Jamaica’s weather conditions are unbelievably beautiful, it’s no wonder why the island is a year-round vacation paradise. Typical temperatures in winter range from 22-31°C and in summer from 29-34°C maximum, making Jamaica ideal for the occasion. Even though you choose to vacation on the island, there will be warm tropical temperatures waiting for you.
There is no significant difference in temperature across the different sections of the island; but it differs somewhat in the amounts of rain. Hilly areas tend to receive much more rainfall compared to flat ones. As a result, places like Port Antonio and other cities near the Blue and John Crow Mountains experience high rainfall. The southern side of the island receives the least amount of rain but in good measure.
Predicting local Jamaican weather conditions for towns and cities has proven quite a challenge for meteorologists. This is notable as within a 40 mile radius there could be numerous scattered showers. Average annual precipitation is about 50.5 inches; accumulation varies appreciably throughout the island. In general, the rains are short, strong and followed by sunshine. The austral period is between November and April. The rainy season is from May to October, but it is still dry enough for a great vacation.
Jamaica was located within the Caribbean hurricane belt. This may sound scary, but don’t be horrified. The hurricane period is between June and November, which brings a lot of unwanted notice to this area each year. However, due to its position, Jamaica has been very fortunate not to be hit by hurricanes frequently. Storms form most frequently between the eastern Caribbean coast and the west African coast. These climatic disturbances have the tendency to walk in a northwesterly direction. Jamaica is located at the western end of the Caribbean Sea. Fortunately, by the time the storms approach, they are already too far north to pose serious problems. Another important factor is also the size of Jamaica. The smaller the target, the harder it is to hit. This is evident in the many times that Cuba and Florida have suffered. The most recent direct hit Jamaica had was Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 and the previous one was Hurricane Charley in 1951. Another reason not to panic is that with the current technology available there is ample warning if there is any significant development. I can assure you that there will be plenty of time to get off the road safely.
