Weather
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British Virgin Islands
When to sail the BVI
Pick a month to see what to expect on the water.
- January, Peak season, average high 84°F29°C Today
- February, Peak season, average high 84°F29°C Today
- March, Peak season, average high 85°F29°C Today
- April, Peak season, average high 86°F30°C Today
- May, Peak season, average high 87°F31°C Today
- June, Hurricane season, average high 89°F32°C Today
- July, Hurricane season, average high 90°F32°C Today
- August, Hurricane peak, average high 90°F32°C Today
- September, Hurricane peak, average high 89°F32°C Today
- October, Hurricane peak, average high 88°F31°C Today
- November, Hurricane season, average high 87°F30°C Today
- December, Peak season, average high 85°F30°C Today
- Peak season
- Hurricane season
- Hurricane peak
January Peak season
Peak season. Northeast trade winds at 15–20 knots, and Christmas winds that can bring 25–30 knots for days.
Good for: Sailing in the trade winds, 15–20 knots
- High / low
- 84°F / 74°F29°C / 23°C
- Sea temperature
- 80°F26°C
- Rain in the month
- 2.6 in67 mm
- Wind
- Northeast 15–20 kn, Christmas winds
- Daylight
- 11 h 8 min
- Rainy days
- 6 days
February Peak season
Peak season and one of the two driest months. The wind moves to the east.
Good for: Dry days: rainfall is lowest in February and March
- High / low
- 84°F / 74°F29°C / 23°C
- Sea temperature
- 79°F26°C
- Rain in the month
- 1.9 in48 mm
- Wind
- East, Christmas winds
- Daylight
- 11 h 32 min
- Rainy days
- 5 days
March Peak season
Peak season, one of the two driest months and among the coolest, with more wind from the Christmas winds.
Good for: Dry days: rainfall is lowest in February and March
- High / low
- 85°F / 74°F29°C / 23°C
- Sea temperature
- 79°F26°C
- Rain in the month
- 1.9 in47 mm
- Wind
- East, Christmas winds
- Daylight
- 12 h 1 min
- Rainy days
- 4 days
April Peak season
Peak season. Easterly winds, and the days start to get warmer.
Good for: Sailing in easterly winds
- High / low
- 86°F / 76°F30°C / 24°C
- Sea temperature
- 80°F27°C
- Rain in the month
- 2.2 in57 mm
- Wind
- East
- Daylight
- 12 h 32 min
- Rainy days
- 5 days
May Peak season
The last month of peak season. Easterly winds, warmer days and nights.
Good for: Sailing in easterly winds
- High / low
- 87°F / 78°F31°C / 25°C
- Sea temperature
- 81°F27°C
- Rain in the month
- 3.0 in77 mm
- Wind
- East
- Daylight
- 12 h 59 min
- Rainy days
- 6 days
June Hurricane season
Hurricane season starts on 1 June. The wind changes to the southeast at 10–15 knots.
Good for: Quiet anchorages and snorkel spots
- High / low
- 89°F / 79°F32°C / 26°C
- Sea temperature
- 82°F28°C
- Rain in the month
- 2.4 in60 mm
- Wind
- Southeast 10–15 kn
- Daylight
- 13 h 14 min
- Rainy days
- 5 days
July Hurricane season
One of the two hottest months, with southeast winds at 10–15 knots.
Good for: Quiet anchorages and snorkel spots
- High / low
- 90°F / 79°F32°C / 26°C
- Sea temperature
- 83°F28°C
- Rain in the month
- 2.9 in74 mm
- Wind
- Southeast 10–15 kn
- Daylight
- 13 h 8 min
- Rainy days
- 7 days
August Hurricane peak
One of the two hottest months. From mid-August tropical systems and hurricanes are most likely.
Good for: Quiet anchorages and snorkel spots
- High / low
- 90°F / 80°F32°C / 26°C
- Sea temperature
- 84°F29°C
- Rain in the month
- 4.4 in111 mm
- Wind
- Southeast 10–15 kn
- Daylight
- 12 h 46 min
- Rainy days
- 7 days
September Hurricane peak
Lightest trade winds, so it feels hotter and more humid. Rain normally comes in 10-minute squalls.
Good for: Quiet anchorages and snorkel spots
- High / low
- 89°F / 80°F32°C / 26°C
- Sea temperature
- 84°F29°C
- Rain in the month
- 5.9 in150 mm
- Wind
- Trade winds at their weakest
- Daylight
- 12 h 16 min
- Rainy days
- 9 days
October Hurricane peak
Lightest trade winds and the end of the most active hurricane period. Rain normally comes in short squalls.
Good for: Quiet anchorages and snorkel spots
- High / low
- 88°F / 78°F31°C / 26°C
- Sea temperature
- 84°F29°C
- Rain in the month
- 5.3 in134 mm
- Wind
- Trade winds at their weakest
- Daylight
- 11 h 45 min
- Rainy days
- 10 days
November Hurricane season
The last month of hurricane season and the wettest month. Northeast trade winds at 15–20 knots.
Good for: Quiet anchorages, trade winds back at 15–20 knots
- High / low
- 87°F / 77°F30°C / 25°C
- Sea temperature
- 83°F28°C
- Rain in the month
- 6.1 in154 mm
- Wind
- Northeast 15–20 kn
- Daylight
- 11 h 17 min
- Rainy days
- 10 days
December Peak season
Peak season starts. Northeast trade winds at 15–20 knots and Christmas winds; among the coolest months.
