Winter
Dec → Feb28°
nights 23 to 24°
- 17 rainy days · 57 mm
- sea 28°
When is the best time to visit Martinique?
In short: December to April, during the carême: dry weather, steady trade winds, 28 to 29 °C in the afternoon in Fort-de-France and 45 to 65 mm of rain a month. January, February and March are the best compromise between beach, hiking and Carnival, but they are also the most sought-after months, to be booked early.
- Caribbean-side beaches: From December to April, a calm sea on the Caribbean coast and often clear skies; the water stays between 27 and 29 °C.
- Carnival: From the first Sunday after Epiphany to Ash Wednesday; in the final days, in February or early March, Vaval, the carnival king, parades through Fort-de-France.
- Mount Pelée and hiking: April and May combine lush vegetation, pleasant temperatures and trails not yet soaked by the hivernage, the wet season.
- Tour des Yoles Rondes: In late July and early August, a week of yole regattas, a tradition listed by UNESCO, livens up the coast, to follow from the shore or a support boat.
- On a budget: May, June and November, between two seasons, offer fewer people and cheaper flights and hotels; May stays dry, with 50 mm in Fort-de-France.
Best avoided: August and September: at the heart of the hivernage, the hurricane risk is at its highest (season from June to November) and Fort-de-France has 22 to 25 rainy days a month.
Sources: martinique.org, martinique.org, meteofrance.mq
- Jan28°recommended
- Feb28°recommended
- Mar28°recommended
- Apr29°recommended
- May30°fair
- Jun30°fair
- Jul29°fair
- Aug30°not recommended
- Sep30°not recommended
- Oct30°fair
- Nov29°fair
- Dec28°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Martinique, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 23° | 55 mm | 18 d | 27° | ✓ |
| February | 28° | 23° | 51 mm | 15 d | 27° | ✓ |
| March | 28° | 23° | 52 mm | 17 d | 27° | ✓ |
| April | 29° | 24° | 45 mm | 16 d | 28° | ✓ |
| May | 30° | 25° | 50 mm | 16 d | 29° | |
| June | 30° | 25° | 95 mm | 20 d | 29° | |
| July | 29° | 25° | 124 mm | 25 d | 29° | |
| August | 30° | 25° | 116 mm | 25 d | 30° | |
| September | 30° | 25° | 118 mm | 22 d | 30° | |
| October | 30° | 25° | 113 mm | 22 d | 30° | |
| November | 29° | 24° | 125 mm | 21 d | 30° | |
| December | 28° | 24° | 65 mm | 18 d | 29° | ✓ |
The four seasons in Martinique, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Fort-de-France) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May28 to 30°
nights 23 to 25°
- 16 rainy days · 49 mm
- sea 28°
Summer
Jun → Aug29 to 30°
nights 25°
- 23 rainy days · 112 mm
- sea 29°
Autumn
Sep → Nov29 to 30°
nights 24 to 25°
- 22 rainy days · 119 mm
- sea 30°
Book early for December to April
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Martinique, month by month
EventsCarnivalFebruary to MarchTour des Yoles Rondes (sailing race)July to AugustAll Saints' DayNovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
Diving & snorkelling: good conditions all twelve months.
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Martinique, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- February to MarchCarnival big crowds
Fort-de-France parades for four days in a row up to Ash Wednesday, finishing in black and white, before burning Vaval.
- July to AugustTour des Yoles Rondes (sailing race) big crowds
The traditional yoles sail round the island in several stages, followed by a flotilla and by the whole coast.
- NovemberAll Saints' Day
In early November, families light up the cemeteries with candles and spend the whole evening at the graves.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended28°23° at night
- 55 mm · 18 d
- sea 27°
High season, book early
February
Recommended28°23° at night
- 51 mm · 15 d
- sea 27°
High season, book early
March
Recommended28°23° at night
- 52 mm · 17 d
- sea 27°
High season, book early
April
Recommended29°24° at night
- 45 mm · 16 d
- sea 28°
Busy, without the crush
May
Fair30°25° at night
- 50 mm · 16 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
June
Fair30°25° at night
- 95 mm · 20 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
July
Fair29°25° at night
- 124 mm · 25 d
- sea 29°
High season, book early
August
Not recommended30°25° at night
- 116 mm · 25 d
- sea 30°
Busy, without the crush
September
Not recommended30°25° at night
- 118 mm · 22 d
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
October
Fair30°25° at night
- 113 mm · 22 d
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
November
Fair29°24° at night
- 125 mm · 21 d
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
December
Recommended28°24° at night
- 65 mm · 18 d
- sea 29°
High season, book early
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 28 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 55 mm over 18 days. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
February. 28 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 51 mm over 15 days. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
March. 28 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 52 mm over 17 days. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
April. 29 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 45 mm over 16 days. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
May. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 50 mm over 16 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 95 mm over 20 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 29 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 124 mm over 25 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
August. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 116 mm of rain over 25 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 118 mm of rain over 22 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 113 mm over 22 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. 29 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 125 mm over 21 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. 28 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 65 mm over 18 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Martinique?
December to April, during the carême: dry weather, steady trade winds, 28 to 29 °C in the afternoon in Fort-de-France and 45 to 65 mm of rain a month. January, February and March are the best compromise between beach, hiking and Carnival, but they are also the most sought-after months, to be booked early.
Which month should you avoid in Martinique?
August and September: at the heart of the hivernage, the hurricane risk is at its highest (season from June to November) and Fort-de-France has 22 to 25 rainy days a month.
What is the hottest month in Martinique?
May, with 30 °C on average in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Fort-de-France).
What is the coldest month in Martinique?
January, with 28 °C at best during the day and 23 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Fort-de-France).
What is the driest month in Martinique?
April: 45 mm over 16 days of rain, against 125 mm in November, the wettest month.
When can you swim in Martinique?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 27 to 30 °C depending on the month (warmest in August), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Mount Pelée).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Martinique guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: C&P Guezennec / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Andrés Góngora / Pexels · Julia Volk / Pexels · Jean & Nathalie / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Diogo Miranda / Pexels · Aristoi / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)