Average weather, temperature, rainfall, when to go, what to pack
The climate of Saint Martin is
tropical, hot and sunny all year round: the average daily temperature ranges from 25 °C (77 °F) in the coolest period, between January and March, to 28 °C (82 °F) in the hottest and most humid period, between June and October.
Here are the average temperatures of the capital, Marigot.
Marigot - Average temperatures| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|
| Min (°C) | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 |
|---|
| Max (°C) | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 |
|---|
| Min (°F) | 72 | 72 | 73 | 73 | 75 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 79 | 77 | 75 | 73 |
|---|
| Max (°F) | 82 | 81 | 82 | 82 | 84 | 86 | 86 | 88 | 88 | 86 | 84 | 82 |
|---|
Saint Martin is an island of the Lesser Antilles, divided administratively between France and the Netherlands: here we are dealing with the French part, which is located on the northern side (on the Dutch side we find instead
Sint Maarten).
Usually, the
rainfall in Saint Martin is not very abundant, since it amounts to around 1,000 millimeters (40 inches) per year; February and March are the driest months, with 45/50 mm (1.8/2 in) of rain per month. The rains, which occur in the form of downpour or thunderstorm, are quite irregular, however, they usually increase from August to November.
Here is the average precipitation.
Marigot - Average precipitation| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|
| Prec.(mm) | 75 | 50 | 45 | 80 | 100 | 70 | 85 | 115 | 120 | 100 | 115 | 90 | 1045 |
|---|
| Prec.(in) | 3 | 2 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 41.1 |
|---|
| Days | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 122 |
|---|
The amount of
sunshine is good all year round, at least along the coasts, as can be seen in the following table.
Marigot - Sunshine| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|
| Hours | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
|---|
In Saint Martin, the
sea is warm enough for swimming all year round, although it is a bit warmer in the summer months, as we can see in the following table.
Saint Martin - Sea temperature| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|
| Temp (°C) | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
|---|
| Temp (°F) | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 81 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 84 | 84 | 82 | 81 |
|---|
Hurricanes
In the period from June to November (but more likely from August to October), the island can be hit by tropical storms and
hurricanes.
Best Time
The best time to visit the island that includes Saint Martin is from
December to April, and in particular the months of February and March, which are the least rainy months. In May, both temperature and moisture increase, but the rains are not yet too abundant, and the hurricane season has not yet begun. In summer, June and July are not as rainy as August and September, and have also a lower risk of hurricanes.
What to pack
All year round: bring light clothes of natural fabric, possibly a light sweatshirt and a light raincoat for thunderstorms, especially from August to November; a light sweatshirt for the evening from December to March.
When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.