Climate of Trinidad and Tobago

Climate of Trinidad and Tobago

Where is the country of Trinidad and Tobago located? Trinidad and Tobago is the southernmost country in the Caribbean. The country consists of two islands: Trinidad and the smaller Tobago. Trinidad should actually be classified as South America based on its geographical location and the very short distance (about ten kilometers) between Venezuela and Trinidad. However, based on the history and characteristics of Trinidad and Tobago, the country is classified as part of the Caribbean.

Trinidad and Tobago has a tropical monsoon climate, with a dry season from January to May and a rainy season that starts in June and ends in December. On an annual basis, Trinidad receives an average of 2110 millimeters of precipitation. The smaller Tobago is slightly wetter, with an average of 2500 mm. The Northern Range, a hilly area in the north of Trinidad, is considerably wetter than the rest of the island with precipitation amounts up to 3800 millimeters.

Temperatures

The maximum temperature varies from 30 to 32 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature, which averages 20 to 25 degrees, is reached at the end of the night, just before sunrise. Due to the fairly high relative humidity (83 to 87 percent on average), it often feels warmer than it is. Especially in the interior, where the wind has hardly any effect, it can feel very clammy. The highest temperatures are generally recorded in the southern half of Trinidad, where daytime temperatures of 34 to 35 degrees are not uncommon.

Hurricanes

Trinidad and Tobago is just off the usual routes for hurricanes and tropical depressions. However, there is a chance that the islands will be hit by a severe tropical storm or even a hurricane. Hurricane Flora in 1963, for example, caused considerable damage to the island of Tobago and Trinidad suffered a lot from tropical storm Alma in 1974. The frequency with which Trinidad and Tobago experiences tropical storms is much lower than the other islands in the Caribbean. The chance that it is a hurricane is also relatively small.

Climate figures

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

Maximum temperature Minimum temperature Hours of sunshine per day Days of rainfall per month Water temperature
January 30℃ 20℃ 8 14 27℃
February 30℃ 20℃ 8 8 26℃
March 31℃ 21℃ 8 10 26℃
April 31℃ 22℃ 8 6 27℃
May 32℃ 23℃ 7 20 27℃
June 31℃ 23℃ 6 21 27℃
July 31℃ 22℃ 6 25 28℃
August 31℃ 22℃ 7 24 28℃
September 31℃ 22℃ 7 20 29℃
October 31℃ 22℃ 6 21 29℃
November 31℃ 22℃ 6 26 28℃
December 30℃ 21℃ 7 21 27℃

Best time to visit Trinidad and Tobago

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Trinidad and Tobago? 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. Trinidad and Tobago is a country that consists of two larger islands and a number of smaller islands. It is a tropical destination located in the southern Caribbean. The southwestern tip of Trinidad is just 15 kilometers from mainland Venezuela. The climate of Trinidad and Tobago is tropical. This ensures that it is always warm at this destination and that there is quite a bit of rain. The average annual sum is between 1400 and 1700 millimeters of precipitation. Inland areas can receive much more rainfall. On the windward side, precipitation amounts per year can exceed three thousand millimeters. Most rain falls during showers, which can be intense and often accompanied by thunderstorms. In Trinidad and Tobago you have to deal with a wetter season and a drier season. The least rain falls from late December to mid-May. In the middle of summer you have to deal with the most precipitation.

Most pleasant months

The best time to travel to Trinidad and Tobago is from January to April. This is the driest and sunniest time of the year. During the day it is always warm with maximum temperatures that are often between 30 and 33 degrees. After the sun goes down, the temperature drops quite gradually. Minimum temperatures are usually between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius. The sun shows itself strongly with an average of 8 to 9 hours of sunshine per day. When the wet season starts, the chance of showers increases. It often rains harder than in the dry season, which means that quite a lot of precipitation can fall in a short time. Especially in the months of June, July and August you can be surprised by a heavy downpour.

Tropical Cyclones

Although Trinidad and Tobago is outside the area where tropical cyclones can occur during hurricane season, there are times when the islands experience very bad weather due to nearby hurricane activity. This chance mainly exists in the period from July to November. Exceptionally, a cyclone moves over the islands themselves.

Trinidad and Tobago