Seasonal Weather in the Bahamas
The weather does follow the seasons with five very distinctive weather patterns.
They all have their
virtues, but you need to plan your activities around the weather, especially
as far as boating is concerned.
Winter - January through March, maybe into April: Once the
cold fronts begin coming across the US in earnest, almost all of them, some
more vigorously than others, affect the Bahamas. Notice that we are on the
East Side of the Gulf Stream. This moderates a slow moving front but means
that once a front passes and the northeast winds settle in, the winds are
coming across the open Atlantic and we don't have the protection of the warm
waters of the Stream. This can be fine weather for activities ashore: Tennis,
golf, visiting friends, shopping, exploring, diving in the Blue Holes, kayaking
in the creeks and bights, bird watching, or just reading a book on the sunny
side of the house. Northerners swim in the pools and the sea - Bahamians won't
go in without a wetsuit. Offshore and reef activities have to wait for breaks
in the weather, which occur frequently throughout the period - but you don't
make plans without checking where the fronts are that are coming across the
US. This is an excellent time for bone fishing in the shallow, protected flats
and creeks, or "marls".
Spring - April and May: The cold fronts weaken and come less
frequently. Boating becomes more common and the water becomes warmer, Bahamians
still wear wetsuits. The weather is dry and fresh water can become a problem
on the cays (pronounced KEES) where rainwater cisterns are the primary supply,
but with reverse osmosis technology to make freshwater from the sea, the lack
of rainfall in this period is not such a problem anymore. There is usually
a nice breeze for the sailors but the sea is not too rough for fishing
and diving from small boats.
Summer
- June through August: Now the sailors, fishermen, and divers can
plan for good weather. Winds are light and variable, the sea is calm and warm,
Bahamians leave off the wetsuits. Afternoon and night showers become common.
Tropical Weather - September and October: The showers become more
numerous, the wind is calm, and we all watch the tropical weather information.
One good thing is that lobster is now in season (season starts in August),
the water is calm, clear and warm. Afternoons are good for naps. The pace
becomes slow, even by Bahamian standards.
Fall
- November and December: This period begins when the first of the
cold fronts finally blow back in from the US. This ushers in drier, cooler
weather, but these fronts are not frequent. Fall can last until after New
Years. The water remains warm, the winds are still light and the sea calm.
Perfect weather for almost any activity ashore or afloat, an excellent time
to bring a boat across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas. In fact fall is often
the best season anywhere. The nice thing about the Bahamian fall is that you
can experience fall further north and then come down and enjoy ours.
