St Lucia Weather - Best and Worst Months to Go

Gros Piton, St. Lucia, seen from the Ladera Hotel restaurant (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Scott Bateman

St. Lucia weather attracts vacationers to this lush and beautiful Caribbean island most of the year, but there are months when it is wise to avoid visiting there.

The island is popular with cruise visitors in particular because of its parks, volcano, rain forest hikes and of course the beaches.

Like other Caribbean destinations, it has a high rate of vacation visitors from December through May, a mix of visits during the summer and a steep drop-off in September and October during the Caribbean hurricane season.

The hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, but it peaks in September and October when the region typically sees the highest number of storms, hurricanes and the accompanying heavy rains.

St. Lucia weather in February to May is part of a distinct dry season while June to December is part of a rainy season.

Average Temperatures

The average high temperature is 86 degrees Fahrenheit and the average low temperature is 76 degrees year-round, according to the St. Lucia Meteorological Service.

The average monthly highs and lows vary by only two degrees, making the temperatures consistent throughout the year. The peak temperature on any one day rarely exceeds 93 degrees or falls below 72 degrees.

The island is located in the northeast Trade Wind belt. Cooling winds coming from the east average 16 miles an hour. The windiest months last from January to July.

Visitors during cool months should consider staying at resorts or hotels away from the eastern side of the island to have a more comfortable stay.

Average Rainfall

The island's lush green growth is due to moderately heavy rainfall, which averages 4.6 inches a month. (The arid Aruba averages only 1.3 inches a month.)

St. Lucia's rainfall ranges from a low of 2.0 inches in February to a high of 7.8 inches in the main hurricane and tropical storm months of September and October.

St. Lucia has more rain days than the average Caribbean destination at 17 days per month. They range from a low of 12 days in April to a high of 20 or more days in July through November.

Rainfall is heaviest in the mountainous exterior and lightest along the coast.

Best Times to Go

Vacationers who want to choose the best time to visit St. Lucia would increase their chances of experiencing good weather by going in December through May.

The best times to avoid St. Lucia are the late summer and early fall months because of a much higher chance of rain, tropical storms and a small possibility of a nearby hurricane.

Click St. Lucia travel guide for attractions, cruise tips, weather forecasts and more.

See a St. Lucia climate chart with average temperatures and rainfall by month.

Scott Bateman is a professional journalist with extensive experience as a reporter and editor. He publishes a guide to Caribbean vacations at Caribeez.com.

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