Central America & Caribbean Climate Patterns

Central America

Central America doesn't really have four seasons — instead, nearly the entire region runs on a two-season tropical pattern: a dry season (roughly December–April) and a wet season (roughly May–November). The Pacific side feels the dry season most sharply, while the Caribbean coast stays wetter year-round. Elevation matters more than season in the highlands — Guatemala's highlands and Costa Rica's central valley stay notably cooler than the tropical coastlines at any time of year.

Caribbean

The islands share the region's tropical wet/dry rhythm but with the surrounding ocean as the dominant moderating force — temperatures stay warm and remarkably stable year-round, without the highland cooling found on the mainland. Hurricane season (June–November) is the single biggest climate factor for the islands specifically, peaking in September, and affects Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and the Bahamas most directly given their position across the main Atlantic storm tracks.