Jamaica Weather Conditions
Jamaica’s climatic conditions are unbelievably beautiful, it’s no wonder why the island is a year-round vacation paradise. The usual temperatures in winter are between 22 and 31 °C and in summer between 29 and 34 °C maximum, which makes 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 rainfall. Mountainous areas tend to receive much more rain 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 for good measure.
Predicting local Jamaican weather conditions for towns and cities has proven to be quite a challenge for meteorologists. This is notable as there could be numerous scattered showers within a 40 mile radius. Average annual rainfall is about 50.5 inches; accumulation varies appreciably across 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 within the Caribbean hurricane belt. This may sound scary, but don’t be horrified. Hurricane season is between June and November, which brings many unwanted warnings 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 western African coast. These climatic disturbances have the tendency to walk in a north-westerly direction. Jamaica is located at the western end of the Caribbean Sea. Fortunately, when 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 that is available there is ample warning if there are any significant developments. I can assure you that there will be plenty of time to get out of the way safely.
