Climate in Puerto Rico
If you are planning a trip to Puerto Rico soon, you may well want to find out what the weather is like before you start packing. That way you will have a good idea of what to pack according to what time of the year you are planning your trip, as well as according the particular location that you are planning to spend the majority of your time in. Like with most countries, the weather in Puerto Rico differs slightly from one region to the next so packing your light, summer clothing for a trip to the mountains just because you are traveling during the summer months is not always a good idea.
The climate in Puerto Rico is affected by seasonal change, geographical variations of the landscape and coastal weather movements. The central Cordillera mountain range is the most notable aspect of the country’s geography to have a distinct effect on the rainfall and temperature in Puerto Rico. These mountains can cause quite a difference in wind speed, wind direction, high or low rainfall percentages and humidity. Generally speaking there is a higher level of rainfall inland over these mountains than there is near the coast since moisture laden coastal air is generally carried inland by the wind where the rise in elevation condenses the moisture which then leads to rain. Thus the winds brought in from the coast – most notably those that blow across the Atlantic, provide most of the seasonal rains, but these fall most heavily around the mountainous parts of the country. Higher rainfalls occur in the Luquillo mountains than in most other mountains in Puerto Rico.
The Puerto Rican climate is further affected by high levels of humidity during periods of hot weather. During the hotter months, the land gets hotter quicker than the sea and so the air over the land rises and is cooled and condensed quickly by the air coming in off the sea. This often leads to the formation of clouds and rain. Generally speaking, however, the temperatures in Puerto Rico vary very little. Coastal temperatures may range between 26ºC and 31ºC while inland temperatures may be between 22ºC and 25ºC. If you are traveling south you will find that it is a few degrees warmer than the north, while the temperatures in the central interior mountains are almost always cooler than those found on the rest of the island. So if you are planning to spend most of your time inland it is advisable to pack in a few warmer clothes. However, regardless of where you stay you should be aware of the fact that rain falls at virtually any time of the year so even though the weather may be warm, you should pack a few medium-warmth tops and one or two waterproof items such as an umbrella or a raincoat. Hopefully being prepared in this way will help you to make the most of your holiday – whether you’re taking in the sun at the beaches of San Juan or visiting family at a ranch in the Puerto Rican interior.
Refer to our doppler radar PR weather map to check upcoming forecasts.