Turks and Caicos Islands Weather and Climate
General & Geographical Location
Short for TC by abbreviationfinder, the Turks and Caicos Islands are located in the Atlantic, southeast of Florida and north of Haiti. They can be seen as an extension of the Bahamas.
The two archipelagos, the Turks Islands and the Caicos Islands, are only around 30 kilometers apart and together form a British overseas territory. Accordingly, the official language on “Turks & Caicos” is also English, but the currency is the US dollar.
Despite their location in the Atlantic, the islands are counted as part of the Caribbean. The capital is the small town of Cockburn Town on Grand Turk. The island state has a total of only around 41,000 inhabitants, most of whom are descendants of the former slaves from Africa. The population calls themselves Belongers.
Due to their reputation as a tax haven, more than 16,000 letterbox companies are located on the two archipelagos. In total, the area comprises more than 30 islands, which are spread over an area of 492 square kilometers. Turks & Caicos is known for its stunning beaches and elegant hotel resorts.
Climate in the Turks and Caicos Islands
The archipelago of the Turks and Caicos Islands is geographically part of the Caribbean, but the climate is much drier than on other Caribbean islands. Since all islands only protrude a few meters from the sea, no rain clouds form that can rain down on the mountain slopes. The archipelago is more in a transition area and even in the rainiest month of November only reaches an average of 93.5 mm of precipitation. For comparison: in the neighboring Bahamas it is already 233 mm, around two and a half times as much.
Accordingly, the term rainy season on the Turks and Caicos Islands should be relativized. From August to January is the wetter time of year, which largely coincides with the hurricane season. Although the amount of precipitation remains comparatively low even in this “rainy season”, as described, the air is now noticeably more humid and humid. Rain usually falls in the afternoon, while sunshine generally prevails in the first half of the day. More than 340 days of sunshine a year speak for themselves anyway.
Even in the hotter months, the constant trade wind ensures a pleasant cooling. It’s always warm, but rarely too hot. While night temperatures in the Bahamas drop to 16 degrees in January, for example, the lowest values on the Turks and Caicos Islands are rarely below 22 ° C even at night. The water temperatures are constant all year round at a warm 25 to 28 degrees.
When is the best time to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands?
In general, Turks & Caicos can be visited all year round, although there are more weather risks, especially in the hotter, more humid summer time. On the one hand, the hurricane season officially runs from the beginning of June up to and including November. In addition, with the higher humidity from September, more mosquitoes appear, which can cause restrictions, especially between September and November.
However, we particularly recommend January to mid- May as the best time to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands. These months are perfect for a relaxing beach holiday as well as activities and excursions, including water sports. The main season starts about a week before Christmas and extends mainly until the end of February. Easter is also a bit more expensive. The months of April and May usually promise the best price-performance ratio.
Temperatures, rainfall in Cockburn Town (Turks and Caicos Islands)
Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
Daytime temperature | 27 ° C | 27 ° C | 28 ° C | 28 ° C | 29 ° C | 30 ° C | 31 ° C | 31 ° C | 31 ° C | 30 ° C | 29 ° C | 28 ° C |
Night temperature | 23 ° C | 23 ° C | 23 ° C | 24 ° C | 25 ° C | 26 ° C | 27 ° C | 27 ° C | 27 ° C | 26 ° C | 24 ° C | 24 ° C |
Water temperature | 25 ° C | 25 ° C | 25 ° C | 26 ° C | 26 ° C | 28 ° C | 28 ° C | 28 ° C | 26 ° C | 26 ° C | 26 ° C | 25 ° C |
Precipitation in mm | 36 | 34 | 25 | 36 | 30 | 55 | 30 | 40 | 67 | 75 | 94 | 85 |
Sunrise | 6:25 | 6:15 | 6:55 | 6:25 | 6:05 | 6:00 | 6:10 | 6:20 | 6:30 | 6:40 | 5:55 | 6:15 |
Sunset | 17:25 | 17:40 | 18:55 | 19:05 | 19:15 | 7:30 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 19:15 | 18:50 | 18:20 | 17:05 | 17:05 |
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Cockburn Town is 27 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is July (29 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of 25 ° C. The maximum water temperature in Cockburn Town is 28 ° 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 605 mm. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. You cannot expect snow in any month in Cockburn Town.
Sights & attractions
One of the main attractions not to be missed is the underwater world of Turks & Caicos. It’s the fish, the coral reefs, the turquoise blue sea and unforgettable impressions that make every diver’s heart beat faster. One of the highlights is the “Columbus Passage”, an approximately 35 kilometer wide canal that separates the Turks from the Caicos Islands. This canal, which is up to 2000 meters deep, is used as a thoroughfare by fish, dolphins, rays, turtles and humpback whales. Most of your hikes take place from January to March.
The water temperatures are usually around 28 degrees in summer and 23-25 degrees in winter. Special experiences are guaranteed with almost every dive. On the edge of the reef you will come across Caribbean reef sharks, spotted eagle rays, hawksbill turtles, groupers, moray eels and large schools of horse mackerel. Above water, the National Museum in Cockburn Town is worth a visit. Here you can learn more about the archipelago’s culture and past.
In addition to the island of Grand Turk with the capital, the second most important island is the island of Providenciales, which also houses most of the tourist infrastructure. Locals call this island in the west “Provo” for short. For example, the beach “Grace Bay Beach” was named the most beautiful beach in the world by TripAdvisor. Grace Bay Beach is located on the island of Providenciales and offers a dream beach with postcard idyll and sand like powdered sugar.
Turks and Caicos Islands weather in March, April and May
Daily temperatures averaging 28 to 29 ° C can be expected over the next three months. The temperatures hardly fluctuate during this time.
Do you want to go on a beach holiday? The water temperatures are in March, April and May 25-26 ° C. This is great weather for a great time on the beach and in the water.