Climate Guadeloupe
The climate in Guadeloupe is tropical, hot and humid all year round. There is a cooler, drier season from December to May and a hotter, rainier one from June to November. Despite the relatively constant heat, the omnipresent trade winds help to soften the blow. Water temperatures are very pleasant for swimming. The period from August to October is prone to cyclones. Fortunately, however, this is not always the case, and not all hurricanes are violent. The last two major episodes date back to September 2017, with cyclones Irma and Maria. To make the most of Guadeloupe's tropical climate, pack light cotton or linen clothing, a hat or cap and sunscreen! It's a good idea to bring a light raincoat in case of showers, especially if you're traveling in wet weather.
A tropical climate
The archipelago's tropical climate is mild. Sun, rain and intermittent wind practically all year round, with regular sunshine prevailing. Daytime temperatures fluctuate between 26 and 35°C, depending on the time of year. Trade winds from the east help to moderate the tropical heat. In January and February, temperatures can dip below 20°C at night in southern Basse-Terre.
Heavy rainfall can occur even during the dry season. They can cause mudslides on the higher ground, and even block the Route de la Traversée and other popular roads. Hiking in wet weather is not recommended, as the rapid rise in river water levels can be surprising. Always ask before setting off if you are not accompanied by an experienced guide.
On the beaches of the Atlantic coast, water temperatures hover around 20 to 24°C, with the sea generally rougher. On the Caribbean side, the climate is a little warmer and more humid, with temperatures around 25°C and calmer seas, ideal for water sports, especially sailing.
Sunrise is between 5 and 6 a.m. year-round. Sunset is between 5.30 and 6.30 pm. So you can admire some picture-postcard scenery at the end of the day!
There are two distinct climates in the Lesser Antilles:
On the plain, on the Grande-Terre of mainland Guadeloupe, the flat island of Marie-Galante, Les Saintes and La Désirade, temperatures are higher, but softened by the trade winds and low rainfall, especially in the northern Grande-Terre.
At higher altitudes, on the hilly Basse-Terre, temperatures are slightly lower and rainfall is heavier in the rainforests, resulting in lush vegetation.
Two periodic seasons
Unlike France, the Lesser Antilles have only two climatic seasons. The dry season, from December to May, known as Lent, and the warmer, wetter season, from June to November: l'hivernage.
From late October to early December, during the autumn months in France, the season is wet. Rainfall levels are very high and regular: it can rain every day, in small or large showers. Temperatures remain mild.
June, September and October, the transitional months, are marked by showers and rains that can cause material damage, although they bear no relation to the strength of the cyclones, the real swords of Damocles over the Caribbean wintering season.
The cyclonic risk
Hurricanes can occur in the Caribbean between June and November. From 1950 onwards, it was decided to give them exclusively female names, in alphabetical order. In 1978, after lengthy protests by feminist leagues, the use of feminine and masculine, French, English and Spanish first names was alternated. There are six lists. When a cyclone causes damage or casualties, its name is dropped for the sake of the population affected.
Only cyclones and tropical storms are named. Tropical depressions with winds of less than 63 km/h are numbered. A phenomenon becomes a tropical storm when its winds reach a speed of between 63 and 118 km/h. Above 118 km/h, it becomes a cyclone, whose strength is rated on a scale of 1 to 5.
Originally a simple low-pressure area off the African coast of Cape Verde, a cyclone forms if certain criteria are met. It begins by moving towards the North American continent (west coast). From this point onwards, as soon as it begins to "move up" (northwards), it very rarely "moves down" (southwards). This means that areas on the same line already know that they will be spared. It also happens that it doesn't affect any part of the world as it moves up towards the North Pole. It then circles the northern hemisphere and returns to Europe in the form of a storm. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just ultra-violent winds that are most feared, but also very heavy rain and devastating swells. Nothing can resist them! What's more, not all the islands are in the same boat. The poorer the country's economy, the more structural resources are lacking, and the greater the impact on the population and infrastructure.
A well-functioning warning system, however, helps the authorities and the population to organize themselves to cope with these phenomena. Every year, before the start of the hurricane season, the media remind people of the safety instructions to be applied in the event of a threat or confirmation of a threat. The emergency services carry out a simulation at the start of the cyclone season, to remind them of the different warning phases and review the resources to be deployed in the event of the special cyclone emergency plan being triggered.
The warning phases are defined by a color code that changes as the depression approaches. Inhabitants of the areas concerned are required to keep up to date with developments in the risk via the media, Préfecture press releases and weather forecasts, and of course to comply with safety instructions.
