Rainy and dry season in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has a warm tropical climate all year, but rain is not spread evenly across either the calendar or the island.

The two seasons

• Dry season (December to April): more stable days, steady breezes and fewer downpours.
• Rainy season (May to November): afternoon storms and more tropical activity, overlapping with hurricane season.

The wet north and the dry south

The trade winds hit the mountains and dump their moisture on the north and on El Yunque, the best-known rainforest in the Caribbean. The south (Ponce, Guánica) sits in the rain shadow and is markedly drier.

What to expect

Even in the rainy season, mornings are usually clear and storms build in the afternoon. Check your municipality's forecast: the gap between the north and south coasts is real.