Climate of Saint Lucia in January
January is an ideal time to visit Saint Lucia. Visitors can expect an average of eight hours of sunshine during the day and cooler temperatures at night.
The island of Saint Lucia is a lush, mountainous volcanic island located very close to the equator. To give you an idea of how close, the equator is at zero degrees latitude and St. Lucia is at 20 degrees latitude.
The average temperature in January will be in the 70s in the morning, rise to 80 degrees in the afternoon, and then drop to around 75 degrees at night. Although this is not the rainy season, you may experience light showers that usually don’t last long. The northeast trade winds off the coast of Africa also pick up during this month, bringing cooling breezes to the beaches and across the island.
Saint Lucia is one of the Windward Islands, and the closest neighboring islands are Martinique, Saint Vincent, and Barbados. In fact, both Martinique and Saint Vincent are visible on a clear day. Saint Lucia is located on the eastern side of the Caribbean Sea, but it also borders the Atlantic Ocean.
The island falls at a perpendicular angle to the Caribbean Sea, making the water much darker than other Caribbean islands. As a volcanic island, the beaches are particularly unique, ranging from coarse black sand to soft white sand, and all color variations from gold, beige, and brown. Travelers are advised to wear plenty of sunscreen, even on days when it appears cloudy. Being so close to the equator, coupled with the cooling breezes from the trade winds, you can get sunburned very quickly. The black sand beaches keep you warm during the day, and wearing beach shoes will make walking easier and protect your feet.
There is a definite climatic variation in different regions of the island. Coastal areas will normally be very pleasant during the day with cooling breezes from the trade winds. However, the rainforest area in the interior of the island will be very hot and humid. St. Lucia is one of the more mountainous islands in the region, and travelers looking to hike the Piton Mountains should be aware that temperatures can drop quickly; definitely bring a light jacket or sweater.
In general, January in Saint Lucia will be quite pleasant with lots of sun, little rain and always a breeze.
