Belize Island Life

In Belize we do not experience four seasons but do have rainy and dry weather, and a hurricane season. The hurricane season is from June to November.
Temperatures in Belize range from 50°F to 95°F with an annual mean of 79°F.
November to January are traditionally the coolest months with a 75°F average and
May to September are the warmest at about a 81°F average. Location is a big factor for temperature as Cayo to the west can be several degrees colder then along the coast and during November at night, temperatures can fall to a beautiful 46°F in Cayo. In the mountains, the coldest days and nights might seem relatively very cold and blankets will definitely be needed at night. However, the mean annual temperatures on in the mountains is a perfectly comfortable 72°F.

JANUARY
In January, the northeast trade winds are normally established. In the Toledo District, except for a narrow coastal strip, the days are usually free from rain. On the upland Maya Mountains, the rainfall is only about 9 or 10 inches and almost all of the north of the country receives less then 3 inches of rain. In the south, the Mayan bean crops are maturing while in the north, the sugar cane harvesting is in full swing.

FEBRUARY
February is the most consistent month of the year in all districts except in Toledo. The dry easterly tradewinds blow steadily and the morning showers along the coast are gentle and infrequent. The Toledo coast gets about 6 inches of rain. Most of the northern part of the country gets only about an inch of rain. This is the month when you will see most of the clearing of forest by farmers throughout the country.

March
is another reliable month. The pattern of rainfall is similar to February and the northern parts of the country often go all month without rain.. The steady trades are beginning to fluctuate a little and thunderstorms start to form over the Maya Mountains. Toledo has its first “dry” month of the year (averaging about 4 inches) and the eager Mayan farmers are beginning to burn their “Milpas” and sow their corn – though most will wait for April

APRIL
April ushers in the onset of the rains caused by the heating of the land. Huge thunderstorms begin to build over the hot Maya Mountains. The easterly trades are losing their force and the thunderstorms often move toward the coast. These afternoon buildups are beautiful to watch, with most of the lightening hitting deep within the Maya Mountains. Toledo has another dry month of only about 4 inches of rain, and the Mayan farmers wait till after the ground is soften by the rains to begin to plant their corn or burn the bush. In the north, the rainfall is very sporadic and go by the local name of “Iguana Rains”.

MAY
During May, every part of the country can be assured of at least 2 inches of rain. The most striking characteristics of May are the majestic towering thunderheads. Strong convection currents caused by the heated land make these thunderheads daily occurrences.. By the end of the month, stormy conditions are becoming general throughout Belize and rainstorms are frequent in the south. The rainfall in Toledo may jump to 10 inches and storms blow in from the south east often lasting for three days.

JUNE
During June, easterly winds become fairly strong and steady. Rainfall in Toledo rises to 24 inches average. The rains are fairly consistent throughout the country, though the coast may get more rain then the land immediately behind. The rains are warm and quick, with plenty of sunshine – perfect growing conditions for the vast tropical forests which cover the country. Most of the Mayan farmers stop farming operations as well as loggers. Even the north part of the country gets 7 or 8 inches of rain.

JULY
July closely mirrors June and the rainfall is similar. The extreme northern part of the country may receive a little less rain then June, but Toledo still gets about 24 inches of rain during the month. This rainfall is highly variable from year to year, but no part of the country receives less then 6 inches of rain during the month.

AUGUST
August sees the dying away of the southeasterly rains, and rainfall drops about 2 inches throughout the country. A dry westerly wind dominates the weather. Toledo still receives plenty of rain. These dry conditions around the country which may last for a couple of weeks are locally referred to as the “Little Dry”. August is a fairly reliable month and westerly winds may become quite strong. The citrus harvest begins in the Stann Creek Valley with the sweetest juices you can imagine.

SEPTEMBER
September is the month of dying breezes. North and west winds are light and variable. Most of the rains fall on the mountains where the warm moist sea breezes meet the cooling land mass at the close of the day. Evening and night rains are common. Toledo receives about 22 inches of rain and even the northern part of the country receives between 5 and 7 inches. Mayan farmers are harvesting their corn while planting early crops of beans

OCTOBER
In October, the “northers” increase. These northers bring in cold air from the north which meets the warm tropical air over Belize, causing rainfall and heavy northern winds. Strong “northers” blow right across the Maya Mountains and dump heavy rains on Toledo. Light “northers” drop heavy rains on the northern side of the Maya Mountains in the Cayo District. The northers can often be quite cool and cause light craft warnings throughout the country. They seldom last for more then 3 days at a time.

NOVEMBER
November sees the northerly winds at their most strongest and coldest. The east winds are very light and weak. Land breezes with cold air move down toward the coast where they meet the warm moist sea breeze increase rainfall along the barrier reef. There is a long rain shadow area extending for almost the entire length of the coastal plain along the foothills of the Maya Mountain Range. Grass fires in the savannas are common during the month of November within this rain shadow.

DECEMBER
During December, the dry season should arrive and talk turns to the coming planting season. There is an increase in easterly winds and the northers are dying away. As the northers die, a slow moving belt of gentle rains move across the country and are known locally as the “mid-winter rains”. The southeasterly trades begin to blow, carrying the cycle back into January.