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The climate of Cuba
Cuba has a tropical savannah climate, type Aw according to the
Köppen-Geiger climate classification. The most south eastern tip of
Cuba has a warm steppe climate, type Bsh. This is because of low
precipitation figures here. During the day temperatures are between
25-34 degrees Celsius on average. This makes Cuba a nice country for
those who like warm weather. The tropical weather is tempered by an
ever present north easterly wind. In the period from November till May
it may even get a little cold during the evening. This is uncommon for
an area with a tropical climate. Cuba’s climate was the main reason
why it used to be so popular as a holiday destination among Americans.
There was this big island situated at a reasonably short flying
distance where rules where much more relaxed than America which was
much more socially conservative, plus it has pleasant weather all year
round. Even during the rainy season Cuba gets 6-9 hours of sunshine
per day. Rainfall mostly falls in the form of short-lived showers. A
strong current at high altitude makes clouds disappear as quickly as
they came. Sometimes a dark-gray sky gives way to a bright blue sky in
under 30 minutes.
Climate information of places and areas in Cuba
The climate information given on this page is only brief. Specific
information on weather and climate can be found on the pages per
region or city. The following climate information is available for
Cuba:
Summer in Cuba
The summer months in Cuba are warm and humid. In the interior and
along the south coast you can actually feel humidity figures rising.
During the period from June till September the climate may get clammy
and sultry. This phenomenon occurs much less along the north coast
because a sea wind is responsible for a tempering influence on
humidity figures. Cuba has a rainy season during the summer. Don’t
expect rain and clouds for days on end. Rainfall is usually limited to
showers in the late afternoon and during the evening. From the
beginning of June till halfway through November hurricanes and
tropical depressions are not uncommon.
Hurricanes
Because Cuba is a large and long, narrow island the chances of being
hit by a hurricane are high. However, it is certainly not the case
that Cuba gets hit by a dozen hurricanes per year, but hurricanes do
frequently occur. Of all the hurricanes that pass through the
Caribbean in a season Cuba gets hit by one or two. Hurricanes come
from the south eastern direction so the southern and the south eastern
part of Cuba are the parts that get hit most often. The northern part
of Cuba doesn’t get many hurricanes. Hurricanes follow a path just
north of Cuba and move away in a western direction. Hurricanes that
reach the eastern part of Cuba usually come via the Dominican Republic
and Haiti. Force 3 hurricanes on the Simpson-Saffir scale are
uncommon. The highest chance of a destructive hurricane is when a
hurricane comes from the south. Especially the western part of the
south coast is exposed to its destructive force. Because the hurricane
hasn’t hit any land for hundreds of kilometers before it reaches Cuba
it can increase over the Caribbean Sea to a force 4 or even 5. When
the hurricane follows a path toward Havana it will be tempered by the
land. There will almost always be damage in the Cuban capital and
sometimes casualties as well.
Winter
Winters in Cuba are very mild to warm. Along the north coast
temperatures will be 25-26 degrees Celsius on average. Along the south
coast and in the south eastern part temperatures are around 30 degrees
Celsius on average. With little precipitation and many hours of
sunshine Cuba is a pleasant country to be in. Along the north coast
the wind may feel a little cold, especially in places like
Varadero
and Cayo Coco.
UV-index
The UV-index in Cuba is high. A large part of the year the highest
figure is reached (UV-index 11). Going into the sunshine unprotected
is not sensible; unless it is for a very short period of time (10-15
minutes). All year round the use of sunscreen with a high protective
factor (with a minimum of 30) can be recommended, even for those who
don’t get sunburn that quickly. Our experience is that even a walk in
the morning in the month of May under a completely overcast sky can
cause sunburn when you leave your skin unprotected. During the winter
months the UV-index will be between 6 and 10. This is comparable to
summer conditions in Southern Europe.
Extremes
Apart from the aforementioned hurricanes Cuba has few extremes where
weather and climate are concerned. Wintry weather such as snow, glaze
ice or subzero temperatures don’t occur here. Extremely hot weather
with temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher don’t occur here
either. The sea and wind always have a tempering influence on the
climate.
Climate figures
The figures below are based on long term weather and climate
records and are an average for Cuba. Please, note that local
deviations may occur, especially in the field of possible
precipitation quantities. Specific information on weather and climate
can be found on the pages per region or city.
More climate information
Climate figures are very useful but don’t present a general impression
of the climate and the eventual weather circumstances within a certain
period. The figures don’t always reflect the chance of wintry weather,
extreme heat or hurricanes. That is why we monthly offer useful extra
climate information. The information below is an average for
Cuba. Please visit the pages on individual climate information for
other places in Cuba.
Disclaimer
The information at this site was carefully composed from climate data collected by meteorological services, meteorological offices, climate experts and other sources. “More climate info” is based on statistics, climate data and personal experience. No rights can be derived from this site. Weather has no memory and gives no guaranties. Nothing is as changeable and unpredictable as the weather. The authors of this site feel in no way responsible for any damages caused by misinterpretation or other circumstances that may influence your holiday or trip to a certain destination. We provide information, it’s up to the reader to use it to it’s benefit.
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= 0-5 mm ●
= 6-30 mm ●
= 31-60 mm ●
= 61-100 mm ●
= 101-200 mm ●
=
over 200 mm
