North America: Climate & Best Time to Visit
This overview covers the 23 sovereign states of North America, including Central America and the Caribbean. Climate and ideal travel periods range from Arctic winters and continental seasons to tropical rainy and hurricane seasons. Information is for orientation; local microclimates and weather extremes can differ.
Quick selection
Antigua and Barbuda | The Bahamas | Barbados | Belize | Canada | Costa Rica | Cuba | Dominica | Dominican Republic | El Salvador | Grenada | Guatemala | Haiti | Honduras | Jamaica | Mexico | Nicaragua | Panama | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Trinidad and Tobago | United States
Climate overview
Canada and much of the United States have distinct seasons, with spring and autumn often pleasant. Central America is generally drier from December to April. The Caribbean is warm year-round, with higher hurricane risk typically from June to November.
Antigua and Barbuda
Tropical, warm and relatively dry. Best: December–April; hurricane season is usually June–November.
The Bahamas
Subtropical to tropical, warm and sunny. Best: December–April; summer is hotter, wetter and more hurricane-prone.
Barbados
Tropical trade-wind climate, warm year-round. Best: December–April; rainy season usually June–November.
Belize
Tropical and humid, with rainy season around June–November. Best: December–May for beaches, diving and touring.
Canada
From Arctic to temperate continental, with often long cold winters. Best: June–September for cities and nature; December–March for winter sports.
Costa Rica
Tropical, with drier Pacific and wetter Caribbean sides. Best: December–April for many regions; May–November is lush but wetter.
Cuba
Tropical and warm year-round; rainy season usually May–October. Best: November–April; hurricanes can affect summer and autumn.
Dominica
Very humid tropical island climate. Best: February–April for somewhat drier conditions; hurricane season June–November.
Dominican Republic
Tropical and warm, with regional rainy seasons. Best: December–April; hurricane risk and heavier rain are usually June–November.
El Salvador
Tropical and warm, hot coast and cooler highlands. Best: November–April; rainy season usually May–October.
Grenada
Tropical trade-wind climate, warm and sunny. Best: December–April; rainy season usually June–November.
Guatemala
Tropical lowlands and temperate highlands. Best: November–April for culture, highlands and volcano hikes; rainy season usually May–October.
Haiti
Tropical with two rainy periods and hurricane risk. Best: November–March for generally drier and less hot conditions.
Honduras
Tropical, very humid Caribbean coast and milder highlands. Best: November–April; rain and hurricanes can affect travel seasonally.
Jamaica
Tropical and warm, cooler in the mountains, with two possible rain peaks. Best: December–April before the wetter hurricane season.
Mexico
From desert to tropical coast and highlands; conditions vary widely. Best: November–April for many destinations; Caribbean coast is wetter and more hurricane-prone in summer/autumn.
Nicaragua
Tropical, with drier Pacific and wetter Caribbean sides. Best: November–April; rainy season usually May–October/November.
Panama
Tropical and warm year-round, Caribbean side wetter than Pacific. Best: December–April for Pacific travel; May–November is the greener, wetter season.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Tropical trade-wind climate, warm year-round. Best: December–April; hurricane season usually June–November.
Saint Lucia
Tropical island climate with a rainy season. Best: December–April; May–November is wetter and can be stormier.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Tropical and moderated by trade winds. Best: December–April; hurricane and rainy season usually June–November.
Trinidad and Tobago
Tropical, with rainy season around June–December. Best: January–May; Tobago is often drier than Trinidad.
United States
From Arctic and continental to subtropical and desert. Best: spring and autumn for many regions; consider hurricanes, heat, wildfire smoke or winter storms by destination.