Good for: Sailing in the trade winds, 15–20 knots
- High / low
- 85°F / 75°F30°C / 24°C
- Sea temperature
- 81°F27°C
- Rain in the month
- 2.9 in74 mm
- Wind
- Northeast 15–20 kn, Christmas winds
- Daylight
- 11 h 2 min
- Rainy days
- 8 days
Show the figures as a table
| Month | Season | High / low | Sea | Rain | Rainy days | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Peak season | 84°F / 74°F29°C / 23°C | 80°F26°C | 2.6 in67 mm | 6 days | 11 h 8 min |
| February | Peak season | 84°F / 74°F29°C / 23°C | 79°F26°C | 1.9 in48 mm | 5 days | 11 h 32 min |
| March | Peak season | 85°F / 74°F29°C / 23°C | 79°F26°C | 1.9 in47 mm | 4 days | 12 h 1 min |
| April | Peak season | 86°F / 76°F30°C / 24°C | 80°F27°C | 2.2 in57 mm | 5 days | 12 h 32 min |
| May | Peak season | 87°F / 78°F31°C / 25°C | 81°F27°C | 3.0 in77 mm | 6 days | 12 h 59 min |
| June | Hurricane season | 89°F / 79°F32°C / 26°C | 82°F28°C | 2.4 in60 mm | 5 days | 13 h 14 min |
| July | Hurricane season | 90°F / 79°F32°C / 26°C | 83°F28°C | 2.9 in74 mm | 7 days | 13 h 8 min |
| August | Hurricane peak | 90°F / 80°F32°C / 26°C | 84°F29°C | 4.4 in111 mm | 7 days | 12 h 46 min |
| September | Hurricane peak | 89°F / 80°F32°C / 26°C | 84°F29°C | 5.9 in150 mm | 9 days | 12 h 16 min |
| October | Hurricane peak | 88°F / 78°F31°C / 26°C | 84°F29°C | 5.3 in134 mm | 10 days | 11 h 45 min |
| November | Hurricane season | 87°F / 77°F30°C / 25°C | 83°F28°C | 6.1 in154 mm | 10 days | 11 h 17 min |
| December | Peak season | 85°F / 75°F30°C / 24°C | 81°F27°C | 2.9 in74 mm | 8 days | 11 h 2 min |
Source (1991–2020): Air temperature, rain and rainy days (0.1 in / 2.5 mm or more): NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals for Cyril E. King Airport, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, the nearest station with official normals, about 38 km west of Road Town. Sea temperature: NOAA OISST v2.1 monthly mean for 18.4° N 64.6° W. Daylight: sunrise to sunset on the 15th of each month at 18.4° N. Wind and seasons: our own notes on this page. About the climate normals (opens in a new tab)
The three seasons
-
December to May
Peak season
- Average highs 84–87°F (29–31°C)
- Rain 1.9–3.0 in (47–77 mm) a month
- Sea 79–81°F (26–27°C)
-
June to November
Hurricane season
- Average highs 87–90°F (30–32°C)
- Rain 2.4–6.1 in (60–154 mm) a month
- Sea 82–84°F (28–29°C)
-
Mid-August to the end of October
Hurricane peak
- Average highs 88–90°F (31–32°C)
- Rain 4.4–5.9 in (111–150 mm) a month
- Sea 84°F (29°C)
Hurricane season
The official hurricane season is from June to November. But realistically the chances of tropical systems or hurricanes are from half August through the end of October. Please take into consideration when you book a charter in hurricane season, that your charter can be interrupted by bad weather, storms or even a hurricane. Most crewed yachts and restaurants/bars are closed for the hurricane season. There is a good chance that you have lovely weather. However, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance in case a weather system does occur. Certainly a bonus about this time of the year is that it is quiet and you will easily find a snorkel spot or anchorage just for yourselves.
Forecasts from the National Hurricane Center (opens in a new tab)
British Virgin Islands climate
Best time to visit
The BVI climate is subtropical and tempered by trade winds, generally coming from the east. There is little variation between summer and winter. Rainfall is low, varying slightly from island to island. Night-time temperatures tend to drop to a comfortable level. Visitors should note that the British Virgin Islands are susceptible to hurricanes and earthquakes, although these are by no means a frequent occurrence. The peak tourist season is December to May, although this has more to do with the cold weather in North America and Europe.
Temperature
July and August are the hottest months of the year with average highs of 90°F/32 °C and lows of 79°F/26 °C. Although September and October always feel hotter as there is less breeze to keep you cool with a higher level of humidity. The coolest months are December through March with average highs of 85°F/29 °C and lows of 74°F/23 °C and with more wind from our Christmas Winds.
Precipitation
Rainfall is the lowest in February/March, with an average of 48 mm/1.9 inches per month. Our rainy season is in September/October/November with an average of 146 mm/5.7 inches per month, which normally comes in 10 minute squalls.
Wind
During the winter months, November to January, the wind is from the northeast at 15-20 knots. The Christmas winds can produce 25-30 knots for several days at a time. In February, the winds move to the east and by June it changes to the southeast at 10-15 knots. In September and October, the trade winds are at their weakest and the weather can be less settled when tropical systems come through.
Sea water
The sea temperature ranges from 79.5°F/26°C in January up to 84°F/29°C in the month of September.