Season and weather in the Dominican Republic: everything a tourist needs to know. There will be answers to all the main questions of travelers that interest everyone. We’ll give you tips and tricks on how to choose the perfect time to relax.
Season and weather in the Dominican Republic: general facts
You probably already know that the country is located in the Western Hemisphere in the archipelago of the Antilles. The Dominican Republic is located at 16 degrees NW relatively close to the equator.
This means that the entire country has a tropical climate. Thus the Dominican Republic is located in the real tropics with all the consequences:
- all year round summer
- there is a long, as expected, rainy season, but with its own characteristics
- the Gulf Stream flowing near the shores makes the water temperature very comfortable throughout the year.
When is the holiday season in the Dominican Republic?
Officially, the high season in the Dominican Republic lasts from October to April. But my personal opinion is that it is comfortable to relax at any resort in September and May. Only the summer months remain, and even at this time you can have a great rest here, if you know some points. This will be discussed below.
During the high season from October to April, you can count on the Dominican Republic to:
- Daily high temperature of about 28-30 degrees. But not as hot as in the summer months.
- Warm sea or ocean. The water will be at least +26. Yes, yes, there is both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
- No strong winds.
- Zero risk of getting caught in destructive hurricanes, which have become more frequent over the past 10 years.
- The amount of rain is minimal, and they do not interfere with rest.
About one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Caribbean — Fronton, you can read separately at the link.
Important to know:The best time to stay in the Dominican Republic is approximately from mid-January to mid-March. At this time, humpback whales come to the coast of the country every year. How to see them live, how much it costs in the article at the link below.
There are not many places in the world where you can see humpback whales in their natural environment as scheduled right near the shore for very reasonable money. And these, by the way, are the largest mammals on the planet.
Season and weather in the Dominican Republic: temperature by month
Below is a table with average temperatures by month. The data reflects exactly the daytime air temperature. In the table for understanding, there will be two resorts: Sosua (North), La Romana (South).
Sosua (North) | La Romana (South) | |
January | 26,8 | 28,0 |
February | 26,9 | 28,4 |
March | 27,2 | 29,0 |
April | 28,5 | 29,8 |
May | 29,3 | 30,3 |
June | 30,7 | 31,5 |
July | 31,1 | 32,0 |
August | 31,1 | 31,9 |
September | 30,7 | 31,1 |
October | 30,2 | 30,7 |
November | 28,6 | 29,4 |
December | 27,3 | 28,5 |
Air temperature in the Dominican Republic by month
The table shows the main trends that are important for tourists:
- All year round, the air temperature fluctuates literally within 5 degrees: from +26 to +32
- Temperatures above +30 in the summer months are not as comfortable as in the winter months. Therefore, I prefer to relax here from December to March, when the heat is not so sweltering.
- In the southern resorts, the air temperature is always 1-2 degrees higher than in the north.
- Also here (in the south) there are fewer winds, clouds and throughout the year less precipitation and more sunny hours. If it doesn’t matter in the high season, then in the rainy season it is very useful to think about it when choosing a resort.
Water temperature in the Dominican Republic by month
The second important factor for everyone, after the air temperature, is the water temperature.
I’m sure you already know that the north of the Dominican Republic is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, and the south by the Caribbean Sea. It would seem that the sea should be much warmer than the ocean, and, moreover, the cold Atlantic. But that wasn’t the case.
Interesting fact:As already mentioned above, both coasts of the Dominican Republic are washed by the Gulf Stream. This is the most important and warmest current in the world. Thanks to it, the water near the coast has a comfortable temperature all year round. And most importantly, almost the same temperature in the north and south.
Sosua (North) | La Romana (South) | |
January | 26,6 | 27 |
February | 26,2 | 26,7 |
March | 26,1 | 26,6 |
April | 26,4 | 27,1 |
May | 26,9 | 27,7 |
June | 27,6 | 28,3 |
July | 27,9 | 28,5 |
August | 28,3 | 28,9 |
September | 29,0 | 29,2 |
October | 29,1 | 29,3 |
November | 28,5 | 28,6 |
December | 27,5 | 27,8 |
Water temperature in the Dominican Republic by month
The most important thing to highlight is:
- The difference between north and south in water temperature throughout the year is less than 1 degree.
- All year round, the temperature does not fall below 26 degrees, which is just insanely cool for those who like to swim
Important to know:If you are not interested in whales, but you are ready to stay in the water for hours, and this indicator is the most important for you. The best months to visit the Dominican Republic are September and October. The rainy season is already over or almost over, and the water is still like fresh milk, almost +30.
Rainy season in the Dominican Republic: What you need to know
Since this is the tropics, there is also a rainy season here and it is quite long. But the region itself and the climate helped the Dominican Republic, and in fact there are mild tropics without such a rainy season, when it pours like a wall for three months around the clock. There is no such thing in the Dominican Republic.
The rainy season starts every year somewhere in mid-May and lasts until mid-September. But to be honest, May and September are still great for a vacation.
Useful to know:June, July, and August are the wettest months of the year, as well as the hottest.
To understand what the rainy season looks like in the Dominican Republic:
- It rains most often at night
- During the peak season, it can also rain during the day
- They are very intense, watered so that you can get wet in a second to the skin. Like a bucket.
- But the showers are short-lived.
- At night they are more prolonged and can go for a couple of hours
- During the day, due to the warm ground and the special movement of air masses, showers are usually fast. 30 minutes and that’s it.
- Always after a rainstorm, the sun immediately comes out and the steam room begins.
- Therefore, in summer, in the hottest months of the year, coupled with high humidity, it soars very strongly during the day.
- Strong winds are also possible at this time, especially from the Atlantic in the north.
- Often the water can be muddy at this time, due to heavy precipitation and strong waves that rise due to the wind. But this is not always the case.
- Well, about hurricanes. They can be, but usually pass by.
- Over the past 10 years, only in 2017, Hurricane Irma of the highest category hit and severely battered the resorts of Punta Cana and Bavaro and went tangentially towards Cuba and the United States.
Where to go for a rainy season vacation?
Therefore, rest in the summer has a place to be. At this time, also tan and buy. But just in time for the summer months, it is more important to choose the right resort.
In the center of the Dominican Republic are the mountains with the highest point of the entire Caribbean – Duarte Peak (3093m). You can read more about the mountains in a separate article. This mountain range holds up most of the air masses coming from the north.
Therefore, in the southern resorts:
- Much less wind
- And most importantly half the amount of precipitation
Author’s advice:If you plan to go to the Dominican Republic during the summer months, choose the south coast for a vacation. The Caribbean Sea is calmer, with less rain and winds, and the risk of a hurricane is minimal even at this time.
For more information about the country’s resorts, what they are, how they differ, and where to fly, see the article at the link.
When is the best time to fly to the Dominican Republic?
In principle, the answer was already given to this question above. But if you missed it or read only from this place, then I will summarize all of the above in three sentences:
- The most comfortable time to stay in the Dominican Republic is from October to April
- If you want to see real humpback whales, then plan a vacation from mid-January to mid-March
- If swimming in the sea or ocean is all you need, then the warmest water is between September and October.
In conclusion: I hope you don’t have any questions about the season and weather in the Dominican Republic. And remember, it’s summer all year round, the ocean is warm all year round, and the rainy season is not so terrible. Therefore, if you do not find fault, then you can fly here in any month of the year.
Enjoy great weather, no rain or wind!