Are you dreaming of a trip to Guadeloupe for your next vacation? But here it is, the period you wish to leave corresponds to the rainy season in Guadeloupe... Will this ruin your vacation? Is it dangerous? Here is all the information on Guadeloupe during the wet season.
What is the climate in Guadeloupe?
Guadeloupe is an island in the Antilles located in the Caribbean. It is part of the French overseas departments, like Martinique. The main island of Guadeloupe is made up of two parts, connected by a thin stretch of land: Basse-Terre to the west and Grande-Terre to the east.
We also distinguish the neighboring islands which belong to Guadeloupe : Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Désirade.
Guadeloupe enjoys a tropical climatetempered by the trade winds and maritime influences. There are two marked seasons in Guadeloupe:
- There dry season, also called “Lent” which takes place from December to April
- There wet season, also called “wintering”, which extends from May to November
The average temperature in Guadeloupe is high throughout the year. She is 27°C during the dry season and 30°C or more during the wet season. In addition, you can swim all year round in Guadeloupe, with the bathing water being between 26 and 28°C.
As the climate is tropical, showers are present during the wet and dry season. Nevertheless, Lent is marked by short and not very intense showers. We find in Guadeloupe the presence of trade winds. These winds, typical of the tropical climate, are constant and blow with moderate intensity for a large part of the year. However, they are less present in the wet season, which makes the atmosphere heavier.
Travel to Guadeloupe: the dry season
Most travelers prefer to go during the dry season in Guadeloupe. This is the opportunity to enjoy sunny and dry weather which will allow you to embark on a number of hikes, excursions and enjoy the island's tropical beaches.
During this period, you will also be able to enjoy traditional festivals. The month of December in particular is marked by the end-of-year celebrations which are a highly anticipated moment in the Antilles. Concerts are organized as well as events where residents come together in a joyful atmosphere. The 1er January, It's the opening of Carnival which often lasts more than a month.
In summary, there is plenty to do during the Lent season. Everyone will agree that This is the ideal time for a trip to Guadeloupe. But can we go during the rainy season in Guadeloupe? Here is information to learn more about this period.
What happens during the rainy season in Guadeloupe?
In Guadeloupe, the wet or wintering season is marked by the presence of regular rains. The occurrence of sudden downpours with high intensity is common for months from April to December.
But rain is not the only thing that characterizes this period. Other inconveniences occur during the rainy season in Guadeloupe such as storms, rough seas and the presence of more mosquitoes. Additionally, the atmosphere is much warmer and constant throughout the day. Ambient humidity, as well as the absence of wind at times, make traveling difficult to bear.
Finally, during this period, the evaporation of water causes a risk of cyclone from June to December and particularly from August to November. It is especially this period that we consider to avoid during a trip.
Rainy season in Guadeloupe: the cyclonic risk
Guadeloupe is considered to have a tropical storm or hurricane approximately every 4 years. Which means that this risk must be taken into account when deciding to travel during the hurricane season. However, we cannot predict this event, just like many other climatic risks present in the Antilles. For example, the Soufrière volcano is an active Guadeloupean volcano, considered to be at rest, since its last eruption in 1976. This risk is also present when traveling to Guadeloupe.
Does this mean that you should not travel to Guadeloupe during the hurricane season? It's up to you. Please note, however, that the cyclone risk has marked the history and lives of Guadeloupeans. Everyone will be able to tell you about their experience of a hurricane, and in particularIrma in September 2017. But that doesn't mean they leave their island for six months of the year. Should we necessarily refrain from traveling during the hurricane season?
What are the worst months for a trip to Guadeloupe?
When we look at the climate data more closely, we realize that the rainy season in Guadeloupe needs to be nuanced. We couldn't tell you “don't go during the wet season in Guadeloupe”. Indeed, the weather is not always a sure bet.
Although numerous studies have been carried out, and comparisons are possible from year to year, we notice rare and unpredictable disturbances. For examplethe dry season can bring days of very bad weather in certain years, and on the contrary, certain wet seasons can go very well for travelers.
This is why, even if some people take advantage of the winter in Europe to go to Guadeloupe in the sun, many travelers decide to leave during the summer school holidays. Yes, they choose the months of June, July or August for their stay. However, we could consider the month of July as one of the worst months to travel to Guadeloupe….
July, a hellish month in Guadeloupe?
The month of July in Guadeloupe is one of the wettest of the year. In July, it rains almost every day: around 21 days out of 30. In addition, it is particularly hot with a average of 31°C. Temperatures don't really drop in the evening or morning. We agree, it doesn't make you want to travel, unless you like hot showers…
However, once again, everything is not black and white with the climate in Guadeloupe. Indeed, showers are almost daily, but locals will tell you that they often pass as quickly as they come.
It doesn't rain all day like in mainland France : showers occur in the evening or in the morning and the rest of the day has favorable weather. It is therefore possible to spend a day discovering the island without problem. The important thing is to provide adapted clothing in the event that a downpour occurs during a hike, for example: windbreaker and waterproof shoes.
October, to avoid during the rainy season in Guadeloupe?
October is the month the most humid in relation to the quantity of water. The rainfall is 200 mm or more in the month, for a fairly low number of rainy days: around 10 days. There is therefore a risk of heavy showers when traveling to Guadeloupe in October.
However, rain often occurs at night and continues early in the morning. This therefore does not necessarily spoil a day of travel. On the other hand, with the month of SeptemberOctober is one of the hottest months of the year. We find an average temperature of 33°C.
Sometimes, humidity can make you feel suffocated. In this case, it is pleasant to move to the seaside to enjoy the sea breeze. It is certain that October is not a month to favor a stay, but it is nevertheless possible to travel to Guadeloupe during this period. It can be said that the weather is never extremely unfavorable in Guadeloupe.
Traveling during the rainy season in Guadeloupe: any positives?
Going to Guadeloupe during the wet season can sometimes be a choice for travelers. In fact, traveling during the rainy season even allows you to enjoy certain positive points when traveling:
- Of the prices plane tickets, hotels and activities lower
- The presence of certain traditional festivals such as the cooks’ festival in August
- Fewer tourists
Finally, it seems that You should not always choose your trip to Guadeloupe based on the climate there. Moreover, this is often unknown when booking tickets, and we sometimes have surprises… Indeed, like everywhere in the world, the climate in Guadeloupe experiencing disturbances. We sometimes witness a rainy season in Guadeloupe that is not very intense and short, and other times much more violent. Likewise, during the wet season, you can find 8 days of good weather in a row without any cloud.
We must not forget that there are also many rainy days during the dry season. It rains 10 to 20 days per month throughout the year. Traveling to Guadeloupe will therefore always require you to bring some waterproof clothing. But rest assured, the Guadeloupe archipelago being quite large, hopefully it won't rain everywhere at the same time.
And you ? Have you ever traveled to Guadeloupe during the rainy season? Do not hesitate to share your feedback with us in order to complete this article with your experiences.
