Today's weather for Ocho Rios, Jamaica6th Sep 2008 16:00

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Weather Overview for Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios is located on the north coast of Jamaica about 100miles to the east of the island’s other most popular holiday destination Montego Bay. It’s a very fast growing town, thanks in no small part to the tourist trade, and now has nearly 100,000 inhabitants. Ocho Rios is a popular stop-off for cruise ships meandering through the Caribbean.

The climate of Ocho Rios is tropical; this means temperatures are warm year round with only small fluctuations and there are two distinct seasons – wet and dry. Average temperature varies just 3C across the year – from its lowest of 26C in January and February to its highest of 29C around August time.

The wet season begins in late May or early June and runs through until November or sometimes December. It is also the hottest time of year. The rain normally falls in short sharp showers so there can still be a good amount of sunshine. September and October is the wettest part of the rainy season. Statistically October has the highest monthly rainfall average with 171mm, although this will vary year on year.

The heaviness of the rains during the wet season can be quite different each year too and much can depend upon the hurricane activity in the Caribbean. The island of Jamaica lies in the hurricane belt meaning that during the hurricane season from June to November the island can be hit by hurricanes or violent tropical storms. In truth, hurricanes do not hit Ocho Rios often – the last one to hit was Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.

Many people find the wet season a good time to visit as there are far fewer tourists on the island and it is much cheaper to stay. You must remember you are running the risk of bad weather at this time of year, but equally you can be lucky; the rains can often hit mainly at night and showers are normally heavy but over quickly leaving plenty of time for sunny weather. On the other hand, you don’t want to be stuck in a hurricane on your holiday!

For the rest of the year - the dry season - sunshine prevails and rainfall is very low, although not unheard of. The coolest weather comes in January and February when average temperature is 26C. These months are arguably the best time to visit as the temperature is a little more comfortable and sunshine is guaranteed. Temperatures range between 23C and 29C. Occasional showers can occur in the dry months but they are more of a relief than a nuisance.

In general, Ocho Rios enjoys a fantastic warm tropical climate that can be enjoyed at any time of year – the climate is one of the main reasons the Caribbean is such a popular holiday destination. Just prepare to get wet if you visit during the rainy season.

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