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Climate - Jamaica


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, when to go, what to pack

Flag - Jamaica

Map - Jamaica


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Climate chart - Kingston

In Jamaica, a Caribbean country located south of Cuba, at 18 degrees north latitude, the climate is tropical, hot all year round, with a relatively cool season from December to March and a hot, muggy and rainy season from late April to October.
Here are the average temperatures in Kingston, the capital, located on the south coast.
Kingston - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January233126.9738880.4
February233126.8738880.2
March233127738880.7
April243227.8758982
May253228.4778983
June263329.2789184.6
July263329.5789285.1
August263329.4789285
September253329.2789184.6
October253228.7779083.6
November243228.2769082.7
December233227.4748981.4
Year24.332.128.1575.889.882.5

Rainfall mainly occurs in the form of downpours or thunderstorms. In almost all of Jamaica, except on the west coast (see Negril), in July there is a relative lull in precipitation, and in any case, there are two peaks in May and October, that is, at the beginning and the end of the period.
The rain pattern is also due to the north-east trade winds, which are typical of the Tropics, and blow from November to March. Along the northern coast of Jamaica, rainfall ranges between 1,200 and 1,800 millimeters (47 and 70 inches) per year.
The southern coasts and plains are not as rainy as the northern slopes because they are sheltered from the trade winds, either by the Blue Mountains or by the hills of the west-central part of the country. These elevations receive a lot of rainfall and are covered with forests (especially the Blue Mountains in the east and the southern part of the Trelawny Parish in the west).
Therefore, the capital, Kingston, is not very rainy, in fact it receives about 800 mm (31.5 in) of rain per year; the Pedro Plains, in the west, receive little rainfall as well, around 800 millimeters (31.5 inches) per year.
Here is the average precipitation in Kingston.
Kingston - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January200.85
February200.85
March200.85
April401.67
May1003.98
June7537
July401.66
August1003.99
September1154.511
October1756.914
November652.610
December451.86
Year81532.193

The amount of sunshine in Kingston is good even during the rainy season (when there are still around 8 hours of sunshine per day).
Kingston - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January7.5225
February7.5210
March8240
April7.5230
May7.5230
June8235
July8.5265
August8255
September8235
October7.5230
November7.5225
December7.5225
Year7.72810

As mentioned, on the north coast, exposed to the northeast trade wind, the rainfall pattern is quite different. Here, there is even a peak in the first months when the trade winds blow, that is, in November and December, when the sea retains the heat of the summer. Here is the average precipitation in Ocho Rios.
Ocho Rios - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1505.97
February1204.76
March7536
April1104.37
May1656.512
June1104.312
July803.113
August1003.913
September1204.714
October1907.516
November2509.810
December2058.18
Year167565.9124

From December to March, sometimes the island is affected by the Norte, a cool wind from the United States, which, however, at this latitude does not lower the temperature too much; in fact, it can bring at most a bit of cool weather in the evening and at night.

Jamaica

The sea in Jamaica is warm enough for swimming all year round, since it ranges from 27 °C (81 °F) in February and March to 29 °C (84 °F) between August and November.
Kingston - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2781
February2780
March2781
April2882
May2882
June2883
July2983
August2984
September2985
October2984
November2984
December2882
Year28.282.7

Hurricanes



Like the rest of the Caribbean, in the period from June to November, Jamaica can be affected by hurricanes, the tropical cyclones of the Atlantic Ocean, which, however, are more likely between August and October. Some hurricanes that hit Jamaica in full force, causing great damage, were: the «Jamaica hurricane» of August 1903, Hurricane Charlie in August 1951, Ivan in September 2004, and Dennis in July 2005.

Best Time



The best time to visit Jamaica as a whole, whether you intend to visit cities and go on excursions, or to swim and sunbathe, runs from January to April. In fact, it is the driest and coolest period. The least rainy months are February and March, while December is still quite rainy in the easternmost region and on the northern slopes of the Blue Mountains (otherwise, in the south December would be fine as well).
In summer, and in general during the rainy season, the heat is sweltering and annoying, but the breeze blows and the sun shines for a few hours per day; in addition, in Kingston and on the southern coast, in July it usually does not rain much, so if you want to choose the summer, you can go in this month, also because the risk of hurricanes is lower than in August.

What to pack



From November to April: bring light clothes, sun hat, sunscreen, but also a sweatshirt for the evening. For the mountains, bring a jacket and hiking boots.
From May to October, bring tropics-friendly, lightweight clothing, and possibly a light sweatshirt and a light raincoat for thunderstorms. Sun hat and sunscreen can be useful too. For the mountains you can add a sweatshirt or sweater.



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