Climate in Saint Kitts And Nevis

The climate in St. Kitts and Nevis is tropical, hot and humid all year round, with a relatively cool, dry season from January to mid-April and a hot, humid and rainy season from mid-June to mid-November.
In the former period, the northeast trade winds, constant winds typical of tropical climates, blow steadily and with moderate intensity, while in the latter period, these winds are more irregular, and may have some pauses, increasing the feeling of sultriness. Between them, there are two transitional periods: from mid November to early January (when the northeast wind starts to blow, the temperature decreases a bit and the weather improves) and from mid-April to Mid-June (when both the temperature and the frequency of downpours gradually increase).
Saint Kitts and Nevis is a state located in the group of the Lesser Antilles, and formed by the two islands of the same name.
On each of the two islands, there is a volcano: Mount Liamuiga, formerly Mount Misery, 1,156 meters (3,793 feet) high, and Nevis Peak, 985 meters (3,232 feet) high. On the slopes, the climate is very humid, with more abundant rainfall than on the coast, so much so that above 900 meters (3,000 feet), the vegetation is lush and made up of cloud forests.

The climate in detail

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• Temperature and rain - Basseterre
• Sea temperature
• Hurricanes
• When to go
• What to pack

Temperature and rain

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In the capital, Basseterre, located on the island of Saint Kitts, the daily average temperature ranges from around 25.5 degrees Celsius (77 °F) in January and February, which are the coolest months, to around 28 °C (82 °F) between June and October, which is the hottest period.

In Basseterre, rainfall amounts to about 1,150 millimeters (45 inches) per year. The rainiest period, when precipitation exceeds 100 mm (4 in) per month, runs from July to December, while the driest runs from January to April, when rainfall does not exceed 70 mm (2.8 in) per month.

The rains, as is normally the case in countries having a tropical climate, occur primarily in the form of downpours or thunderstorms, so they do not reduce too much the hours of sunshine. The rains are also quite irregular, which means that there may be periods without rainfall in every month of the year, but also periods of heavy rains for several consecutive days (more likely in the hot and rainy period).
In fact, the amount of sunshine is good all year round, at least along the coasts.

Sea temperature

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The sea in Saint Kitts and Nevis is warm enough for swimming all year round, in fact the water temperature ranges from around 26 °C (79 °F) in January and February, to 29 °C (84 °F) in September and October.

Hurricanes

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From June to November, in St. Kitts and Nevis, as in the whole area of the West Indies, there is the danger of tropical storms and hurricanes, with greater probability from August to October.

When to go

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The best time to visit Saint Kitts and Nevis is from December to April, since it is the least hot period of the year, and also outside the hurricane season. Within this period, the period from February to April stands out as the driest.
In the summer months, the weather is hot and sultry, and thunderstorms are more common, although they rarely lead to very heavy rains. However, in August and September, there's a greater chance of heavy rains than in June and July, and also a greater chance of hurricanes.

What to pack

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From December to April: bring light clothing, and a light sweatshirt for the evening.
From May to November: bring lightweight clothing, and possibly a light sweatshirt and a light raincoat for thunderstorms.

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