The Climate of the
Turks and Caicos Islands
Cockburn Town, Grand Turk
What is the climate of the Turks and Caicos Islands like?
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory southeast of the Bahamas, and geographically an extension of the Bahamas chain. They comprise two island groups separated by the Turks Island Passage. The Turks group comprises two inhabited islands, Grand Turk and Salt Cay, six uninhabited cays, and numerous rocks surrounded by a roughly triangular reef bank. The Caicos group encompasses six principal islands, plus numerous rocky islets, all surrounded by the Caicos Bank, a triangular shoal.
The islands, which are all low-lying, have a tropical climate. The climate is warm and pleasant, with relatively consistent temperatures throughout the course of the year. Days are sunny and dry and nights are cool and clear throughout the year. Temperatures on the islands average 29°C (84°F) in summer and 25°C (77°F) in winter. Maximums and minimums seldom exceed 32°C (90°F) or 17°C (63°F). The hottest period generally occurs between April and November.
There are almost constant tradewinds from the east. Unlike the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands do not experience cold waves in winter or spring. Because the land is low, annual rainfall is rather less than some other islands in the Caribbean. Rainfall averages 600 millimeters (24 inches) per year, but can be higher than this.
Rain generally falls in heavy brief showers. Rain can fall in any month, but there is a distinct rainier season from September to December when the northeastern trade winds are strongest, and hurricanes occasionally affect the islands in this season.
The island of Grand Turk is representative of weather in the Turks and Caicos.
| Climate data for Grand Turk | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 27 (81) | 27 (81) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 28 (82) | 29 (84) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25.5 (77.9) | 26 (79) | 27 (81) | 28 (82) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 28 (82) | 26.5 (79.7) | 26 (79) | 27.0 (80.6) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 26 (79) | 27 (81) | 27 (81) | 27 (81) | 26 (79) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 36 (1.4) | 33 (1.3) | 25 (1.0) | 36 (1.4) | 30 (1.2) | 56 (2.2) | 30 (1.2) | 41 (1.6) | 66 (2.6) | 76 (3.0) | 94 (3.7) | 86 (3.4) | 609 (24) |
| Source: Weatherbase.com | |||||||||||||
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
Turks and Caicos Islands
In summary:
The Turks and Caicos Islands have a relatively dry, tropical climate. Average temperatures range from 25°C (77°F) in January to 29°C (84°F) in August.
Rainfall averages 600 mm (24 in) per year, with a wetter season from September to December and a dryer season from Janaury to August.