Tropical storms and hurricanes obviously have a huge impact on Caribbean weather, especially between June and November. But most travelers overestimate the threat of hurricanes while overlooking other weather factors that can affect their trip.
Bottom line: There are dozens of islands in the Caribbean, so the odds of a hurricane hitting the one you're vacationing on are slim. Some islands, like Curacao, Aruba and Bonaire, almost never get hit by big storms. And you'll dodge the stormy season altogether if you travel to the Caribbean between December and May.
Sunny Days
Sunshine is the most prominent "weather feature" in the Caribbean. In the summer, you can expect up to 9 hours of sun each day, and bad weather is by far the exception, not the rule. Even northerly Bermuda, for example, has sunny summer temperatures from May to November.
"If you're planning an outside Caribbean wedding on a specific date, it's more likely to be interrupted by rain during the hurricane season," says Bob Sheets, former director of the National Hurricane Center. "But if you're taking a one- or two-week vacation to the islands and that's the best time for your to go, then go. You may get a day of rain, but the odds of you getting hit by a hurricane in the Caribbean are quite small."
So, check the weather before you go, but don't let the fear of bad weather prevent you from heading to the Caribbean. Chances are that the weather here will be better than what you have back home, and you'll be basking in sunshine rather than dodging raindrops during most if not all of your trip!
