Loading...
Tropical downpour
 

Weather & Climate

Located just 11° north of the equator, Tobago enjoys a tropical climate with bright sunshine all year round. The average daytime temperature is 29°C (83°F), with normal maximums in the low to mid-30s. The northeast trade winds cool the island so effectively that air-conditioning is often not the critical essential that visitors might imagine. In fact, air-conditioning is the exception rather than the rule in older properties as their location was invariably chosen to take maximum advantage of the prevailing winds.

Tobago has two seasons. The Dry Season runs between December and May and is normally dry and sunny, although rain can be experienced, particulary overnight and just before dawn. The Wet Season is sometimes known as the Hurricane Season and runs between June and November. Although temperatures are fairly consistent throughout the year, changes in the direction and strength of the winds make the summer months feel hotter than the winter months.

Tobago lies outside the main hurricane belt. Hurricanes do not form at latitudes lower than 10 degrees north or south. Tobago also has fewer autumn storms than the more northerly islands. Prior to Hurricane Flora in 1963, Tobago hadn't experienced a hurricane for a hundred years. Hurricane Ivan, in 2004, uprooted a few trees but caused no major structural damage on the island. All the Caribbean islands to the north of Tobago have regular storms and hurricanes.

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Temperature (°C) 29 30 31 31 31 30 31 31 31 31 31 29
Temperature (°F) 85 86 87 88 88 86 87 88 88 87 87 85
Sunshine 7 8 8 8 8 6 7 7 7 7 7 7
Rainfall (mm) 71 43 31 46 112 254 249 239 183 178 198 147
Rainfall (inches) 2.8 1.7 1.2 1.8 4.4 10 9.8 9.4 7.2 7.0 7.8 5.8