Turks and Caicos - The climate in short
The Turks and Caicos Islands, located east of Cuba and south of the Tropic of Cancer, have a tropical climate, hot all year round, with a hotter and muggy season from May to October and a relatively cool season from December to March.
The rains are not abundant, however, the rainiest period is from September to December.
From December to March, a cool wind from the United States can sometimes lower the temperature by a few degrees, so that the night minimum can drop below 20 °C (68 °F).
Summer is sultry, but the heat is tempered by the breeze.
The climate in detail
Grand Turk
In Cockburn Town, on the island of Grand Turk, the daily average
temperature is around 23.5 degrees Celsius (74.5 °F) in winter and 28 °C (82 °F) in summer. Here are the average temperatures.
Grand Turk - Average temperatures| Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|
| January | 20 | 27 | 23.5 | 68 | 81 | 74.3 |
|---|
| February | 20 | 27 | 23.5 | 68 | 81 | 74.3 |
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| March | 20 | 28 | 24 | 68 | 82 | 75.2 |
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| April | 21 | 29 | 25 | 70 | 84 | 77 |
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| May | 22 | 30 | 26 | 72 | 86 | 78.8 |
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| June | 23 | 31 | 27 | 73 | 88 | 80.6 |
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| July | 24 | 32 | 28 | 75 | 90 | 82.4 |
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| August | 24 | 32 | 28 | 75 | 90 | 82.4 |
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| September | 23 | 32 | 27.5 | 73 | 90 | 81.5 |
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| October | 23 | 31 | 27 | 73 | 88 | 80.6 |
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| November | 22 | 29 | 25.5 | 72 | 84 | 77.9 |
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| December | 21 | 27 | 24 | 70 | 81 | 75.2 |
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| Year | 21.9 | 29.6 | 25.7 | 71.5 | 85.3 | 78.5 |
|---|
Rainfall in Grand Turk amounts to only 725 millimeters (28.5 inches) a year. The rainy season, which usually goes from May and October in the rest of the Caribbean, here is shorter and moved forward, as mentioned from September to December, and it is not particularly intense: the rainiest month is November with 120 mm (4.7 in).
Here is the average precipitation.
Grand Turk - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
|---|
| January | 55 | 2.2 | 8 |
|---|
| February | 45 | 1.8 | 6 |
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| March | 35 | 1.4 | 7 |
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| April | 45 | 1.8 | 8 |
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| May | 45 | 1.8 | 11 |
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| June | 40 | 1.6 | 11 |
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| July | 35 | 1.4 | 11 |
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| August | 45 | 1.8 | 12 |
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| September | 70 | 2.8 | 13 |
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| October | 90 | 3.5 | 14 |
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| November | 120 | 4.7 | 10 |
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| December | 100 | 3.9 | 8 |
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| Year | 725 | 28.5 | 119 |
|---|
However, throughout the year and especially in summer, short rain showers can occur, which quickly give way to the sun. In fact, the amount of
sunshine is good all year round, as you can see in the following table.
Grand Turk - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
January | 7 | 215 | February | 7 | 200 | March | 7 | 215 | April | 8 | 240 | May | 7 | 215 | June | 7 | 210 | July | 8 | 250 | August | 8 | 250 | September | 7 | 210 | October | 7 | 215 | November | 6 | 180 | December | 6 | 185 | Year | 7.1 | 2590 |
Sea temperature
The
sea of Turks and Caicos is warm enough to swim in all year round, as you can see in the following table.
Grand Turk - Sea temperature| Month | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
|---|
January | 26 | 79 | February | 25.5 | 78 | March | 25.5 | 78 | April | 26 | 79 | May | 27 | 80 | June | 28 | 82 | July | 28.5 | 83 | August | 29 | 84 | September | 29 | 84 | October | 29 | 84 | November | 28 | 82 | December | 27 | 80 | Year | 27.4 | 81.3 |
Hurricanes
In the period from June to November, tropical depressions and
hurricanes can hit the Turks and Caicos Islands, as is typically the case in the Caribbean. However, hurricanes are more likely to occur in the period from August to October.
When to go
The best time to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands is
January to April, and April is probably the best month overall.
The period from May to October is the hottest and most humid, however, the rains are less abundant than in most of the Caribbean. August to October is the period when
hurricanes are most frequent.
The period from September to December is quite rainy, even though the rains occur mostly in the form of downpours or thunderstorms, and do not last long.
From December to March, some days can be a bit cool and breezy, but usually not to the point of disturbing those who are on the beach.
What to pack
From
December to April: pack light clothes, and a sweatshirt for the evening.
From
May to November: pack tropics-friendly, light clothing, and possibly a light sweatshirt and a light raincoat for thunderstorms.
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