When is St. Lucia Rainy Season? (2024 Updates)

From the lush greenery to the breathtakingly beautiful oceans, there’s no doubt that St. Lucia is one of the best Caribbean destinations in the world. It’s no wonder that thousands of tourists flock there every month. However, if you want to enjoy the best of St. Lucia, you need to be sure that you won’t be making a trip during one of its wet months.

So, when is St. Lucia’s rainy season? Saint Lucia rainy season starts in June and lasts until December. However, these months have some with heavier rains than others. Here’s a breakdown of the level of rainfall experienced in St Lucia from June to December:

June: 7.90 inches of rain
July: 9.60 inches of rain
August: 8.10 inches of rain
September: 8.90 inches of rain
October: 10.20 inches of rain
November: 8.50 inches of rain
December: 6.30 inches of rain

Now that you know all about the rainy season in St Lucia let’s talk about how you can get the best out of St Lucia, even during the rainy season. It would help to know the best time to go to St Lucia, so you’ll be prepared to enjoy your trip to the fullest.

What Month Has The Heaviest Rainfall in St Lucia?

Although the rainy season in St Lucia lasts from June until December, some months witness heavier rainfall than others.

The rainiest month in St Lucia is October.

While the other rainy months have more sunshine than rain which gives you that outdoorsy feel, October is quite different. With an average rainfall of 224mm, October experiences a higher rainfall than other months in St Lucia.

However, that doesn’t mean that you don’t get to enjoy a little bit of sunshine. In St Lucia, October still shines bright for at least 8 hours per day. So, the intermittent showers help in dousing the effect of the hot weather to keep you cooled down as much as possible.

So, what are the best things to do in St. Lucia during rainy months like October?

Well, this is an excellent time for whale watching. You can visit one of the many fantastic water bodies in St Lucia, where you get a front-row seat to displays from these beautiful, big creatures.

Whale watching is a great activity to indulge in anytime from October to February. However, October also falls under hurricane season in St. Lucia. So, if you’re looking to avoid this season entirely, it would be best to visit for some whale watching between December and February.

Does it Rain a Lot in Saint Lucia?

Thankfully, it doesn’t rain all day in St Lucia. Despite being a tropical island in a rainforest area, you can expect light showers that last for a few minutes at least three times a day. However, this mainly occurs at night when you’re safely snug in bed under warm blankets.

Of course, some months have more rain than others. In November, it’s not unusual to have about a day or two where it rains throughout the day.

Even the rains can’t stop the incredible events that take place at different times of the year in St Lucia. For example, the biggest event on the island, the Saint Lucia Summer Festival, draws in tourists from various parts of the world.

This event features:

Creole Heritage Month
St. Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival
Food and Rum Festival
Roots and Soul Festival

In the first weeks of May, when it’s pretty warm in St Lucia, the island welcomes visitors to the Saint Lucia Jazz festival, featuring local and international acts. It’s a lovely time to listen to smooth jazzy beats that serenade guests.

What Month is the Best Time to Go to St Lucia?

Every month has its specific season in St Lucia. Therefore, to decide the best time to go to St Lucia, you must know the different seasons and their benefits.

The three common seasons on this lovely island are:

High season
Shoulder season
Low season

Let’s talk about each…

1. High Season

During this time, St. Lucia experiences a lower amount of available accommodation due to increased visitors.

The high season runs from mid-December to mid-April, when you can enjoy the island for its luxurious beaches and warmer temperatures. Therefore, this time is excellent for a beach vacation, especially during the cooler months of December, January, and February.

2. Shoulder Season

If you’re looking to enjoy the best of both the sunny and wet seasons, then the shoulder season is the best time to go to St Lucia. This season which includes Mid-April to June falls between the high and low seasons.

The good news is that it’s not as difficult to secure accommodation and airfare during the shoulder season as it is in the high season. So, with fewer crowds to struggle with, there’s a decent amount of outdoor activity to enjoy around the island.

3. Low Season

St. Lucia’s “low season” is also known as the wet season, when the island experiences a great deal of rainfall alongside its sunny days.

So, if you don’t mind the occasional wet days, you can take advantage of the fair cuts and discounts to travel to St Lucia in the low season from June to November. Since you can still indulge in some whale watching, this is an excellent choice for anyone traveling St. Lucia on a budget.

When Should You Not Go to St Lucia?

St Lucia is not all colors and sunshine throughout the year. As a Caribbean country, it’s not immune to the Caribbean hurricane season from June 1 to November 30. However, September and October are considered some of the worst months to visit St Lucia.

While St Lucia doesn’t always get hit by a hurricane or heavy storm every other day, these months experience more strong winds and heavy rains than others.

Although not every Caribbean Island experiences heavy rains in September and October, St Lucia has a history of averaging eight inches of rain in September and October each. This is as reported by the St Lucia Meteorological Service. Interestingly, November also experiences a great deal of rain at about seven inches.

Based on the history of heavy rainfall, it’s not such a great idea to go to St Lucia in these months. So, when is the best time to go to St Lucia? That would be between February and May, as these are the driest months.

With an average of four inches of rain in June and five inches in July and August, there’s a meager chance that you’ll be caught up in a rainstorm. Instead, you’ll be able to enjoy pleasantly warm weather throughout these months.

Recap: St. Lucia Rainy Season

The rainy season in St Lucia lasts from June to December but with varying levels of rainfall. That doesn’t mean that hefty rains should keep you away from the island throughout these months.

No matter the time of the year you choose to visit St Lucia, there’s no shortage of fun activities to engage in during your stay. All you have to do is pack the essentials to keep you as comfortable as possible.