Climate
Tropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November.
The U.S. Virgin Islands enjoy a tropical climate, moderated by trade winds. Temperatures vary little throughout the year. In the capital, Charlotte Amalie, typical daily maximum temperatures are around 91 °F (32.8 °C) in the summer and 86 °F (30 °C) in the winter. Typical daily minimum temperatures are around 78 °F (25.6 °C) in the summer and 72 °F (22.2 °C) in the winter. Rainfall averages about 38 inches (965 mm) per year. Rainfall can be quite variable, but the wettest months on average are September to November and the driest months on average are February and March.
The islands are subject to tropical storms and hurricanes, with the hurricane season running from June to November. In recent history, substantial damage was caused by Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricane Marilyn in 1995. The islands were also struck by Hurricane Bertha in 1996, Hurricane Georges in 1998, Hurricane Lenny in 1999, Tropical Storm Jeanne in 2004, Hurricane Omar in 2008, Hurricane Earl in 2010, and Tropical Storm Otto in 2010, but damage was less severe in those storms.
| Climate data for Saint Thomas, VI | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 93 (34) |
93 (34) |
94 (34) |
96 (36) |
97 (36) |
99 (37) |
98 (37) |
99 (37) |
98 (37) |
97 (36) |
95 (35) |
92 (33) |
99 (37) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 85 (29) |
85 (29) |
86 (30) |
87 (31) |
88 (31) |
89 (32) |
90 (32) |
90 (32) |
90 (32) |
89 (32) |
87 (31) |
86 (30) |
88 (31) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
73 (23) |
73 (23) |
74 (23) |
76 (24) |
78 (26) |
78 (26) |
78 (26) |
78 (26) |
77 (25) |
75 (24) |
74 (23) |
75 (24) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 63 (17) |
62 (17) |
56 (13) |
62 (17) |
66 (19) |
67 (19) |
57 (14) |
59 (15) |
64 (18) |
66 (19) |
52 (11) |
62 (17) |
52 (11) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 2.38 (60.5) |
1.48 (37.6) |
1.42 (36.1) |
2.74 (69.6) |
3.06 (77.7) |
2.53 (64.3) |
2.85 (72.4) |
3.74 (95) |
5.58 (141.7) |
5.42 (137.7) |
5.23 (132.8) |
2.96 (75.2) |
39.39 (1,000.5) |
| Source: weather.com | |||||||||||||
Read more about this topic: Geography Of The United States Virgin Islands
Famous quotes containing the word climate:
“When we consider how much climate contributes to the happiness of our condition, by the fine sensation it excites, and the productions it is the parent of, we have reason to value highly the accident of birth in such a one as that of Virginia.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
“The climate has been described as “ten months winter and two months mighty late in the fall.””
—Administration in the State of Colo, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“If often he was wrong and at times absurd,
To us he is no more a person
Now but a whole climate of opinion.”
—W.H. (Wystan Hugh)