Weather in the Caribbean

Most of the times planning a vacation meansusually means a short shower or downpour lasting
hoping for good weather. Even if you do not mindonly a half hour or so. Then the sun will reappear
rain or drizzle, it's not always fun sightseeing whenfor the rest of the day. If you have a vacation
the skies are cloudy and gray. There is oneplanned for one or more of the islands, a rainy
vacation spot, however, where you have aforecast will most likely not affect your daily plans.
better than average chance of having greatThe larger islands tend to be the wetter, with the
weather. The Caribbean islands are home toexception being Barbados, which does get more
some of the world's most beautiful beaches asrainfall than some of the other more mountainous
well as year round moderate temperatures.regions. Rainfall amounts range from dry and arid
The climate varies little throughout the year, within Aruba, with an average of 21 inches of rain per
warm tropical temperatures being the rule, alongyear, to tropical in Costa Rica, with an average of
with the accompanying high humidity. Countries in135" of rain per year. The others have varying
the southern ocean are generally cooler thanrainfall amounts within those ranges.
countries in the north. During the warmer summerThe major weather in the Caribbean issues are
months, they average around 82º F orthe hurricanes that occur every year. Hurricane
28º C. During the cooler times, you canseason officially runs from June 1 through
enjoy comfortable temperatures of aroundNovember 30, but within that range the storms
75º F or 24º C. In some areas withare more likely from August through October. But
higher elevations, expect them slightly coolerdon't let the threat of a hurricane stop you from
down to 50º F or 11º C.planning a getaway. It has been estimated that
The Caribbean is a tropical location, therefore rainvisitors have only a 2 to 3% chance of being
can be a major factor in the daily weather. Theaffected by a hurricane within a typical vacation
forecast will often call for rain every day, but thistime frame.