Destination guide
Bahamas weather by month
March, April and December are the strongest choices for a Bahamas holiday, balancing warmth with relatively few rainy days. Daytime averages of 24°C to 26°C suit travellers who prefer comfortable warmth to summer heat, while April averages 7 hours of sunshine. The catch is that the sea is cooler than in summer. For warmer swimming, consider the hotter months, but expect rain to be a more frequent part of your plans.
- Hottest month
- 29.6°CAugust
- Coolest month
- 23.6°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 29.7°CAugust
- Flight from London
- 9 h 30 minLong-haul (7 h+) · estimated
Bahamas, month by month
A little perspective
Bahamas through the year
Every month at a glance; "best" marks our three top months on warmth, dryness and sunshine.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23.6°C | 21.1°C | 24.2°C | 5.3 | 41 | 7 | 24% |
| February | 23.9°C | 21.1°C | 23.9°C | 6.5 | 32 | 6 | 31% |
| Marchbest | 24.4°C | 21.3°C | 24.1°C | 6.8 | 36 | 6 | 40% |
| Aprilbest | 25.6°C | 22.6°C | 25.0°C | 7.3 | 50 | 7 | 70% |
| May | 26.9°C | 24.1°C | 26.3°C | 6.9 | 78 | 10 | 95% |
| June | 28.5°C | 25.9°C | 28.1°C | 5.0 | 97 | 15 | 100% |
| July | 29.5°C | 26.7°C | 29.2°C | 6.3 | 73 | 15 | 100% |
| August | 29.6°C | 26.8°C | 29.7°C | 5.9 | 117 | 18 | 100% |
| September | 28.9°C | 26.3°C | 29.3°C | 4.6 | 133 | 20 | 100% |
| October | 27.6°C | 25.2°C | 28.3°C | 5.0 | 133 | 17 | 98% |
| November | 25.8°C | 23.5°C | 26.5°C | 5.6 | 71 | 9 | 71% |
| Decemberbest | 24.5°C | 22.2°C | 25.2°C | 5.5 | 40 | 7 | 45% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
When to go to Bahamas
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. September is the wettest month (133 mm, about 20 rainy days) and February the driest (32 mm). The sea is warmest in August at 29.7°C and coolest in February at 23.9°C.
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS, 13 km from Nassau) takes roughly 9 h 30 min - long-haul (7 h+) by UK standards. Time-zone: America/Nassau.
Records and extremes, 1991-2020
The hottest day recorded in Bahamas between 1991 and 2020 reached 32.7°C on 3 August 2017; the coldest fell to 14.0°C on 27 December 2010. In August one day in ten tops 30.8°C and about 39% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to 18.2°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was May 2018 with 330 mm, against a May average of 78 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Bahamas
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:56 | 17:41 | 10.7 h | 5.3 h |
| February | 06:44 | 18:03 | 11.3 h | 6.5 h |
| March | 07:18 | 19:18 | 12.0 h | 6.8 h |
| April | 06:47 | 19:32 | 12.7 h | 7.3 h |
| May | 06:25 | 19:47 | 13.4 h | 6.9 h |
| June | 06:19 | 20:00 | 13.7 h | 5.0 h |
| July | 06:29 | 20:02 | 13.5 h | 6.3 h |
| August | 06:43 | 19:44 | 13.0 h | 5.9 h |
| September | 06:55 | 19:14 | 12.3 h | 4.6 h |
| October | 07:08 | 18:43 | 11.6 h | 5.0 h |
| November | 06:26 | 17:22 | 10.9 h | 5.6 h |
| December | 06:47 | 17:22 | 10.6 h | 5.5 h |
December to April: comfortable warmth and less rain
This is the better stretch for spending time outdoors without the strongest heat. December brings mild evenings and relatively few rainy days, making it a good winter choice. January remains warm by day, but its 5 hours of sunshine make it less appealing if sunshine is your main priority. February and March both average 6 rainy days, with March offering more sunshine. April then lifts daytime temperatures to 26°C and the sea to 25°C, giving it a useful balance of warmth and lower rain frequency. Pack light daytime clothes and a light layer if you feel cool in the evenings, particularly from January to March.
May to August: warmer seas, hotter nights and more rain
May is a useful middle ground if warmer water matters more than keeping rain to a minimum. It retains 7 hours of sunshine while rain becomes more frequent than in April. June marks a clearer shift: rainy days rise to 15 and sunshine falls to 5 hours. July and August bring daytime averages of 30°C, so plan more demanding outdoor time away from midday and leave room for breaks. Nights average 27°C, offering little cooling after sunset. August has the warmest sea at 30°C, but also more rainy days than July. This stretch suits heat lovers who can keep outdoor plans flexible.
September to November: a wet start, then a better balance
September is the hardest month to recommend for a holiday centred on dry outdoor time: it averages 20 rainy days, despite warm seas and daytime temperatures of 29°C. October is still warm, but its 17 rainy days and 5 hours of sunshine keep it among the weaker choices. Neither month suits a tightly packed outdoor schedule; leave space to change plans when rain arrives. November offers a clearer improvement, with rain falling to 9 days and sunshine increasing to 6 hours. Daytime and sea temperatures both average 26°C, making it a reasonable alternative if you want warm swimming without peak summer heat.
A little more detail
Bahamas weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit Bahamas?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in Bahamas are April, March and December. August is the hottest month (average high 29.6°C) and January the coolest (23.6°C).
How many months a year is Bahamas over 25°C?
8 months in Bahamas average a daytime high of 25°C or more, and 12 average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in Bahamas?
September is the wettest month in Bahamas (133 mm on average) and February the driest (32 mm). Annual rainfall averages 901 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Bahamas?
The hottest day recorded in Bahamas between 1991 and 2020 reached 32.7°C on 3 August 2017; the coldest fell to 14.0°C on 27 December 2010. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in winter?
The sea averages 25°C in December and 24°C from January to March. That may suit you for swimming, though comfort is personal. If you prefer noticeably warmer water, May onwards is a better fit than the winter months.
Which month is best if I dislike very hot weather?
March is a strong choice: daytime temperatures average 24°C, nights 21°C, and it combines 7 hours of sunshine with 6 rainy days. It offers more sunshine than January without the hotter days and nights of summer.
Should I choose April or May?
Choose April if fewer rainy days matter most: it averages 7, compared with May's 10. May is slightly warmer by day and in the sea, while both average 7 hours of sunshine. April has the better overall balance.
See also: Bahamas weather by month · where else is hot in August
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Nassau. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2.6 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C