The Weather and Climate of Martinique (When to Go)

Martinique's tropical climate has made it yet another must-visit in the Caribbean Sea’s long list of entries. The island enjoys warm sunny days all year round, with temperatures that are just right, and rainy days that are still dominated by the Caribbean Sun, well, except for the infamous hurricane season later in the year.
The Weather and Climate of Martinique
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The best time to go will always depend on you. Several factors might play in, be it budget, tolerance for the dry heat, or the pesky light rain, or the humidity, the trick is to always find what works for you. Other than that, the months of April and May have solid arguments as to why they’re the best months.

How Many Seasons Are There in Martinique?

Martinique is a tropical country with two distinct seasons, wet and dry. The island has a hot humid tropical climate with average minimum temperatures of 21 to 23 C, and maximum average temperatures of 28 to 31 C. However, the perceived heat tends to be regulated by the trade winds that blow from the northeast.

The best time to visit Martinique is when there you can expect the least amount of rain, and just the right temperatures that would make adventures and other island excursions still enjoyable. The dry season is around December to May, while the hot, rainy wet season is between June to November.

The island’s dry season is considered to be the best time to visit the island as the temperatures allow for an enjoyable day outdoors, it rains a little, and the heat is just right. While the wet season, despite its heat, is also the dangerous hurricane season. The island tends to get hit by tropical cyclones and hurricanes during these months.

The dry season is also the island’s peak season where prices tend to get higher because of the sheer number of incoming tourists. Accommodations and plane tickets may hike and cost higher than the rest of the year, so it’s best to think about your budget first before flying in these months.

What Are the Two Seasons Like in Martinique?

The wet season is characterized by frequent rains, that are intermittent and short, yet persist more as the day gets late. The average low temperatures during these months play around 23 to 24 C, and the average highs are about 29 to 30 C, with rainy days counting up to 16 to 20 days, with an average precipitation of 160 to 255 mm.

The dry season tends to be cooler and has lower average high temperatures playing around 28 to 29 C, and average lows of 21 to 22 C. these months also see the least number of rainy days that can count up to 12 to 18 days, and accumulated precipitation of 74 to 134 mm.

The island’s rainy wet season is also the island’s hurricane season that tends to ravage throughout the hurricane belt for months, and Martinique can get directly hit. However, the dry season is a tropical paradise with more sunny days, and cooler temperatures, however, the crowds might be overwhelming.

Does It Rain in Martinique?

It rains in Martinique, especially during the wet rainy season, between the months of June to November. It still rains outside of the wet season, although they are harder to come by and they’re shorter and quick. The average number of rainy days in a year in Martinique is around 198.2 days.

Even though visiting the island might be less desirable during the rainy season, there are still perks and advantages to it. One thing is that prices tend to be cheaper during the rainy season. Fewer tourists make way for smaller demand, thus, smaller prices.

Despite the more present fun-spoiling rain during the wet season, the sun is still king in the Caribbean. So, you can expect to still have long hours of sun on your stay, and some outdoor activities can still be enjoyable. Well, apart from possible storms.

How Often Does It Rain in Martinique?

The wet season of June to November sees the most rain with the number of rainy days counting from 16 up to 20 days in a month. Visitors opting to visit during the wet season should also be wary of possible storms and hurricanes. It’s best to look up weather forecasts before going to the island.

Does Martinique Have Snow?

Martinique is a warm tropical climate island, sitting right at the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles. Snows can’t be produced in a tropical climate.

What Is the Best Time to Visit Martinique?

The right combination of frequent rain, and mild temperatures, and reasonable prices make up the best time to be on a tropical island. The best time to visit Martinique is arguably April to May, the last two months of the dry season. Crowds are decreasing, and prices are cheaper during April and May, despite the increasing humidity, the temperatures are mild enough for tourists to enjoy the island.

Visiting during these months has low-season prices, and hotels and resorts will typically have good deals for those opting to visit during these months. May, being the last season of the dry season signals the last hurricane-free months as June tends to be the beginning of storms hitting the region.

For better deals in hotels and other accommodations make sure to book rooms and plane tickets 3-4 months before your planned travel dates.

What Biome Is Martinique?

Martinique’s northern side is covered by rainforests and is typically greener than the rest of the island. The island’s south side, on the other hand, is dry and is characterized by a significant lack of greenery compares to the north side. The whole island’s ecological region type is called a neotropical, with warm sunny days for the majority of the year, and a wet season often ravaged by storms.

Is Martinique Tropical?

Martinique is classified as a tropical – typically hot and humid all year round and a wet season that spans almost half a year where it is often ravaged by storms starting from June to November. The dry season of December to April/May is often characterized by cool temperatures with few instances of rain.

What Is the Landscape Like in Martinique?

Martinique is a lush volcanic island that is covered by green forests, especially in the north, surrounding Mount Pelee, and a relatively dry south side. The island is blessed with beautiful beaches and mountainous landscapes like the stuff of travel postcards.

Located at the geographical center of the Lesser Antilles, the island’s eastern coastlines border the Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea to the west. Martinique measures 50 miles long and 24 miles wide, delivering 425 square miles of rugged mountainous landscape, dense forests, rivers, waterfalls, rolling hills, and – most importantly – many picturesque bays and coves.

What Kind of Fauna and Flora Can You Find in the North of Martinique?

The fauna you can find in the northern reaches of the island is highly likely the same kind you’ll encounter many other tropical rainforests in the world. However, the island also boasts quite a number of endemic species. The Lesser Antillean Iguana, the Martinican Pit Viper, and the Martinique Lancehead are just some of them.

You can also spit the Jamaican fruit bat, the Antillean fruit-eating bat, the Little Yellow-shouldered bat, and a slew of other interesting bat species that have interestingly flourishing populations on the island. One notable non-native animal that has a huge presence on the island is the mongoose. Introduced to the island in the 1800s supposedly to control the island’s snake population, in turn, decimated many of the island’s native bird population.

The Flora on the north is significantly different than in the south as the north receives most of the rainfall and has thicker vegetation. The north side has bamboo, mahogany, rosewood, and locust. The island also sports the most diverse species of flowers due to the interesting landscape. Varying elevations and weather systems have given the island interesting conditions in which a plethora of flower species can grow and bloom.

Does Martinique Have a Volcano?

Martinique is a volcanic island that has given it its interesting and lush greenery. Most of the island’s north side is covered by this same green that seems to be given life by the weather, the landscape, and the volcano, Mount Pelee.

What Is the Name of the Volcano on the Island of Martinique?

Martinique has Mount Pelee, an active volcano that sits just 24 km or 15 miles northwest of the capital of Fort-de-France. The volcano is about 4,583 ft high or 1,397 meters and was named after a French term meaning “bald” – as the volcano consists of layers of volcanic ash and lavas, with a gently sloping cone and lush forests starting at the foot.

Mount Pelee’s most devastating eruption was on May 8, 1902, where it killed around 30,000 people or about 15% of the population of the island back then, and destroyed the town and port of Saint-Pierre. Another minor eruption occurred in 1929.

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