Hurricane Season

Jamaica hurricane season, month by month

Hurricane season in Jamaica runs from June 1 to November 30, the official Atlantic season set by the US National Hurricane Center.

BestFebruary30° / 22° · 42mmAvoidOctober32° / 24° · 159mmNowNovember31° / 24° · Shoulder
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Calmer months for Jamaica

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The season in one line: June to November, worst in September and October

Jamaica follows the official Atlantic hurricane season, June 1 to November 30. Across the whole Atlantic, the National Hurricane Center puts the peak on September 10, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. In Montego Bay those weeks are also wet: 135mm of rain in September and 159mm in October, the wettest month of the year, against 42–64mm a month from February to April.

May is wet too (150mm), but it falls before the season opens: that rain comes from showers, not hurricanes.

Month by month

  • June (86mm) and July (66mm): the season opens, though in an average Atlantic season the first hurricane does not form until early to mid-August. Beryl was an early exception: it passed 15–20 nautical miles off the south coast on 3 July 2024, with its strongest winds just offshore.
  • August (94mm): risk climbs. Dean passed within about 20 nautical miles of the south coast as a category 4 on 19 August 2007.
  • September (135mm): the Atlantic peak. Gilbert crossed the island on 12 September 1988, and Ivan stayed just off the south coast as a category 4 on 11 September 2004. Our worst time to visit Jamaica guide covers what that means for a trip.
  • October (159mm): the wettest month, and the month Sandy came ashore in 2012 and Melissa in 2025.
  • November (107mm): the season winds down and rain eases.

Hurricanes that have hit or brushed Jamaica

These are recent hurricanes from the National Hurricane Center's storm reports. It is a guide to the pattern, not a complete list.

  • Gilbert, 12 September 1988, major hurricane. Gilbert passed directly over Jamaica, its eyewall crossing the whole length of the island, with gusts to nearly 150 mph and a 9-foot storm surge on the northeast coast.
  • Ivan, 11 September 2004, category 4. Ivan slowed and turned west, keeping its centre at least 20 nautical miles off the south coast. The NHC report counts 17 deaths in Jamaica.
  • Dean, 19 August 2007, category 4. Dean passed within about 20 nautical miles of the south coast, with its strongest winds just offshore.
  • Sandy, 24 October 2012, category 1. Sandy came ashore near Bull Bay, between Kingston and South Haven. The NHC notes it was the first hurricane landfall in Jamaica since Gilbert in 1988.
  • Beryl, 3 July 2024, category 2. Beryl passed 15–20 nautical miles off the south coast, bringing hurricane conditions to parts of it.
  • Melissa, 28 October 2025, category 5. Melissa made landfall near New Hope with winds near 185 mph and crossed western Jamaica. The NHC calls it the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in Jamaica. Its inner core passed over St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James and Trelawny, and its report lists at least 45 deaths in Jamaica.

Three of these storms, Ivan, Dean and Beryl, stayed just off the south coast rather than crossing it. Gilbert and Melissa crossed the island; Melissa crossed the west, including St. James, the parish that holds Montego Bay.

If your dates fall in hurricane season

  • Avoid mid-August to October if you can. Every storm above except Beryl came between mid-August and late October.
  • Book flexible. Pick refundable hotel rates and flights you can change, and buy travel insurance when you book, before a storm has a name.
  • Watch the forecast. Hurricanes are tracked for days before they arrive. Follow the National Hurricane Center and the Meteorological Service of Jamaica; our live storm tracker shows active storms.
  • Or go December to April. That is outside hurricane season, and February to April is the driest stretch in Montego Bay. The best time to visit Jamaica guide covers every month.

For the wider region, island by island, see when hurricane season is in the Caribbean.

Your Jamaica cheat sheet

One email with the whole year in it — and the questions that actually change a trip there, answered.

  • All 12 months scored 0–100
  • When storm risk peaks, and the calmer months to book
  • The questions that change the plan, answered
  • Plus the Travel Timing Calendar 2027: every destination, every month (PDF)

We'll email you your cheat sheet with the Travel Timing Calendar, plus occasional travel-timing guides. Unsubscribe anytime; see our privacy policy.

The year at a glance

Twelve months, three seasons

Each cell is one month. Lemon means peak, sky means shoulder, gray means avoid. The outlined cell is the current month.

Jamaica in January: Peak.Jamaica in February: Peak.Jamaica in March: Peak.Jamaica in April: Peak.Jamaica in May: Shoulder.Jamaica in June: Shoulder.Jamaica in July: Shoulder.Jamaica in August: Shoulder.Jamaica in September: Avoid.Jamaica in October: Avoid.Jamaica in November: Shoulder.Jamaica in December: Peak.
Peak seasonShoulderAvoid

Atlas Ranger Score · proprietary

When Jamaica scores best, month by month

Our transparent 0–100 score blends weather comfort, crowds, value and festivals into one number per month. How it's calculated →

65/100Goodannual average
  • Best monthFebruary 78
  • Best valueJuly 64 off-peak
  • ToughestOctober 57
71Jan78★Feb71Mar69Apr55May61Jun64Jul60Aug55Sep57Oct64Nov69Dec

See how Jamaica ranks against every destination on the Best Time to Travel leaderboard →

Explore the map

Every city, every month

Drag the month scrubber, hover any city, read the headline for that window.

