| Jamaica has a tropical climate at sea level and a temperate climate towards the highlands of the interior. As a popular Jamaican poem says, “we have neither summer nor winter/neither autumn nor spring…” and it's true. Instead, each year the island sees two rainy seasons from May to June and September to November.
Many Jamaicans characterize the seasons according to the fruits available at that time! Some of the most important ‘seasons’ are mango season (May to July), guinep season (July to late September) and cane crop season (late October to about January).
Of note also is the hurricane season from June to September, during which time large storms may, but rarely do, pass over the island. (Don’t worry about hurricanes, the last hurricane to directly hit Jamaica happened in 1988 and before that in 1952!)
Although there is little real variation in temperature year round, between December and April the weather is practically perfect for any activity every day.
The average temperature ranges from 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit) to 32 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) all year. Will it rain during your holiday? If it does, don’t worry. Most times, the short tropical showers provide a welcome break from the afternoon heat – just look at it as liquid sunshine, not rain! |