by Chenay Jordan

Created on: August 19, 2008   Last Updated: August 24, 2008

Jamaica, a popular tropical island in the middle of the Caribbean, is home to lush botanical gardens, miles of sandy beaches, and diverse city locale.

But besides its amazing culture what makes Jamaica a vacation destination that attracts over 1 million visitors each year? The weather!

STEADY TEMPERATURES YEAR-ROUND

The popular coastal areas of the island boast average summer (June-September) high temperatures between 80F-90F and lows between 70F-75F and winter temperatures average a mere 10 degrees cooler.

With temperatures like this a tropical paradise awaits travelers all year long!

But there is more to Jamaica than its beautiful beaches.

If you want to get out of the "heat" head to the island's mountainous interior. But be aware that if you feel the need to experience cold weather on a tropical island Jamaica's mountains can drop to 40F in the winter. Bring a jacket!

DIVERSE REGIONS

The mountains also mean a great deal of regional variation for the island. With an annual rainfall of around 82 inches for the whole island the distribution of precipitation varies greatly.

For example, the southwestern coast of the island receives very little rain and is even sometimes classified as semi-barren. Yet the eastern coast (if you are planning a trip to Port Antonio be prepared) is the region that receives the most amount of rain per year.

NO MAJOR DISASTERS

Even though Jamaica does experience an official hurricane season from June 1-November 30 (August and September are the peak months), no major hurricane has ever hit Jamaica head on.

Most likely, if you visit during hurricane season and a hurricane is nearby you will simply experience heavy rains from the outskirts of the storm.

However, there have been two major earthquakes that have rocked Jamaica but they were in 1692 and 1907 so chances are you're safe!

IDEAL TIMES TO VISIT

Depending on if you want to experience peak tourism or a quiet getaway should determine your best time to visit Jamaica.

Because the climate is so temperate, activities such as water sports, hiking, and nightlife are readily available year-round.

Which means since travelers are trying to escape their own snowy season, Jamaica's high season is no different than other Caribbean destination.

So if you plan on vacationing between mid-December through mid-April make sure you make your travel arrangements well in advance (for popular places you might need a whole year) to ensure you have the best and most options in airfare and accommodations.

But if you don't mind the crowds, there are many good reasons to visit Jamaica during the high season. There are a lot of festivals, like Carnival, the biggest festival of all, which takes place the week after Easter.

Low season (mid-April to mid-December) is due in part to the rainy season during some of these months and a lot of people choose to vacation in cooler climates during the summer.

However, discounts can be up to 50% so traveling during this time does have its perks.

No matter when you choose to go to Jamaica the chances of experiencing good weather are high, so find the time that best fits your schedule and experience the island of Jamaica!

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