The hurricane season in the Caribbean generally lasts from early June to late November. Although Curaçao is typically not affected by the hurricane season, during these months there can occasionally be stronger winds and brief rainfall on the island. The southwestern part of Curaçao (where you find the island’s most beautiful beaches) is generally less affected by these weather impacts than the northeastern part.
How Does a Hurricane Form?
A water temperature of at least 80 °F is necessary for a hurricane to form. This is particularly the case from June to November, when the seawater heats up significantly during the summer months.
The intense evaporation of large amounts of water creates very large clouds of steam. The rising warm air is pulled outwards by an increasing air pressure gradient, creating a vortex. When this vortex encounters wind, it moves and can reach speeds of up to 186 mph.
At speeds over 75 mph, it is classified as a hurricane, otherwise, it is considered a tropical storm, which can still be dangerous.
Why Are There No Hurricanes in Curaçao?
Thanks to its extremely favorable geographic location, hurricanes typically do not occur in Curaçao. The last documented hurricane devastated the entire island on September 23, 1877. Since then, no hurricanes have been recorded. The primary reason is that the island is outside the so-called hurricane belt.
At most, there might be remnants of hurricanes that manifest as gusts of wind and light rain. Moreover, Curaçao does not have a prolonged rainy season that lasts several months.
Along with Aruba, Bonaire, and several other islands, Curaçao belongs to the so-called “Leeward Islands”. This island group starts off the north coast of South America in the Caribbean and extends to the southern part of the Lesser Antilles.
In contrast to the “Windward Islands,” the weather on these islands is not affected by the strong and persistent northeast trade winds. Additionally, the climate there is characterized by significantly lower humidity. Moreover, the weather is considerably drier.
What Is the Climate Like in Curaçao?
The climate in Curaçao is quite stable throughout the year. Daytime temperatures typically range between 84 °F and 90 °F, while at night they vary between 75 °F and 79 °F. The number of hours of sunshine also remains fairly constant, with August being notably sunny.
In comparison to the sunshine hours, the amount of rainfall and rainy days shows significant variation over the course of the year.
While a remarkable dryness prevails between March and June, with only three rainy days on average, it is comparatively wet in November and December. With ten to twelve rainy days, these months are well above the annual average of 5.9 rainy days.
The sea offers excellent conditions for swimming, snorkeling, and diving all year round. With pleasant water temperatures of 77 °F to 82 °F, the sea is refreshing yet not too cold.
There is no specific high season for travel to Curaçao in that sense. For a more detailed breakdown of temperatures, please refer to our guide to the best time to visit Curaçao.
We also provide tips on when the weather conditions are particularly good for diving and which months are especially rewarding for nature lovers.
