General Overview

Montserrat enjoys a tropical climate, which means that the weather is hot and humid almost every month of the year and the temperatures are constant year-round. The minimum temperatures are quite pleasant, especially if coming from countries of the northern hemisphere, ranging between 21oC (61.8oF) and 24oC (75.2oF). As for the maximum averages, they are around seven degrees higher, so they vary between 28oC (82.4oF) and 31oC (87.8oF). Of course, the presence of the trade winds helps bring the average humidity down. The same sea breezes also provide the needed cooling, allowing tourists and locals alike to feel less hot than it really is as the temperatures mitigate thanks to the trade winds.

The Wet and Dry Seasons

The island of Montserrat has two distinct seasons – the dry season and the wet (or rainy) season. The first refers to the period between December and June, while the second lasts from July through November. During the rainy season, the island receives approximately 1,250mm (49.2 inches) of rain and can go up to 2,000 mm (78.7 inches) on average.

Hurricane Season

The hurricane season in Montserrat is between July and November, as is the case with most Caribbean islands. Montserrat could be struck by a tropical storm or cyclone during this period, although this is not a huge possibility.

Fast Facts About the Montserrat Weather:

• Hottest month – July and August (33oC or 91.4oF)
• Coldest month – January and December (23oC or 73.4oF)
• Driest month – February (86.1mm or 3.39 in)
• Maximum sea temperature – June (29oC or 84.2oF).
• The longest days  - June is the month with the longest days, averaging 13 hours and 7 minutes of daylight.
• The shortest days – The month with the least daylight is December, with around 11 hours and 9 minutes of daylight.

Average Temperatures (Plymouth)

Montserrat is hot, year-round. However, some months feel much more comfortable than others, when it comes to the average temperatures. For instance, January, February, and December have the lowest average temperatures, while the summer months have the highest ones at 23oC (73.4oF) and 25oC (77oF), respectively.

Tip: You can use this tool to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit: Celsius to Fahrenheit conversion | °C to °F (metric-conversions.org)

Average Rainfall (Plymouth)

The month with the highest rainfall (the wettest month) is October, while February is the month with the least rainfall (the driest month), with 196mm and 86mm, respectively.

Average Rainfall Days (Plymouth)

In their overwhelming majority, all the months of the year have at least 14 days of rainfall, while others see rain for 2/3 of the month, such as August, October, November, and December, with October being the wettest month (21 days of rain). The months with the least rain are February and April (14 days of rain each), followed by March (15 days) and June (16 days).

Sea Temperature

Although the sea is warm throughout the year, the best months for swimming are September and October, when the highest average sea temperature is around 29oC (84.2oF). As for the lowest sea temperatures, they are in February and March, when the average water temperature is near 26oC (78.8oF), which is still fantastic for snorkelling and diving, if not for swimming!

Average Daylight (Plymouth)

June and July are the months when Montserrat has the longest days and a total of more than 13 hours of daylight every day, respectively. Then come the months of March, April, May, and August, with more than 12 hours of daylight per day. Lastly, in January, February, and from October through December one can expect the least hours of daylight (around 11 daily).

Average Sunshine

Montserrat has the most sunshine between the months of January through August when the island enjoys around 8 hours of sunshine on average per day. However, the following months (from September to December) are not so bad either, as they enable visitors and locals alike to indulge in their daytime outdoor activities with 7 hours of sunshine at their disposal.

Average UV Index (Plymouth)

Highest UV Index

In Plymouth, the highest UV index is during the period between March through September, when the average maximum is 12. This is considered “extreme” in the UV Index scale (the very top of the scale, meaning the worst measurement) and refers to the most extreme risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. It is the time of the year when visitors and locals need to take strong precautions to protect their skin from sunburn, which can take place within minutes after the skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays without high-SPF sunscreen.

Lowest UV Index

In Plymouth, the lowest UV Index is in the months of December and January, when the average maximum UV Index is around 8. This means that the risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure is very high and extra precautions should be taken to avoid sunburn and its adverse effects.