Weather and Climate in Lesser Antilles

The wind direction of the northeast trade wind ensures a humid climate and annual precipitation over 2,000 mm. The Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles have a tropical climate. This means that temperatures hardly change over the course of the year. In the course of the year, the dry and rainy seasons on Guadeloupe are to be separated from each other. The dry season is from December to June with the northeast trade wind blowing constantly. However, precipitation can also be expected from time to time during the dry season. However, these become stronger as the northeast trade wind subsides. Rainy season prevails from July through November and coincides with the hurricane season. During the rainy season, there can be very heavy rainfall, especially in the up to 1,450 m high mountains. In the west of Guadeloupe there is significantly more rain than on the eastern island of Grande Terre. With its warm climate, Guadeloupe is a year-round travel destination. In winter (December to February) the evenings are pleasantly mild. The driest months are between February and April with an average of seven days of rain per month. This moderate period is also the peak of the tourist season. Beach vacation is in Guadeloupe always possible, as the water temperatures hardly fall below 25 degrees Celsius. Other outdoor activities such as trekking tours inland should rather take place in the dry season, otherwise heavy rainfall could make activities impossible. However, the precipitation seldom comes down as continuous rain, but rather as short tropical showers. Most of the cultural events take place in spring and summer. The Fête des Cuisinières is a colorful event at the beginning of August, when women in Creole clothes parading through the streets to the cathedral, where they are blessed by the bishop. Due to its proximity to the equator, it is relatively hot on St Lucia, but the northeast trade winds soften the heat. The individual regions are on St. Lucia characterized by different climatic conditions: On the coast, cooling winds ensure lower humidity and refreshment and make the high temperatures more bearable. In the rainforest in the interior of the island there is always high humidity, in the mountains it is cooler than in lower areas of the island. Due to the mountains on the island, which are around 1,000 m high, it rains all year round on St. Lucia. However, most of the precipitation falls from July to November. But even then the sun shines again and again between the heavy, tropical showers. The best weather to travel to on the west coast of St. Lucia is from December to March when it doesn’t rain that often. But this is also the tourist high season with a correspondingly large number of tourists and high prices. After mid-April, many prices drop by up to 50%. St. Lucia is ideal for beach holidays and water sports, especially outside the hurricane season, which lasts from June to November. Deep sea fishing, snorkeling, diving or water skiing is therefore possible in the months of December to May. For sailors, the months April to June are recommended because the anchorages are not so overcrowded. The drier time is very suitable for trekking tours in the rainforest, but the humidity is still high. In the higher elevations it can get so cold at this time that you need a jacket. The July Carnival is not yet overrun with visitors like it is on other Caribbean islands and is an excellent way to get to know the culture in St Lucia. By the high elevation of the Soufrière volcano (1,234 m) on St. Vincent, there is significantly higher rainfall than on the flatter neighboring islands. El are small climatic differences between the islands – the Grenadines to the south are a bit drier and warmer than St. Vincent. Nevertheless, the trade winds ensure that it is generally cooler on the islands than on the other Caribbean islands. The dry season on St. Vincent is from January to May. The more than 30 islands offer excellent conditions for a beach holiday, especially in the drier season, i.e. from January to May. But all other water sports, especially diving and snorkeling, are also possible during this time. The constantly blowing breeze delights surfers and sailors. Nevertheless, you have to expect precipitation at all times, especially on tours inland and on the volcano. Due to the enormous amount of precipitation during the rainy season, it is not advisable to go on excursions in the months of June to September, the humidity is then very high in the mountains and some paths are impassable. In addition, St. Vincent and the Grenadines are also in the hurricane belt, which – albeit rarely – can occur from late June to November. Still, the wetter months can be nice too.

