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Barbados Weather |
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The easternmost Caribbean island sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The balmy, tropical climate is cooled by the continual trade winds blowing in from the east. The fresh breezes, warm sunshine, and sufficient rainfall make the year-round average daytime highs of 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit (24-29 degrees Celsius) very comfortable. Still, the weather in Barbados is sunnier and drier than that of many other islands in the Caribbean. On the southern edge of the Atlantic hurricane belt, Barbados is not as arid as Aruba and has a slightly higher chance of hurricane contact, but it is far from the dense forests of Puerto Rico or the misty jungles of the Dominican Republic. The dry season spans from December to June, and during the so-called wet season (July to November) some brief rain showers are likely. Most showers in the Caribbean are quick, and simply act to wash the dust away and cool things off a little before the sun comes back out. Barbados has an average of eight to 10 hours of sunshine per day from November to March and even in the wetest part of the year from April to October averages eight to nine hours of sun a day. The official hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, and August and September are the peak months. However, the Caribbean region is more vast than most people think, and the chances of any single island being hit directly by a hurricane are very slim. Hurricanes usually miss Barbados. Instead, the island experiences some spectacular tropical rainstorms. These are usually short and heavy spells that dry up quickly. Most often, islands will only receive the heavy rains that come on the outskirts of a hurricane. Direct hits by major storms are so rare, in fact, that many elder inhabitants of Barbados still relate events in history to being before or after"the storm" because they may have only seen one or two of significance in their lifetimes. Additionally, with today's meteorological technology, advanced warnings for hurricanes will reach you long before you are ever in danger, so keeping an eye on the weather before you leave will go a long way toward keeping you prepared. If you hear that a hurricane has hit before you are to arrive, all is not lost. You may not have to alter your trip at all, but do call ahead to verify current atmospheric conditions and extent of damage to the island; you may also seek a statement from local business owners as to whether they are conducting business or when they think they will be operational again. The table below contains selected climatological data for Barbados as reported from Grantley Adams International Airport in Bridgetown. Barbados is a fairly low-lying island with a central region that rises gently to rolling hills, and with a landmass only about two and a half times the size of Washington D.C., these numbers are a reliable gauge for weather conditions throughout the island.
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