St. Thomas Weather in December: Rain, Temperatures
St. Thomas Weather in December: Rain, Temperatures
St. Thomas weather in December has an average high temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit or 30 Celsius. The risk of rain is low with an average of about three inches.
This popular cruise port in the U.S. Virgin Islands finally gets a break in December from the bad weather that usually harrasses the island from September through November.
The annual Caribbean hurricane season brings heavy rains to this top destination in the U.S. Virgin Islands during those months, which make them the worst times to visit there.
It’s no surprise that tourism drops during that time, but it starts to rebound in December as the rains lessen. December is one of the best months to visit.
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| St. Thomas is warm in December. © U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism |
St. Thomas is one of the most popular islands to visit in the Caribbean because of its convenient location, duty-free shopping in Castries and abundant things to do. Castries is a popular port of call on eastern Caribbean cruises.
In addition, St. Thomas is part of a cluster of numerous islands in both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. That makes island hopping popular as well.
Average December Temperatures
Despite the arrival of winter, St. Thomas temperatures in December remain warm enough for visitors to enjoy beaches, swimming and other water activities.
The fact that St. Thomas temperatures are consistent throughout the year is another reason why the island is so popular.
St. Thomas temperatures in December have an average high of 85.8 degrees Fahrenheit or 30 degrees Celsius, according to the U.S. National Weather Service. It is only a few degrees cooler than the warmest months of the year in July and August.
The average nighttime temperature is comfortable as well at about 73.2 degrees Fahrenheit and 23 degrees Celsius.
Water temperatures usually hover about halfway between the average highs and average lows, which means it should be comfortable enough for swimming, especially later in the day as the sun heats the water.
Average December Rainfall
St. Thomas December Weather
Over a 30-year history, the island has seen an average of about 2.9 inches of rain during the month, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center.
That compares to the 5.5 inches that fall in each of the prior three months.
While 2.9 inches is better than 5.5 inches, that total is equal to the worst month during the year for Aruba, which also is the driest island in the Caribbean.
Still, that total is similar to the average rainfall for the island from April through August. But it is not as good as the average from January through March, when the total each month is less than two inches.
Should I Go in December?
December lies firmly in the middle of the pack for the best months to visit St. Thomas.
The total rainfall makes the risk of bad weather much lower than the fall months, but it is not quite as good as the late winter months.
Some people want to go to the Caribbean in December simply to get away from bad weather up north. Others may find that hotel and resort prices are lower and more attractive as a result.
Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera.
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