Jamaica Weather - Understanding the Importance to the Island

Jamaica weather, like the other islands of Caribbean, has a tropical marine climate. It is called marine because of the influence of the sea. During the day the sea is usually cooler than the land. Winds blowing from the sea to the land will help cool the land. At night the land loses heat rapidly and cools down.

In Jamaica, the night is generally cooler than the day. The sea moderates the temperature that makes it neither too hot nor too cold at any time of the year. The land has warm temperatures throughout the year.

The climatic condition on the island has no marked change in the temperature from one season to another. Other things that influence the climate of Jamaica are the sea, the relief of the land and winds. Places close to the coast will feel the effect of the sea breeze on the land during the days.

The country is very hilly and mountainous and the hills extend from east to west across the island. If you live on the plains and take a trip into the hills, you should notice that it becomes cooler as you go higher. The reason for this is that for every increase of about 100 meters in height of land, the temperature falls to 1 degree Celsius. Towns such as Mandeville, Christiana, Moneague and Malvern have cooler temperatures during the year than places on the plain such as Ocho Rios and St. Ann's Bay. You can find these places easily on your map.

The weather is modified by the sea and by the mountainous nature of the country. The eastern portion of the island is crossed by the Blue Mountain range, rising from 900m to 2,256m; the central and western portions consist of interior mountain ranges surrounded by high Limestone plateau 305m to 900m and the south side of extensive plains less than 132m high.

There is considerable variation in the climate of the different regions. The coastal plains are hottest and driest, the climate of the limestone plateau sub-tropical and the higher areas much cooler.

The weather contributes to a climate that is comfortable and promotes a healthy environment. Because of the year round effect of sea breezes, there is little variation between summer and winter temperatures, the coolest months being December to March. However, there is a variation in day and night temperatures and greater variation between temperatures at high and low altitudes.

August is generally the warmest month of the year and February the coolest. Seasonal differences between these two months are usually less than 10 degrees, being often in the order of five degrees Celsius.

Relative humidity is fairly high although not as much as in places nearer the equator. In Kingston it ranges from 63 per cent in February to 5 per cent in October. Montego Bay is rather more humid, with an annual range between 71 and 77 per cent.

The island experiences its rainiest time occurring in May and June and again in September and October, this is sometimes extended to December. Jamaica has three types of rainfalls, the relief that is caused by moisture laden winds, this happens mostly in the Portland area.

The second type is convectional, where there is heavy rain fall for short periods of time, a lot of afternoon rains and finally, there is frontal, when warm air and cold air meets and this is called a cold front.

In Jamaica the hurricane season starts from June 1 to November 30 and the country is in a hurricane belt so it gets its fair share. However, with the increased in technology and the meteorological services giving warnings in advance, persons can be better prepared. It is always advisable when travelling to check what the weather is like in that location so you don't get caught in a hurricane.

Colin Scott is travel and marketing expert. For more great tips on Jamaica weather and Jamaican climate. Visit this writers biography links.

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