Climate

Two types of climate are found on Jamaica: an upland tropical climate prevails on the windward side of the mountains, whereas a semiarid climate predominates on the leeward side.

Rainfall

Warm trade winds from the east and northeast bring rainfall throughout the year, with rainfall heaviest from May to October, peaking in those two months. The average rainfall is 196 cm per year. However; rainfall is much greater in the mountain areas facing the north and east; where the higher elevations of the John Crow Mountains and the Blue Mountains catch the rain from the moisture-laden winds, rainfall exceeds 508 cm per year. As the southwestern half of the island lies in the rain shadow of the mountains, it has a semiarid climate and receives fewer than 76 cm of rainfall annually.

Temperatures

Temperatures are fairly constant throughout the year, averaging 25°C to 30°C in the lowlands and 15°C to 22°C at higher elevations; temperatures may dip to below 10°C at the peaks of the Blue Mountains. In addition to the northeast trade winds, the island receives refreshing onshore breezes during the day and cooling offshore breezes at night. These are known on Jamaica as the 'Doctor Breeze' and the 'Undertaker's Breeze', respectively.

Hurricanes

Jamaica lies in the Atlantic hurricane belt; as a result, the island sometimes experiences significant storm damage. Powerful hurricanes that have hit the island directly, causing death and destruction, include Hurricane Charlie in August 1951, which caused 152 deaths, injured 2000 and left 25,000 homeless, and Hurricane Gilbert in September 1988, which claimed the lives of 45 Jamaicans.

Several other powerful hurricanes have passed near to the island with damaging effects. In August 1980, for example, Hurricane Allen destroyed nearly all Jamaica's banana crop and killed 8 people. In recent years, Hurricane Ivan (September 2004) swept past the island causing heavy damage and 17 deaths; in July 2005, Hurricanes Dennis and Emily brought heavy rains and landslides to the island.