Climate - seasons on Martinique : Practical info

Practical info on Martinique : Climate - seasons

Climate

Everyday temperatures on Martinique vary around an average of 27° C, with a maximum of 32 ° C and only rarely descend lower than 20 ° C. Once in a while, in the months of December and January, however, temperatures can fall to under 20 ° C at night… an occasion so unusual that it hits the news every time! Eastern winds referred to as “trade winds” contribute to the moderation of the region’s tropical heat. Water temperatures remain between 20 ° C and 24 ° C on the more turbulent Atlantic coast, and around 25 ° C on the much calmer Caribbean front. The Lesser Antilles are characterised by two basic climatic regions:

The plains

Temperatures are generally higher on the plains, in the south of Martinique, on Guadeloupe’s Grande-Terre, on Saint-Maarten, Marie-Galante, Saint-Barthelemy, the Saints and Desirade, moderated by trade winds and very little rain.

Higher regions

In higher areas, on more mountainous islands such as the northern parts of Martinique or Basse-Terre on Guadeloupe, temperatures can be lower and rains more often present, which account for the more luxurious flora and fauna.

From June to December

Winter months are rather wet, with regular downpours and only few dry days. August and September are hurricane months, when these unpleasant and dangerous storms may condemn you to a couple of days spent idling away in your hotel room.

From the end of November to mid-June

The dry season welcomes an increasing number of tourists, though the actual amount of rain depends on the geographical situation and not on the overall tropical climate. Trade winds from the north-east and the east bring on the rain, in the form of lighter showers during the dry season (Lent) between January and April, and heavier downpours in the rainy season (Winter) from June to November. The rainiest month is August without doubt, and the best time to come to avoid the rain is in March. Humidity, though, is present all year round, which accounts for the great number of particular species endemic to the islands. Don’t forget that day dawns early in the Tropics (between 5 and 6 a.m.), and the sun consequently sets not later than in the middle of the afternoon, between 5:30 and 6:30 pm.

Seasons

There are two climatic and three tourist seasons on Martinique. The high season is between December and the end of April, with soaring prices and great crowds of travellers. From May to the end of November, Europeans tend to go elsewhere, as the weather is fine back home and travel possibilities are numerous. Summer months (July and August) are a sort of intermediate season, as Martinique and Guadeloupe residents often take advantage of the good weather to visit the mainland. Prices and tourist services, as well as airplane tickets tend to be rather pricy, or even extremely expensive at this period, so be sure to book in advance to avoid paying double.

All in all, if you wish to avoid tourist masses but still take advantage of a pleasant temperature, we would advise you to visit the island in May and June, as the climate in this period of the year is rather dry with an acceptable level of humidity, and tariffs are still quite on the low side. July and August are hot and humid months, but don’t be discouraged by tourist clichés saying that the so-called “cyclone” period is a horrible one: it does rain rather often, but the weather is still rather pleasant especially if you are planning to sightsee. Don’t count on taking a cruise ship in September, though, as you have considerably higher chances of meeting up with a hurricane or a tropical thunderstorm in this season.