The climate of the U.S. Virgin Islands is
tropical, hot all year round, with a relatively cooler period from December to March, with average highs around 29 °C (84 °F), and a hotter and sultry period from May to October, with highs around 31/32 °C (88/90 °F), during which, however, the heat is tempered by the breeze.
The U.S. Virgin Islands are an archipelago located east of Puerto Rico, in the group of the Lesser Antilles.
Here are the average
temperatures of
Charlotte Amalie, the capital.
Charlotte Amalie - Average temperatures (1991-2020) | Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|
| January | 23.1 | 28.9 | 26 | 74 | 84 | 78.8 |
|---|
| February | 23.1 | 29.1 | 26.1 | 74 | 84 | 79 |
|---|
| March | 23.2 | 29.2 | 26.2 | 74 | 85 | 79.2 |
|---|
| April | 24.2 | 29.8 | 27 | 76 | 86 | 80.6 |
|---|
| May | 25.3 | 30.7 | 28 | 78 | 87 | 82.4 |
|---|
| June | 26.3 | 31.6 | 29 | 79 | 89 | 84.1 |
|---|
| July | 26.3 | 32.1 | 29.2 | 79 | 90 | 84.6 |
|---|
| August | 26.4 | 32.1 | 29.2 | 80 | 90 | 84.6 |
|---|
| September | 26.4 | 31.8 | 29.1 | 80 | 89 | 84.4 |
|---|
| October | 25.7 | 31.3 | 28.5 | 78 | 88 | 83.3 |
|---|
| November | 24.8 | 30.3 | 27.6 | 77 | 87 | 81.6 |
|---|
| December | 23.8 | 29.6 | 26.7 | 75 | 85 | 80.1 |
|---|
| Year | 24.9 | 30.5 | 27.65 | 76.8 | 87 | 82 |
|---|
As regards to the
rainfall, there is a relatively dry season from January to April and a
rainy season from May to December, during which there's a relative decrease in precipitation in June and July. The least rainy months are February and March. Rainfall hovers around 1,000/1,200 millimeters (40/47 inches) per year and is generally slightly more abundant on the northern slopes of each island.
On the northernmost islands (Saint John and Saint Thomas, where Charlotte Amalie is located), the
relatively dry season runs from December to April, even though, during some years, there have been heavy rains also in December, from 200 to 400 mm (8 to 16 in), while on the island of Saint Croix, located more to the south, it runs from January to April.
Starting from May, precipitation increases, though there is often a relative decrease in June and July, followed by a recovery from August to November. Generally, the wettest period runs
from September to November.
Here is the average precipitation in Charlotte Amalie.
Charlotte Amalie - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
|---|
| January | 50 | 2 | 10 |
|---|
| February | 35 | 1.4 | 8 |
|---|
| March | 35 | 1.4 | 7 |
|---|
| April | 70 | 2.8 | 8 |
|---|
| May | 80 | 3.1 | 10 |
|---|
| June | 70 | 2.8 | 8 |
|---|
| July | 65 | 2.6 | 9 |
|---|
| August | 95 | 3.7 | 12 |
|---|
| September | 140 | 5.5 | 13 |
|---|
| October | 155 | 6.1 | 14 |
|---|
| November | 140 | 5.5 | 13 |
|---|
| December | 70 | 2.8 | 12 |
|---|
| Year | 1005 | 39.6 | 124 |
|---|
Apart from hurricanes, which can bring strong winds and torrential rains (see below), the weather is normally nice or variable, only interrupted by short showers and thunderstorms, which are more likely and more intense during the rainy season: so, the
sun shines for many hours throughout the year, as you can see in the following table.
Charlotte Amalie - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
January | 8 | 250 | February | 8 | 225 | March | 9 | 280 | April | 9 | 270 | May | 8 | 250 | June | 8 | 240 | July | 9 | 280 | August | 9 | 280 | September | 8 | 240 | October | 8 | 250 | November | 7 | 210 | December | 7 | 215 | Year | 8.2 | 2985 |
The
sea in the U.S. Virgin Islands is warm enough to swim in all year round: the water temperature is around 26 °C (79 °F) in February and March and around 29 °C (84 °F) in September and October, as can be seen in the following table.
Charlotte Amalie - Sea temperature| Month | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
|---|
January | 26 | 80 | February | 26 | 79 | March | 26 | 79 | April | 27 | 80 | May | 27 | 81 | June | 28 | 83 | July | 28 | 83 | August | 29 | 84 | September | 29 | 84 | October | 29 | 84 | November | 28 | 83 | December | 27 | 81 | Year | 27.6 | 81.7 |
Hurricanes
From June to November, here 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. In September 2017, the island of Saint Croix was hit in full force by Hurricane Maria.
Best Time
The best time to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands is
from December to April, since it is the least hot period of the year and outside of the hurricane period; in particular,
January, February and March are the driest months. December can still be a rainy month, especially on the southern island of Saint Croix.
In April, there is a certain increase in temperature, and during some years, also in the intensity of thunderstorms, but overall, it's still an acceptable month, and in many cases, it is good.
In summer, June and July are generally not as rainy as August and September, and have also a lower risk of tropical storms and hurricanes, which, as mentioned, are most likely between August and October, that is, when the sea is warmer and has more energy to provide.
What to pack
From December to April: pack light clothes, and possibly a scarf for the breeze and a sweatshirt for the evening.
From May to November: pack lightweight clothing, and possibly a light sweatshirt and a light raincoat for thunderstorms; a sweatshirt and a pashmina for airconditioned places.