Any smart traveller (like yourself) knows that the weather can make or break a holiday experience. Spending dreary days stuck in a hotel room, or being unable to participate in exciting activities you booked yourself, is a recipe for frustration. Fortunately, the Big Blue Collective is here with everything you need to know about the weather in the Turks and Caicos, year round!
Weather in the Turks and Caicos: Forecast is Fantastic!
First things first, let’s take a look at the overall annual weather. While people talk of the off-peak and peak seasons in the TCI, and indeed the traditional winter, fall, spring and summer seasons as well as wider ‘hot’ and ‘cool’ seasons, it’s important to realise there’s very little overall fluctuation in the Turks and Caicos weather. It’s consistent, pleasant and welcoming year round. The ocean is always warm, and the sun is always strong enough for you to need to take the standard beach precautions of sunscreen and a hat. Outside temperatures are typically between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s 29-32 degrees Celsius), creeping a little higher at the end of summer. The water will typically be between 82-84 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, and 74-78 degrees Fahrenheit in winter. That’s 28-29 degrees Celsius and 23-26 degrees Celsius respectively. As you can see, the difference is remarkably tiny!
Almost year-round, we have the welcome cooling breezes of the east-south-east trade wind to keep the air fresh and balmy. Wind speeds can reach 12-18 miles an hour (19-29 kph) but are often very welcome. Not only do they keep the atmosphere fresher and cooler then it may otherwise be, this steady, predictable wind make the TCI one of the very best places in the world to enjoy sports like kitesurfing. Pair it with the sheltered bays and generally calm waters, and you have a winning combination for watersports of all kinds. Very occasionally a storm will shift the wind direction, but our steady old friend will soon be back.
While there are some subtle seasonal differences that the expert eye will read in the Turks and Caicos climate, the net result is an island chain that is wonderfully welcoming all year round. After all, we can claim 350 days of sunshine a year, and that’s pretty impressive!
What can I expect from fall and winter?
While some of you sun gods and goddesses may not agree, the rather warm temperatures of the islands year-round make the fall and winter seasons the ‘peak’ seasons for visitors rather than the summer. Strictly speaking, this is the ‘cool’ season and runs from November to April. At this time of year, you can flee the cold, snow-covered lands of home, and instead soak in the sun, fun and surf in the gorgeous TCI. While the cooler season is only a few degrees cooler than summer, it’s a difference that stands out, and you’ll feel more up to exciting water sports, exploring the back islands on eco-tours, drinking in the ambience of the many fascinating historical sites, and more able to enjoy walks and cycling trips with the slight reduction in heat.
If you’re visiting in the cool season, it’s highly unlikely you will experience any rainfall. You may get a quick, surprising shower if you visit in late April, but the chances are very low.
What can I expect from spring and summer?
You may be used to thinking of spring and summer as prime holiday months (and don’t get us wrong, they’re still great), but here in the TCI they’re classed as the off-peak season. They’re a touch less predictable then winter (but only just), and the temperatures will climb a little higher too. Plus, of course, it’s likely the most beautiful season for you back home too! We see the bulk of our visitors in the TCI cool season. The hot season, however, still has its charms for the visitor, and you can score many delightful discounts if you travel during this time too.
May to October are the official “hot” season months, with your highest chances of rain occurring in April through July. These showers are typically short, however, and certainly not common. As an island chain, it’s common for the Turks and Caicos to get most of its scanty annual rainfall in just one or two downpours during the hurricane season instead. When showers do occur, they are often most welcome as they refresh the air, and typically are over within an hour or two, so don’t pack up and head back to the hotel automatically if you encounter one.
What about the ‘hurricane season’?
The official hurricane season in the TCI runs between June and November. This may seem a terrifying idea, but don’t worry too much- we actually don’t see too much hurricane activity, unlike some other Caribbean islands. This is when we receive most of our rain, however, in one, sometimes two torrential downpours. Very occasionally roads will flood, but the sun soon dries out the excess water and business goes back to normal. Hurricane Irma is the only serious hurricane to have passed through our waters in a decade, and the number of hurricane warnings that result in landfall the Big Blue Collective have seen can be counted on one hand. If you are very concerned, however, the bulk of ‘major’ hurricane activity for the TCI has been seen in the end-August to early September period.
Do remember, however, that while we are relatively quiet and sheltered and those already on the island will still be able to enjoy themselves, your flights may be impacted by other hurricane activity or warnings in the Caribbean at this time of year. We are very lucky to have excellent predictive services working in the area keeping everyone safe, but it will occasionally lead to flights being rescheduled for hurricanes which do not actually materialise or make landfall. Try to plan flexible holiday dates and opt for airlines with a good track record of helping you reschedule your trip if travelling at this time of year.
As you can see, the weather in the Turks and Caicos is great all year round, so why not let the Big Blue Collective help you make the holiday of a lifetime in the TCI come true today?