Cuba Weather and Hurricane Season, Month by Month

Cuba's climate is tropical, moderated by trade winds and the surrounding sea. The dry season runs roughly November to April: warm days, low humidity, little rain and calm seas. The wet season runs May to October: hotter, far more humid, with short heavy afternoon downpours and, laid over its second half, the Atlantic hurricane season. Temperatures don't swing wildly across the year — the real difference between the seasons is humidity, rainfall and the risk of storms.

Across the island, expect daytime highs around the high 20s to low 30s Celsius most of the year, cooler in the evenings in winter (especially in the mountains) and stickier by day in summer. The east, around Santiago, tends to run a little hotter and drier than the west; the mountains are always cooler than the coast.

December to February is the coolest, driest and most popular window — reliable sunshine, comfortable evenings and peak crowds and prices, especially around the holidays and the Havana high season. March and April continue the dry, warm pattern and are many travellers' sweet spot: excellent weather with the peak-season pressure easing.

May marks the turn toward the wet season, with rising heat and the first afternoon showers, but it is still a fine and quieter month. June through August is hot, humid and green, with brief intense downpours that often leave the rest of the day fine — good value and good for a morning-beach, afternoon-shelter rhythm. September and October are the wettest and the peak of hurricane risk, the months to watch most closely, before November swings back toward the dry, cooler pattern.

The sea is swimmable year-round. Water temperatures run around 26–28°C in the summer and rarely drop below about 24–25°C even in winter, so the difference between seasons is felt more on land than in the water. Snorkelling and diving are good throughout, with the calmest, clearest conditions generally in the dry season.

Pack light, breathable clothing whatever the month, plus strong sun protection and a hat — the tropical sun is intense even on cooler days. In the dry-season evenings, and especially if you'll be in the mountains, add a light layer. In the wet season, bring a compact rain shell and quick-drying clothes, and plan indoor options for the afternoon rains. Insect repellent is worth having year-round.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs June to November and peaks from August to October, when tropical systems can track across the Caribbean toward the island. It is real and worth respecting — but it is not a reason to write off half the year. Storms are forecastable days in advance, direct hits on any given spot are relatively infrequent, and much of the wet season passes with nothing more dramatic than an afternoon downpour.

The sensible approach is preparation, not avoidance: in these months, take travel insurance, keep your plans flexible, favour destinations you can leave easily if needed, and watch the forecasts. If a system does develop, follow official guidance and your accommodation's advice — Cuba has long, well-drilled experience with hurricanes and a strong civil-protection record.

The Weather & Storms layer shows current conditions for Cuba's main cities and, in season, active hurricane and tropical-storm tracks drawn from official forecast data. It is the same map you plan with, updated with today's sky — so a beach week and a storm watch live in one place. Open it alongside the beaches and cities layers to line up the forecast against exactly where you're headed, whether you're choosing a month from home or checking the horizon from the ground.