Hurricanes of various sizes
On September 5, 2017, Hurricane Irma - classified as Category 5 and considered by meteorologists to be a "devastating supercyclone" - hit the Lesser Antilles. Guadeloupe was relatively spared (the center of the cyclone passed 100 km off the coast of Basse-Terre, causing a very large swell). However, the islands of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy were hit hard. Five people lost their lives on the island of Saint-Martin, and countless other damage was reported...
Hurricane Maria also had a devastating passage through the Antilles. On September 18, 2017, the category 5 hurricane (the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale) claimed two lives in Guadeloupe and a dozen in the Caribbean. Its eye passed less than 50 kilometers south of Basse-Terre and 20 kilometers south of Les Saintes. Almost all the island's banana plantations were affected by the hurricane, and water and electricity supplies were suspended for several hours. Roads were cut off, particularly in the south of the island, due to heavy flooding.
But it was on the island of Dominica that the toll was heaviest: several deaths were recorded and 70 to 80% of homes were damaged by winds blowing at over 240 km/h.
On September 16, 2022, storm Fiona hit Guadeloupe with torrential rain and strong winds, causing flooding and landslides, mainly in the Basse-Terre region. The cumulative rainfall measured in just a few hours in the south of the island was equivalent to several months' rainfall under normal circumstances. Numerous homes were affected (one dead, his house swept away), and infrastructure (roads, bridges) was destroyed. The drinking water network, already suffering from a serious problem of disrepair, was damaged. The storm then turned towards Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, becoming a category 3 hurricane with winds of up to 140 km.
These phenomena are set to become more frequent. On October 2, 2023, storm Philippe dumped torrential rain on the archipelago, affecting the south of Basse-Terre in particular. Several roads were blocked, and the commune of Vieux-Fort was even cut off from the rest of the world for several hours, but no victims or major damage were reported.
Hurricane alert procedure in the French West Indies
Under the aegis of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and in order to protect populations, particularly in the least well-equipped countries, the regions of the globe subject to tropical cyclones have joined forces to set up precise warning systems, so as to best prevent the risks of dangerous seas on the coast and heavy rain inland. In the Caribbean/Central America region, the Hurricane Committee has adopted an operations plan that is updated and completed each year. The French West Indies departments have their own Specialized Cyclone Emergency Plan (PSUC), which defines coordinated responsibilities for observing phenomena, forecasting, issuing warnings and taking action.
Yellow vigilance: "Pay attention! A cyclonic disturbance (tropical storm or cyclone) may pose a threat to the region in the near future.
Orange vigilance: "Get ready! The potential risk is getting closer.
Red vigilance: "Protect yourself! The phenomenon represents an imminent risk with a greater or lesser impact.
Green vigilance: "No more significant danger or danger moving away! The color green can then be issued as soon as weather conditions are no longer likely to worsen.
Outside cyclones, these four color codes are also used to warn of danger due to heavy rain with or without thunderstorms, trade winds or dangerous seas.
Only in the event of a violent tropical cyclone expected to hit the territory, two other colors have been included in this procedure:
Violet vigilance: "Confine yourself, don't go outside!" An intense tropical cyclone (major hurricane) represents an imminent danger for part or all of the country, as its expected effects are very significant.
Gray vigilance: "Remain cautious! A tropical cyclone has crossed the country, causing damage. Even if weather conditions are improving, there are still dangers: flooding, mudslides, downed electrical wires, cut roads... Clearance and rescue teams need to be able to get around and start work without being hindered in their movements and activities. Continue to listen to reports from the prefecture, the media, the weather situation, etc... Wait for instructions from the authorities via the media.
The sand mist
This well-known phenomenon in the French West Indies is the subject of air pollution alerts issued by the prefecture and the Gwadair monitoring network. These episodes of sand haze, which occur between June and August, can cause respiratory discomfort, coughing and eye irritation, depending on the alert level. Sand haze originates in the Sahara. Particles of sand are lifted into the air by desert winds, which carry them westwards across the Atlantic Ocean by the trade winds.
When to go to Guadeloupe?
For travel during less busy periods, we recommend May, June, September or October, when fares are at their lowest. Between July and September, it rains more heavily, but never for very long. This period is subject to higher fares, as many people from the French overseas territories come to visit their families during the summer vacations.
If you're planning a sailboat cruise during the hurricane season (June to November). Trust the local service providers, who will be able to advise you, especially as they are informed of the possibility of a meteorological episode more than a week in advance.
