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Where is the country of Jamaica located? Jamaica is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. The island of Jamaica has to deal with two variants of the tropical A-climates. Most of Jamaica has a tropical savanna climate or a savanna climate with sun almost every day, but also a reasonable chance of (sometimes very spicy) rain or thunderstorms. The average daytime temperature is around 26-27 degrees and the country has a drier period in winter, with at least 1 month with less than 60 mm of precipitation (long-term average). According to the Köppen system one speaks of an Aw climate. Officially, the tropical climate (Af climate) only occurs in a number of smaller places in Jamaica, although we believe a number of places in the interior and along the south coast do meet the standards used for this classification.

Nice weather

The best weather is in the dry season, which runs from January to April. Most days the sun shines quite exuberantly, sometimes some clouds appear that can grow into a rain shower. The weather is at its best during this period. It is not for nothing that the period from January to April is seen as the best time to travel to Jamaica. The months of February and March in particular are excellent travel months for a wonderful holiday in the sun on the beaches of Jamaica.

Jamaica is therefore very popular as a winter sun destination. The winter period is also very popular for getting married in Jamaica or for a romantic honeymoon. The luxury hotel resorts are great for relaxing for two during the honeymoon.

Rainy season?

During the wet period, the chance of showers is greater and there is also a real chance of whole days when it is grey, wet and windy. However, it is not a real rainy season with rain for days. Most rain falls in the periods May-June and September-November, depending on the location and altitude, some places have more precipitation than others. Particularly in the higher parts in the east of the island, considerable amounts can fall. Most hotels and resorts are located in the lower west of the island, where the well-known beautiful beaches are also located.

Wind

On the island, trade winds blow almost continuously from the northeast. These provide some cooling along the north coast. The south coast often hardly notices, because the mountains largely block the wind on the way to the south and southwest.

Hurricanes

Jamaica is located in an area with a fairly high hurricane activity. During the hurricane season – which runs from June to November – the island has a chance to be hit by hurricanes (hurricanes) or tropical storms. This is most likely in the months of September and October. Jamaica is fortunate that most of the hurricanes that hit the island have often already weakened, because they usually have passed over another island first. Over land, hurricanes often lose a lot of strength and the distance to Jamaica over water is usually too small to increase significantly.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Best time to visit Jamaica

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Jamaica? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. Jamaica is a country and island in the Caribbean. Besides the fact that it is a great holiday destination partly because of its tropical climate, Jamaica is also the country of reggae, rastafari and amazing nature. Sports, music and socializing play important roles in Jamaican culture. Although the country is very similar to other Caribbean destinations in terms of weather, the country is otherwise unique. It is not for nothing that most tourists consciously choose Jamaica as a holiday destination. The nice thing about Jamaica is that it attracts many different types of tourists. You see a huge contrast between tourists who sit on the dream beaches in luxury resorts, while on the other hand ecotourism enjoys a lot of popularity.

The tropical climate of Jamaica ensures that it is always warm, but it can also rain a lot. The amounts of precipitation vary by location and month. With annual precipitation amounts that are roughly between eight hundred and more than two thousand millimeters, Jamaica is a somewhat wet destination. Capital Kingston is one of the drier places on the island, while the popular beach destination of Ocho Rios has twice as much rain.

Best months

If you have to choose a period as the best time to travel to Jamaica, it is mainly the months of February and March. January can be on the wet side, like April, but these two months can also be great for a beach holiday. For tours of Jamaica we would skip January. In that month there may still be difficult roads due to the rain that fell in the previous months.

Hot and wet summer

From May, sometimes a little earlier and sometimes a little later, the rainy season in Jamaica starts. The number of days with rain increases, as does the amount of rain that falls within a shower. In many cases there are showers, after which it often clears but sometimes remains cloudy until the next shower comes. The combination of a humid atmosphere and rising temperatures makes it feel clammy and hot in summer. It only becomes noticeably more pleasant around the turn of the year.

Jamaica during the school holidays

If for some reason you are tied to the school holidays, spring break is the best time to travel in terms of weather. The May holiday is a reasonable option, but a bit wetter and warmer than the spring break. Summer vacation is a travel period in which you will have to accept more precipitation, more clouds and a greater chance of rain in Jamaica. A two-week beach holiday with barely a cloud in the sky will not be possible in July or August. In our opinion, the autumn break is the least suitable travel time for a holiday to Jamaica. This fall holiday falls during the wettest time of the year and there is a chance of hurricanes or tropical storms. The Christmas holidays often offer reasonable weather, but can also be very wet. It is generally the most expensive travel period for a vacation to Jamaica.

Hurricanes

Jamaica is located in a region prone to hurricanes. Such severe tropical storms can cause a lot of wind, a lot of rain and also flooding or tidal waves. During hurricane season, which lasts from June to early December, there is about a one to one and a half percent chance of experiencing a hurricane indoors during your vacation. Because they can be predicted in advance, we can take measures in time if necessary.