Average daytime temperature

Region

Jan

Feb

March

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Anguilla

28 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

30 ° C

31 ° C

30 ° C

30 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

30 ° C

29 ° C

Antigua

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

29 ° C

30 ° C

30 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

Barbados

28 ° C

28 ° C

29 ° C

30 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

30 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

30 ° C

29 ° C

28 ° C

Brit. Virgin Islands

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

30 ° C

30 ° C

30 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

30 ° C

29 ° C

Dominica

29 ° C

29 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

32 ° C

32 ° C

32 ° C

32 ° C

32 ° C

32 ° C

31 ° C

30 ° C

Grenada

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

30 ° C

30 ° C

29 ° C

28 ° C

Guadeloupe

28 ° C

28 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

30 ° C

30 ° C

30 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

30 ° C

30 ° C

29 ° C

Martinique

28 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

30 ° C

31 ° C

30 ° C

30 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

30 ° C

29 ° C

Netherlands Antilles

28 ° C

28 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

30 ° C

30 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

30 ° C

30 ° C

29 ° C

St. Kitts & Nevis

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

29 ° C

30 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

30 ° C

28 ° C

St. Lucia

28 ° C

28 ° C

29 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

31 ° C

29 ° C

28 ° C

St. Vincent

28 ° C

28 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

28 ° C

Average night temperature

Region

Jan

Feb

March

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Anguilla

21 ° C

21 ° C

21 ° C

22 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

22 ° C

22 ° C

Antigua

21 ° C

21 ° C

21 ° C

22 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

24 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

22 ° C

22 ° C

Barbados

21 ° C

21 ° C

21 ° C

22 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

22 ° C

Brit. Virgin Islands

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

24 ° C

24 ° C

25 ° C

25 ° C

25 ° C

24 ° C

24 ° C

Dominica

20 ° C

19 ° C

20 ° C

21 ° C

22 ° C

23 ° C

22 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

22 ° C

22 ° C

21 ° C

Grenada

22 ° C

22 ° C

22 ° C

23 ° C

24 ° C

24 ° C

24 ° C

24 ° C

24 ° C

24 ° C

24 ° C

23 ° C

Guadeloupe

19 ° C

19 ° C

19 ° C

21 ° C

22 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

22 ° C

21 ° C

20 ° C

Martinique

21 ° C

21 ° C

21 ° C

21 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

22 ° C

22 ° C

Netherlands Antilles

22 ° C

22 ° C

22 ° C

23 ° C

24 ° C

25 ° C

25 ° C

25 ° C

25 ° C

25 ° C

24 ° C

23 ° C

St. Kitts & Nevis

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

24 ° C

24 ° C

25 ° C

25 ° C

25 ° C

25 ° C

25 ° C

24 ° C

23 ° C

St. Lucia

21 ° C

21 ° C

21 ° C

22 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

22 ° C

22 ° C

21 ° C

St. Vincent

22 ° C

22 ° C

22 ° C

22 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

23 ° C

22 ° C

Average water temperature

Region

Jan

Feb

March

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Anguilla

26 ° C

25 ° C

26 ° C

26 ° C

27 ° C

27 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

27 ° C

26 ° C

Antigua

26 ° C

25 ° C

26 ° C

26 ° C

27 ° C

27 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

27 ° C

27 ° C

Barbados

26 ° C

25 ° C

25 ° C

26 ° C

27 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

27 ° C

Brit. Virgin Islands

27 ° C

27 ° C

27 ° C

27 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

29 ° C

28 ° C

Grenada

26 ° C

25 ° C

25 ° C

26 ° C

27 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

27 ° C

Guadeloupe

26 ° C

25 ° C

26 ° C

26 ° C

27 ° C

27 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

27 ° C

27 ° C

Martinique

26 ° C

25 ° C

26 ° C

26 ° C

27 ° C

27 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

27 ° C

27 ° C

Netherlands Antilles

25 ° C

25 ° C

25 ° C

25 ° C

26 ° C

27 ° C

27 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

27 ° C

26 ° C

St. Lucia

26 ° C

25 ° C

26 ° C

26 ° C

27 ° C

27 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

27 ° C

27 ° C

St. Vincent

26 ° C

26 ° C

26 ° C

27 ° C

27 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

29 ° C

28 ° C

28 ° C

27 ° C

Average hours of sunshine / day

Region	Jan	Feb	March	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Anguilla	8	8	8	8	8	7	7	8	7	7	7	7
Antigua	7	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	7	7	7	7
Barbados	8	9	9	9	9	8	9	9	8	7	8	8
Brit. Virgin Islands	8	9	9	9	8	8	8	8	8	8	7	8
Dominica	6	7	7	8	8	8	8	8	7	7	7	6
Grenada	7	8	8	8	8	7	6	7	7	7	6	6
Guadeloupe	7	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	7	7	7	7
Martinique	8	8	8	8	8	7	7	8	7	7	7	7
Netherlands Antilles	8	8	9	9	8	8	8	9	8	8	8	8
St. Lucia	8	8	8	8	8	7	7	8	7	7	7	7
St. Vincent	8	8	9	8	7	7	7	7	8	8	7	7

Average rainy days / month

Region	Jan	Feb	March	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Anguilla	21	17	18	19	21	24	27	25	23	23	22	23
Antigua	15	12	11	10	11	12	15	15	15	16	14	16
Barbados	13	8	8	7	9	14	18	16	15	15	16	14
Brit. Virgin Islands	15	12	10	10	12	13	14	14	15	16	16	14
Dominica	11	9	8	7	10	13	14	14	13	11	11	12
Grenada	16	10	11	9	11	19	19	19	16	15	19	15
Guadeloupe	15	11	10	11	14	14	17	17	17	18	17	16
Martinique	19	15	15	13	18	21	22	22	29	19	20	19
Netherlands Antilles	11	9	8	8	11	10	12	14	13	14	14	13
St. Kitts & Nevis	8	7	6	6	6	9	11	13	13	13	14	8
St. Lucia	18	13	13	10	16	21	23	22	21	19	20	19
St. Vincent	10	9	7	8	9	12	15	15	15	13	13	11