Whats the weather like in Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is main and the largest island of the Cayman Islands, which additionally consist of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The position of these islands is in the Caribbean Sea, southwest of Cuba, northwest of Jamaica and east of Yucatan, Mexico. The climate of Grand Cayman Island is tropical, featuring temperatures, in general, between 20C (68F) and 32C (89.6F) throughout the year. Albeit average temperatures are mostly uniform, seasonal variations do exist.
The Grand Cayman resort has two distinctive seasons wet and dry. The wet season runs from May to November, when the island receives approximately 80% of the total rainfall. Also, the rainy season features higher daily temperatures and higher humidity. The dry season runs the rest of the year. During this season, air and sea temperatures are lower and the sky is clearer.
Water temperatures don't vary to a larger extent, and are always between 27C (80.6F) and 30C (86F). This makes this particular destination ideal for enjoying seaside and water activities all year round.
The marvelous seaside and some of the world's most amazing dive sites are top attractions of the island of Grand Cayman. Beaches feature soft sand, lush vegetation, and turquoise, crystal-clear waters. Below a water surface, a world of coral reefs, diverse marine life and occasional shipwrecks awaits explorers.
The dry season is the high season in the resort of Grand Cayman, when weather conditions are most favorable. The wet season features more affordable flight and hotel rates. But, the weather is more unstable, with around a 75% chance of being cloudy most of the time. Furthermore, the hurricane season runs during the biggest part of the rainy season. Even so, this unpleasant occurrence happens rarely.
Dry Season in Grand Cayman
Temperature
Daily temperatures usually range between 23C (73.4F) and 30C (86F) throughout the period. Deviations in this regard are rare, but if they occur, temperatures drop more often than rise. This is due to cool northwestern winds, which tend to decrease minimum temperatures below 20C (68F) at night. Hot intervals during the day in this season are rare and short.
Rainfall
Precipitation during the dry season is constantly low. The approximate quantity of rainfall that Grand Cayman receives by months is:
- 70 mm (2.75 in) in December.
- 50 mm (1.97 in) in January.
- 40 mm (1.57 in) in February and April.
- And 35 mm (1.38 in) in March.
Sunshine Hours
Since the sky is mostly clear, the average number of sunshine hours per day is 9. December and January feature 8 sunshine hours per day, while an average day in April has 10 hours of sunshine.
Because of pleasant sea and air temperatures, clear skies and favorable winds, the dry season is suitable for any outdoor activity on the island of Grand Cayman. Diving and snorkeling activities are very much enjoyed in the waters around the island. Boating is a great way of appreciating the beauty of the Grand Cayman coastline. You can also access the Stingray City, a unique attraction located on the open sea, by a boat. Finally, water sports are plentiful and one of the best ways of spending time here. Kiteboarding, jet skiing, parasailing, paddleboarding and kayaking are some great alternatives.
Rainy Season in Grand Cayman
Temperature
Average daily temperatures on Grand Cayman Island during the rainy season remain between 23C (73.4F) and 32C (89.6F). When compared to the dry season, temperature variations seem insignificant. However, the intervals of hot weather during this season are long. In May, for instance, the interval of high temperatures ranges from 1 pm to 4 pm at the beginning of the month. The period of hot weather extends between 11 am and 6 pm by the month's end. In August, on the other hand, this interval is very long - between 9 am and 8 pm.
Clouds
Throughout the rainy period, the chances of a cloudy weather vary, but are always over 70% from June to September.
Rainfall
On the other hand, the possibility of precipitation is less than 30% for the same period, in general. This parameter reaches its peak during September and October, which are the rainiest months in the year. According to statistics, each rainy month features the following amount of rainfall on average:
- 150 mm (5.9 in) - May, July and August.
- 160 mm (6.3 in) - June.
- 220 mm (8.66 in) - September and October.
- 155 mm (6.1 in) - November.
Overall, the parameters of this season may appear quite unfavorable, but the Grand Cayman resort is still a lively destination at this time. Rainy periods during the day tend to be short (up to a few hours).
Sunshine Hours
This, with longer daylight, grants the island between 8 and 11 sunshine hours per day on average.
Extreme Weather in Grand Cayman
With daily temperatures remaining in the 20s on the Celsius scale (68F-86F) most of the time, extremely low or high temperatures are non-existent. The lowest temperature ever recorded in the Grand Cayman resort was 11C (52F) in February 1968. The highest temperature was 34C (93F) in August 2010.
The position of the island places it in the way of an occasional hurricane. The hurricane season lasts from June to November here, with its peak between August and October. Yet, hurricanes happen quite rarely. In fact, the last hurricane that inflicted big damage was Ivan, which took place on September 12, 2004. Of places in the world hit by these disasters in hurricane-susceptible areas, this particular island rates among the lowest on the Dow Jones Environmental-risk Index.
Because of the nearness of the North American and Caribbean tectonic boundary zone, earthquakes do happen from time to time. Still, the records covering the period of the last 300 years deny the appearance of destructive earthquakes in the area. The earthquake of 2004, with the 6.8 magnitude, was the strongest to happen in recent times. Yet, it failed to cause major damage.
Tsunamis, on the other hand, which pose bigger risk, could come as a consequence of underwater earthquakes. Even so, the possibility of these occurring is very low and available sources don't mention significant impacts on the island in the last 300 years. Waves that travel up to the 400 mph/643 kph are the main features of tsunamis. On the open sea, they could be around 1 feet/0.3 meters high, but their size increases by the coast. Thankfully, the bathymetry around the largest of the Cayman Islands is such that it hinders the amplification of these waves.
Top activities in Grand Cayman remain unchanged in regard to the high season. Water temperatures are pleasant for exploring the underwater world and other activities in the water with the same description are available). If you are versed in diving, there are no limits for your exploration of the seabed. If you don't have confidence in your diving capabilities, snorkeling is still a rewarding activity enjoyed by many people. In addition, the island boasts exotic wildlife species, including parrots and iguanas.