The Climate of the
Cayman Islands
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
What is the climate of the Cayman Islands like?
The Cayman Islands are a British Overseas Territory situated south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica. There are three low-lying Cayman Islands—Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. Grand Cayman, flat, rockbound, and protected by coral reefs, is about 32 km (20 mi) long. The two smaller islands are about 145 km (90 mi) to the northeast.
The Cayman Islands have typical Caribbean weather—a tropical climate, tempered by the northeasterly trade winds. There are fairly constant temperatures throughout the course of the year. Average temperatures range from 26°C (78°F) in January to 30°C (86°F) in August.
Rainfall averages around 1,400 millimeters (55 inches) per year. There is a wet season from May to October, and a dry season that runs from November to April. Rain tends to fall in the form of brief, heavy showers. The greatest risk of tropical storms or hurricanes is between August and October, but it is very rare for a Hurricane to directly strike the islands.
George Town, on Grand Cayman, is the capital and chief town.
| Climate data for George Town (1981-2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 28.2 (82.8) | 28.6 (83.4) | 29.1 (84.3) | 29.9 (85.9) | 30.7 (87.3) | 31.6 (88.9) | 32.2 (89.9) | 32.2 (89.9) | 31.7 (89.0) | 31.0 (87.8) | 29.6 (85.2) | 28.6 (83.5) | 30.3 (86.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 25.8 (78.4) | 26.1 (79.0) | 26.6 (79.9) | 27.6 (81.7) | 28.5 (83.3) | 29.2 (84.6) | 29.6 (85.3) | 29.7 (85.5) | 29.3 (84.7) | 28.5 (83.3) | 27.5 (81.5) | 26.2 (79.2) | 27.9 (82.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 22.3 (72.2) | 22.4 (72.3) | 22.7 (72.9) | 23.7 (74.6) | 24.7 (76.4) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.7 (78.2) | 25.6 (78.0) | 25.3 (77.6) | 24.7 (76.5) | 24.1 (75.4) | 23.2 (73.8) | 24.2 (75.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 51.8 (2.04) | 38.1 (1.50) | 33.5 (1.32) | 32.2 (1.27) | 151.4 (5.96) | 157.5 (6.20) | 146.8 (5.78) | 149.8 (5.90) | 222.0 (8.74) | 219.8 (8.65) | 153.7 (6.05) | 71.0 (2.80) | 1,427.6 (56.21) |
| Source: National Weather Service (Cayman Islands) | |||||||||||||
References
- E. A. Pearce, Charles Gordon Smith, (1990) The Hutchinson World Weather Guide, John Murray Press. ISBN 1859863426
- Timothy L. Gall, (ed.), (2003), Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, Eleventh Edition, Thomson Gale
- Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, (1989) Islands of the Commonwealth Caribbean; A Regional Study, United States Government Printing Office.
- Hugh Chisholm, (ed.), (1911), Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh edition, Cambridge University Press
The Climate of the
Cayman Islands
In summary:
The Cayman Islands have a tropical climate. Average temperatures range from 26°C (78°F) in January to 30°C (86°F) in August.
Rainfall averages 1400 mm (55 in) per year, with a wet season from May to October and a dry season from November to April.