 | 2005 |
Cayenne - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
January, the least warm month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 26.4 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 23.4 °C (74.1 °F) and a maximum of 29.4 °C (84.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it dropped to 18.6 °C (65.5 °F) in January 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 32.5 °C (90.5 °F) in January 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 350 mm (13.8 in), distributed over 25 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 26% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 27 °C (81 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
February, the least warm month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 26.4 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 23.5 °C (74.3 °F) and a maximum of 29.3 °C (84.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it dropped to 19.7 °C (67.5 °F) in February 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 32.3 °C (90.1 °F) in February 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 330 mm (13 in), distributed over 22 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 27 °C (81 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
March is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 26.8 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 23.7 °C (74.7 °F) and a maximum of 29.8 °C (85.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it dropped to 19.5 °C (67.1 °F) in March 2017.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 32.2 °C (90 °F) in March 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 290 mm (11.4 in), distributed over 22 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 27.5 °C (81.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
April is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 26.9 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 23.8 °C (74.8 °F) and a maximum of 30 °C (86 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it dropped to 20.7 °C (69.3 °F) in April 2018.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 33 °C (91.4 °F) in April 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 415 mm (16.3 in), distributed over 23 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 27.5 °C (82 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
May is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 26.8 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) and a maximum of 30.1 °C (86.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it dropped to 20.2 °C (68.4 °F) in May 2016.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (89.5 °F). However, it reached 33.7 °C (92.7 °F) in May 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 580 mm (22.8 in), distributed over 27 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28 °C (82.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
June is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 26.8 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 23 °C (73.4 °F) and a maximum of 30.5 °C (86.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 21.5 °C (71 °F). However, it dropped to 20.7 °C (69.3 °F) in June 2014.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 33.7 °C (92.7 °F) in June 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 395 mm (15.6 in), distributed over 25 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28.5 °C (83 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
July is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 26.8 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) and a maximum of 31.1 °C (88 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it dropped to 20.2 °C (68.4 °F) in July 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 33.9 °C (93 °F) in July 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 265 mm (10.4 in), distributed over 21 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28.5 °C (83 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
August is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 27.2 °C (81 °F), with a minimum of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) and a maximum of 31.8 °C (89.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it dropped to 20 °C (68 °F) in August 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 34.2 °C (93.6 °F) in August 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 135 mm (5.3 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28.5 °C (83 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
September, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 27.4 °C (81 °F), with a minimum of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) and a maximum of 32.4 °C (90.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it dropped to 19.5 °C (67.1 °F) in September 2016.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 35.2 °C (95.4 °F) in September 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28.5 °C (83 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
October, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 27.4 °C (81 °F), with a minimum of 22.4 °C (72.3 °F) and a maximum of 32.5 °C (90.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C (69.5 °F). However, it dropped to 19.9 °C (67.8 °F) in October 1998.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 35.1 °C (95.2 °F) in October 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28 °C (83 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
November is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 27.2 °C (81 °F), with a minimum of 22.7 °C (72.9 °F) and a maximum of 31.7 °C (89.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C (69.5 °F). However, it dropped to 19.4 °C (66.9 °F) in November 2018.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F). However, it reached 34.2 °C (93.6 °F) in November 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 140 mm (5.5 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28 °C (82.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
December is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 26.7 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 23.1 °C (73.6 °F) and a maximum of 30.3 °C (86.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it dropped to 19.4 °C (66.9 °F) in December 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (89.5 °F). However, it reached 34.1 °C (93.4 °F) in December 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 335 mm (13.2 in), distributed over 23 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 27.5 °C (81.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.