| Caribbean weather attracts vacationers because | | | | On average: |
| of year-round sunny weather, mild temperatures | | | | - June has one tropical storm develop every |
| and cooling breezes. But the rain determines the | | | | other year. |
| best time to go. | | | | - July has two tropical storms; one becomes a |
| The average high temperature for most | | | | hurricane every other year. |
| Caribbean destinations ranges from the low 80s | | | | - August has three tropical storms and two |
| Fahrenheit during the winter months to the mid- | | | | become hurricanes. |
| to upper-80s Fahrenheit during the summer, | | | | - In September, four tropical storms develop and |
| according to the World Meteorological Organization. | | | | two become hurricanes. |
| While temperatures are consistent, rainfall varies | | | | - October sees two tropical storms, one of which |
| greatly from one destination to another. The | | | | becomes a hurricane. |
| island of Aruba has an arid landscape with a peak | | | | - November has less than one storm every other |
| rainfall in November of about 3 inches compared | | | | year. |
| to a peak of nearly 15 inches for Dominica. | | | | Despite the hurricane history, vacationers who |
| Rainfall increases in frequency and duration in the | | | | spend a week or more at a Caribbean destination |
| months of June through November because of | | | | face a low risk of a storm or hurricane crossing |
| hurricane season. The high point for rain during | | | | over their location. But island rainfall increases |
| that season is September and October, which are | | | | during the fall months for most destinations |
| the months with the fewest visitors to most | | | | because of the regional impact of storms and |
| Caribbean destinations. | | | | hurricanes. Cruise visitors face lower risk of storm |
| The Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and North Atlantic | | | | impact because ships sometimes can steer away |
| face an average of 11 tropical cyclones (storms | | | | from bad weather. |
| or storms that develop into hurricanes) each year, | | | | Vacationers find that the Caribbean weather |
| according to the National Hurricane Center at the | | | | months with the most sunshine, lowest rainfall and |
| National Weather Service. But individual | | | | fewest chances of a tropical storm are spring to |
| destinations often avoid the worst of them | | | | early summer. The riskiest months to go are |
| because they lie outside the direct paths of most | | | | September and October, with November being a |
| storms. | | | | close third. |