Bahamas Weather and Climate
Geographical location
The Bahamas consists of 700 islands, only 30 of which are permanently inhabited. Around 360,000 inhabitants live in an area of 13,939 square kilometers, around 25 inhabitants per square kilometer.
According to COUNTRYAAH, the island nation of the Bahamas is actually located in the western tropical area of the Atlantic, but it is considered part of the Caribbean in the public eye. The Bahamas are located off the southeast coast of the USA and are not only a very popular travel destination for Americans.
At 5957 square kilometers, Andros is the largest of the Bahama Islands in terms of area. The highest point in the state is Mount Alvernia at just 63 meters on Cat Island. The waters around the islands are very shallow, hence the name “Bahamas”. It comes from the Spanish name Baja Mar, which literally means “shallow sea”.
Abaco is the second largest island after Andros. Many American cruise ships stop in the port of the capital Nassau. The Bahamas can also be easily reached by plane from the American mainland. Nassau Lynden Pindling Airport is served by many international airlines. From Frankfurt you can reach Nassau in about 13 hours with a stopover.
- Abbreviation Finder: Check to see national geography, brief history, society description, domestic politics, economy overview, and a list of widely used acronyms about Bahamas.
Climate in the Bahamas
The Bahamas has a subtropical climate. The average temperature is 28 degrees Celsius in summer. Even in winter, temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees. The warm Gulf Stream ensures water temperatures of 24 to 29 degrees Celsius. In the months of July to October, the Bahamas are regularly hit by cyclones, the hurricane season officially begins in June and ends in November.
A so-called hurricane policy is widespread among the hotels in the Bahamas: If you cancel during a hurricane, you usually get your money back without any problems. In principle, precipitation can come all year round in the Bahamas, but the main rainy season largely coincides with the above-mentioned dangerous season of cyclones from around mid- May to October. The northern islands experience significantly more precipitation than the southern ones, they also usually have 4 to 5 degrees cooler daytime temperatures.
When to go to the Bahamas
The Bahamas are easy to travel almost all year round. Due to the hurricane season, Bahamas newbies in particular should avoid the dream islands in June, July, August, September and October. Don’t just be tempted by the affordable prices, otherwise you have to literally expect your well-deserved vacation to fall into the water.
The risk of precipitation is very high at this time, with over 200 millimeters of rain falling in June and August alone.
As the best time to travel to the Bahamas, we recommend the period from November to May, as very little rain has to be expected and the travel time is outside the hurricane season. The so-called winter in the Bahamas, with water temperatures of 24 to 25 degrees, is still ideal for a beach holiday, and the air temperatures are now pleasant and not so oppressive.
Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Nassau (Bahamas)
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | 25 ° C | 25 ° C | 27 ° C | 28 ° C | 29 ° C | 31 ° C | 32 ° C | 32 ° C | 31 ° C | 30 ° C | 28 ° C | 26 ° C |
| Night temperature | 17 ° C | 17 ° C | 18 ° C | 19 ° C | 21 ° C | 23 ° C | 24 ° C | 24 ° C | 24 ° C | 22 ° C | 20 ° C | 18 ° C |
| Water temperature | 24 ° C | 24 ° C | 24 ° C | 25 ° C | 26 ° C | 28 ° C | 29 ° C | 29 ° C | 29 ° C | 28 ° C | 27 ° C | 25 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 47 | 40 | 40 | 54 | 116 | 233 | 158 | 216 | 171 | 176 | 57 | 52 |
| Rainy days | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 9 | 8 |
| Hours of sunshine | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Sunrise | 6:55 | 6:45 | 7:20 | 6:45 | 6:25 | 6:20 | 6:30 | 6:45 | 6:55 | 7:05 | 6:25 | 6:45 |
| Sunset | 17:40 | 18:05 | 19:20 | 7:30 p.m. | 19:45 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 19:45 | 19:15 | 18:40 | 17:20 | 17:20 |
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Nassau is 24.6 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is July (27.9 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of 21.1 ° C. The maximum water temperature in Nassau is 29 ° C. Comfortable bathing is possible at these temperatures. All months have a water temperature of at least 21 ° C and are therefore suitable for a beach holiday.
Precipitation
The annual precipitation is 1360 mm on 147 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. The months of June, August and October are considered the rainy season, as more than 175 mm of precipitation can be expected per month. Overall, around 625 mm of precipitation can be expected in the rainy season. You cannot expect snow in any month in Nassau.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, April is the sunniest month with an average of 9.2 hours of sunshine per day. In the annual mean, the sun shines an average of 7.9 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.
Highlights and attractions
Pink Sands Beach is found on Harbor Island. The sand is colored pink by coral dust. A real highlight in the Bahamas. Boat tours to smaller, partly uninhabited islands and remote bays are offered from various islands. The more than 2000 coral reefs of the Bahamas make the hearts of many divers beat faster.
There is an impressive flora and fauna to marvel at under the sea surface. So it is not uncommon to come across dolphins, rays and sea turtles. Gold Rock Beach, Castaway Cay, Cable Beach (Nassau) and Half Moon Bay are among the most beautiful beaches in the Bahamas. The Marine Habitat at Atlantis Resort is not only popular with families.