Loading seasonality map…
Conditions right now
Right now in Jamaica: 26°C, partly cloudy.
Feels like26°C
Humidity91%
Wind24 km/h
UV (clear sky)0 Low
Today🌧️30° 25°8.2 mm
Wed🌦️31° 24°1.9 mm
Thu🌧️31° 24°3.4 mm
Fri🌦️28° 25°4.9 mm
Sat🌦️29° 24°13 mm
Forecast updated Nov 10, 5:19 AM UTC · Weather data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0)

Jamaica vs Nearby Destinations

vs Cancun

Same hurricane season, different strengths. Jamaica wins on culture, music, food, and mountain scenery; Cancun wins on calm clear water and cenote and ruin day trips. Pick Jamaica for a place with character; pick Cancun for the beach itself.

vs Bahamas

The Bahamas has clearer, shallower water and quieter Out Islands; Jamaica has mountains, waterfalls, and a far richer cultural scene. Both are exposed to the August–October hurricane peak. Pick the Bahamas for the water; pick Jamaica for a fuller trip beyond the beach.

Airport transfers, money, water, connectivity and which areas to stay in are covered once, on the Jamaica best-time guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is hurricane season in Jamaica?
June 1 to November 30, the official Atlantic hurricane season. The season peaks on September 10, with most activity from mid-August to mid-October, according to the National Hurricane Center. In Montego Bay, September and October are also among the wettest months, at 135mm and 159mm of rain.
What is the worst month for hurricanes in Jamaica?
September and October. Gilbert crossed the island on 12 September 1988, Ivan passed just off the south coast as a category 4 on 11 September 2004, Sandy came ashore near Kingston on 24 October 2012, and Melissa made landfall as a category 5 on 28 October 2025.
Is it safe to visit Jamaica during hurricane season?
Most weeks of the season pass without a storm, and hurricanes are tracked for days before they arrive. If your dates fall between June and November, book refundable rates, buy travel insurance when you book, and follow advisories from the National Hurricane Center and the Meteorological Service of Jamaica.
When does hurricane season end in Jamaica?
Officially on November 30. Rain in Montego Bay falls from 159mm in October to 107mm in November and 81mm in December, and February to April is the driest stretch, at 42–64mm a month.
What is the worst month to visit Jamaica?
October. It is the wettest month of the year (159mm on the north coast) and still inside the hurricane window — Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a Category 5 on October 28, 2025, the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall on the island. Rain can persist for days, and heavy rain can flood rivers and roads. September is a close second: it holds the Atlantic peak, on September 10.
What is the best month to visit Jamaica?
February. It is the driest month (42mm), the least humid month, and Reggae Month fills the calendar with concerts. Prices are at winter-peak levels, though. For value, mid-April to early May offers nearly the same weather at noticeably lower rates, and the first half of December is dry at near-low-season prices.
When is the cheapest time to visit Jamaica?
September and October, when resort rates on the north coast can fall well below winter levels. The catch is hurricane-peak timing, heavy rain, and some smaller properties closing. Late April to early June and the first three weeks of November give most of the discount with far less risk.
How many days do you need in Jamaica?
Seven days is the standard resort week. If you want more than a beach, split it: three or four nights in Negril or Montego Bay, then two or three in Port Antonio or Treasure Beach for the quieter, greener side of the island. Kingston is worth a day for the Bob Marley Museum and the food.
Is Jamaica safe for tourists?
Resort areas — Negril, Montego Bay's hotel strip, Ocho Rios — are well-policed and low-risk. The island's high crime rate is concentrated in specific neighbourhoods of Kingston, Spanish Town, and parts of Montego Bay away from the tourist zones. Use licensed taxis, avoid walking after dark outside resort areas, and follow the hurricane forecast from August to October.
Jamaica or Cancun — which is better?
They share the same hurricane calendar, so timing is a wash. Jamaica has the stronger culture — music, food, a real sense of place — and greener mountain scenery. Cancun has calmer, clearer water, and cenotes and Mayan ruins as day trips. Pick Jamaica for character; pick Cancun for the water and day trips.

Keep planning

Plan your Jamaica trip

Sources

Every claim on this page is backed by an authoritative source. Atlas Ranger synthesizes data from multiple references so you can see exactly where each fact came from.

  1. Jamaica Tourist Board (visitjamaica.com)Used for: Official visitor information, entry requirements, event dates
  2. NOAA: Montego Bay, 1991-2020Used for: Monthly temperature, rainfall and sunshine averages
  3. NOAA National Hurricane CenterUsed for: Atlantic hurricane season climatology and historical storm tracks
  4. Meteorological Service of JamaicaUsed for: Local forecasts, rainfall records, storm advisories
  5. NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone ClimatologyUsed for: Season dates (June 1 to November 30), the September 10 peak and the mid-August to mid-October main season
  6. NOAA National Hurricane Center: Hurricanes in History (Gilbert, 1988)Used for: Gilbert passed directly over Jamaica as a major hurricane on 12 September 1988; eyewall across the whole island; gusts near 150 mph; 9-foot surge
  7. NHC Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ivan (2004)Used for: Category 4 passage at least 20 n mi off the south coast, 11 September 2004; 17 deaths in Jamaica
  8. NHC Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Dean (2007)Used for: Category 4 passage within about 20 n mi of the south coast, 19 August 2007
  9. NHC Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Sandy (2012)Used for: Category 1 landfall near Bull Bay, between Kingston and South Haven, 24 October 2012; first hurricane landfall since Gilbert in 1988
  10. NHC Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Beryl (2024)Used for: Passage 15–20 n mi off the south coast at 90–95 kt, 3 July 2024
  11. NHC Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Melissa (2025)Used for: Category 5 landfall near New Hope, 28 October 2025; strongest landfall on record in Jamaica; parishes in the inner core; at least 45 deaths in Jamaica