Jamaica Climate

One of Jamaica’s greatest allures is its idyllic tropical maritime climate. Coastal temperatures average a near-constant 80F to 86F year-round. Temperatures fall steadily with increasing altitude but even in the Blue Mountains average 65F or more. Down by the shore, days are cooled be warm trade winds – known as “doctor breeze”. A less noticeable nocturnal offshore breeze is known locally as ‘the undertaker’. Cool ‘northers’ can also blow December to March, when cold fronts that bring freezing conditions to Florida can affect Jamaica.

Annual rainfall average 78 inches, but there are considerable variations nationwide, with the eastern (or windward) coast receiving considerably more rain than elsewhere on the island. Parts of the John Crow and Blue Mountains receive an average of 300 inches a year. By contrast, the south coast sees little rain and in places is semibarren.

A “rainy season” begins in May or June and extends through November or December, with the heaviest rains in September and October. Rain can fall at any time of year, however, and normally comes in short, heavy showers, often followed by sun.

Although Jamaica lies in the Caribbean “hurricane belt”, relatively few hurricanes touch it. Officially the hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30; August and September are peak months.

Jamaica weather year round

	Average High		Average Low		Rainfall
Month	F	C	F	C	in.
January	86	30	67	20	0.9
February	86	29	67	20	0.6
March	86	30	68	20.5	0.9
April	87	31	70	21.1	1.2
May	87	31	72	22	4.0
June	89	32	74	23	3.4
July	90	32	73	22.6	3.4
August	90	32	73	26.7	3.5
September	89	32	73	22.6	3.8
October	88	32	73	22.6	7.0
November	87	31	71	21.8	3.0
December	87	31	69	20.5	1.4

Service Temporarily Unavailable

The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to maintenance downtime or capacity problems.

Please try again in 1-2 min.

error code 0024