Weather in the Cayman Islands

Cayman's Seasons

Whilst November to April promises generally nothing short of idyllic weather conditions, glorious sunshine with a cool refreshing breeze, save the odd cold front, it can get quite muggy and hot from mid to late May as the "summer" starts. There is a definite rainy season from then onwards, where locals can expect to be met with an afternoon shower or two, sometimes thundery, over their lunch break...so remember to pack your umbrella!

Then, back to November and likely the first Nor'Wester (a cold front) will roll in with cool air and stormy clouds, and everyone gets excited that the "Christmas breeze" has arrived! Read on to learn more about Cayman's climate.

Best Time to Visit Cayman

The most pleasant weather in the Cayman Islands is during the winter, from mid-November to April. During this time there is little rain, the skies are more clear than cloudy, and there is an almost constant cool sea breeze. These months also coincide with peak tourist season. However, the sea is much colder during the winter months (January: 79F/26C versus August: 86F/30C) and, unless heated, swimming pool temperatures will drop to the nighttime low temperature. Locals joke that they don't swim during the winter months as the water is too cold!

The wonderful thing about the weather in the Cayman Islands is that regardless of the season, we usually have a lovely breeze. As the statistics below will show, 88% of the time Cayman experiences a wind speed of 5-15mph, usually from the East. In the winter locals call it the "Christmas breeze" and its arrival, usually in mid-November, cheers everyone up!

The beauty of visiting Cayman in the summer is that the sea is very calm - unless a storm is threatening - and its warm, so if you are staying near the sea you can pop in the water to cool off.

Typical Cayman Weather

May to November is the rainy season, but unless there is a tropical depression sitting over Cayman, the rain is normally only heavy for a few hours and then stops for the rest of the day. It is not uncommon to have heavy rain in one part of town while it remains dry in another.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed that 2025 was one of the three warmest years on record, continuing the streak of extraordinary global temperatures. The past 11 years have been the 11 warmest on record, and ocean heating continues unabated. Global temperatures have been 1.55 degrees Celsius above the per-industrial 1850-1900 baseline. The last ten years, from 2015-2024, have been the warmest on record. In 2025 Kuwait's Mitribah recorded an astonishing 54.0°C (129.2°F).

For more information on the weather in the Cayman Islands in 2025 see the Cayman Islands National Weather Service's very informative website.

Cayman's Weather in 2025

Editor's Tip: If you ever want to buy or build a house in Cayman then the wind direction is worth noting! Your house will cool naturally if the back porch is angled to face the oncoming wind.

Historical Average: Temperature and Rainfall

Thanks to data provided by the National Weather Service, we are able to illustrate a month by month 30-year historical average for temperature and rainfall readings. Note the rainfall model is in mm not inches!

Hurricane Threats

There is a general consensus that climate change is driving increased storm activity. A hurricane is a large rotating system of wind and water originating in the tropics with sustained surface winds of at least 74mph. It is the most common natural disaster that threatens the Cayman Islands. Hurricanes start as tropical disturbances when a mass of organised, oceanic thunderstorms persists. Once closed circulation occurs and winds reach 74mph, it becomes classified as a hurricane.

Hurricanes are measured by the Saffir-Simpson wind scale, but this scale is not a very good indicator of the likely impact. The hurricane category only measures wind speed; it does not consider things like the size of the hurricane wind field, the angle of approach, or the forward speed. These elements can affect the height of the storm surge, which is the most significant threat to life and property.

Both Grand Cayman and Little Cayman are generally very low-lying (on average less than 7ft above sea level), and a hurricane can cause the sea level to rise as high as 20ft above the usual sea level in some extreme, albeit rare, cases. In addition to the surge, hurricanes are usually accompanied by very large waves, which are a different and separate threat from the surge. Waves pose a very real danger for coastal residents on open coastlines, as opposed to canals. Most properties located on the coast are vulnerable to impact from the sea in a hurricane, but some people are not aware that surge risk also exists for residents living well inland, especially those living in single-storey dwellings in low-lying areas.

If you are visiting the Cayman Islands during hurricane season (June 1st to December 1st), please take all hurricane warnings seriously. If a major storm hits Cayman we may be without electricity and water for a week, and in some areas much longer than that. The airport runway may take a few days to be cleared of debris, and flights will take time to resume. If your hotel or condo advises that you leave then you should.

Insurance Considerations in a Hurricane Prone Region

The Cayman Islands are low-lying and can be affected by heavy rainfall, flooding, and strong winds even outside of hurricane season. Weather events such as nor’westers have caused temporary flooding and serious damage in some areas. Because of the islands’ geography, properties can be vulnerable to a range of weather-related impacts. Being aware of these risks can help homeowners and residents plan appropriately and have comprehensive insurance plans that fully reflect the reinstatement value of their property and home contents.

Recent History of Hurricanes in Cayman

Grand Cayman’s last major hurricane was in September 2004. Hurricane Ivan, a category five storm, caused major infrastructural damage plus took two precious lives. The hurricane's extreme winds and heavy rain brought sustained hurricane-force winds and intense gusts that caused massive structural damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure island-wide. A major storm surge caused coastal flooding and seawater inundated low-lying inland areas. Essential services (power, water, communications, airport and port operations) were knocked out for months in some cases. The economic impact to our tourism industry was severe, especially as the Government at the time rightly decided to close the island to tourism to allow it to recover. However, the economic upside to all the rebuilding had a long-term very positive effect on Grand Cayman.

Hurricane Paloma struck Cayman Brac in November 2008 as a Category 4 hurricane, passing directly over the island. It brought winds over 130 mph, heavy rain, and storm surge, causing a lot of destruction. Up to 90% of buildings were damaged or destroyed, power and communications were wiped out, and about 1,000 residents were left homeless. Despite the devastation, no fatalities were reported. The recovery took several years and deeply affected housing, infrastructure, and tourism.

In August 2021, Tropical Storm Grace passed 20 miles south of Grand Cayman and 94 miles from Cayman Brac as a Category 1 hurricane, however, before leaving our area it had caused a huge amount of destruction to our vegetation and trees. The Botanic Park reported having mature trees being snapped in half.

So the Cayman Islands remains vigilant about hurricane preparedness. If you are a resident of the Cayman Islands then it is very important to get yourself you and your household stocked and ready, as best you can, for a hurricane. .