Although Barbados does have a wet and dry season, there's sunshine all year round on the island, making it a resort that's always open to holidaymakers. 

Barbados enjoys 3000 hours of sunshine every year, notching up between 8-9 hours of sunshine every day. November to March sees the greatest number of hours, with up to 10 hours per day. 

Despite the constant blue skies and warm weather, Barbados isn't an island that suffers from blistering heat, largely thanks to the north east trade winds which help to take the sting out of the sun. These trade winds also mean that nights are slightly cooler too.

Beautiful blue skies and wonderful beaches can be expected in Barbados

There's a daytime average of 86°F but even in the hottest months, the temperature rarely goes over 90°F, leaving it wonderfully warm but without it being unbearable. 

Being in the tropics means that even on "cooler" days, it's still a very balmy 78°F, and although locals might complain about it being chilly, guests from colder climates are still likely to find it very warm!

Wet and dry seasons

Barbados does have a wet and dry season, but even in the wettest months, the island still makes a great holiday destination. 

Tropical rains can be very impressive but on Barbados they are short-lived, disappearing as suddenly as they arrived. Showers are typically followed by blue skies and sunshine so within minutes, everything has dried up and there's no sign that it had ever rained!

Being just 13° north of the equator, Barbados has a typical tropical climate, with its weather split into two distinct seasons. Outside the wet season, it rarely rains other than the occasional short-lived downpour. 

The wet season starts sometime between May and June and runs until the end of the year, finishing during November or December. The rest of the year is officially the dry season, with the driest months between February and April.

Rain in Barbados will soon dry up! 

Temperatures don't really vary very much, with both seasons offering warm weather. The low season is slightly cooler and less humid too so it can be the more popular time to visit. Average highs during this period are around 28°C, still very hot and sunny. 

During the dry season, the water temperature in the sea will drop to around 26°C, still very pleasantly warm and perfect for both swimmers and water sports enthusiasts. 

Visiting during the wet season brings slightly hotter weather, with the average high marginally up at 29°C. Although the increase in temperature is relatively little, the rising humidity can make it feel much hotter. 

The ocean's temperature increases to around 28°C, making it feel more like a bath than seawater!

Although Barbados usually escapes any hurricane activity (see below) it can be affected by hurricanes in the vicinity, so if you're travelling in the wet season, you'll need to keep an eye on developments. Travel arrangements in particular can be disrupted, and the weather may be more volatile than usual on the island itself. 

Hurricanes

Some of the Caribbean can be blighted by hurricanes, leaving holidaymakers on tenterhooks and anxiously checking weather forecasts if there's a storm brewing on the horizon. 

Barbados occupies a unique position, rarely - almost never! - suffering from major hurricanes thanks to its isolated position in the ocean. 

Hurricanes often rely on land masses to keep going, bouncing from one to another as they continue on their path. Because Barbados lies away from the rest of the Caribbean group, hurricanes don't ricochet into the island, leaving it untouched from even the worst of the tropical storms. 

Many hurricanes start from the African coast region, moving into the Caribbean Sea around 100 miles north of Barbados. 

Hurricanes were recorded on Barbados in 1831 and 1898, and again in 1955 but local stories suggest that even then, the island escaped the worst of the storm, with stories of a bus driver continuing on his way, describing it as a 'bit of a breeze!'

Year-round resort

Although Barbados has a wet season, there's no real disruption to the sunshine, with rainfall offering a refreshing break from the humidity and hot weather! 

The resorts in Barbados offer a range of facilities so if there's a tropical storm brewing, it's the perfect chance to indulge in a spot of pampering in a spa before returning outside to the beach a bit later. 

This consistency and permanent, year-round sunshine.