Montego Bay Rainfall & Precipitation: Monthly Averages and Year-Round Insights

This page shows the average amount of rainfall per month in Montego Bay. The numbers are calculated over a 30-year period to provide a reliable average. Now, let’s explore all the details to give you a full picture.

Montego Bay has a notably wet climate with abundant precipitation, recording 1521 mm of rainfall per year.

Monthly Precipitation Levels

The average number of days each month with precipitation (> 0.2 mm)

The seasons in Montego Bay, bring significant changes in precipitation. The wettest month, May, receives heavy rainfall, with an average of 220 mm of precipitation.

This rainfall is distributed across 12 rainy days. In contrast, the driest month, February, experiences much less rainfall, totaling 53 mm over 6 rainy days. These distinct seasonal differences provide diverse experiences throughout the year.

May, the city’s wettest month, has a maximum daytime temperature of 31°C and receives 252 hours of sunshine. During the driest month February you can expect a temperature of 29°C. For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, visit our Montego Bay Temperature page.

Annual Precipitation in Jamaica

The map below shows the annual precipitation across Jamaica. You can also select the different months in case you are interested in a specific month.

Amsterdam Precipitation Compared World Wide

Montego Bay’s average annual precipitation is 1521 mm. Let’s compare this to some popular worldwide tourist destinations:

The city of Rome, Italy, has an average annual precipitation of 832 mm, spread fairly evenly throughout the year.

In Shanghai, China, the annual average precipitation is 1347 mm, with a humid subtropical climate.

Adelaide, Australia, enjoys 511 mm of annual precipitation, with dry summers and wet winters.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, receives 2529 mm of annual rainfall, characteristic of its equatorial tropical rainforest climate, with consistent rainfall throughout the year and peak months during March and November.

How is Precipitation Measured?

Precipitation amounts are measured using specific gauges installed at weather stations, collecting both rain and snow and any other type of precipitation. Rainfall is measured directly in millimeters, while that from snow and ice is obtained by melting it. Automated systems often incorporate heaters to make this easier.

Information from these stations is transmitted via Wi-Fi, satellite, GPS, or telephone connections to central monitoring networks. This information is immediately updated and integrated into weather models and forecasts.

Global Precipitation Patterns

Tropical Rainforests: In tropical regions, rainfall is generally abundant year-round. Areas near the equator, like the Amazon rainforest, can receive up to 3000 mm of rain annually.

Desert Regions: Deserts such as the Sahara and Arabian deserts typically see less than 250 mm of rainfall annually. Rainfall tends to be infrequent, but when it does occur, it is often intense.

Temperate Zones: In temperate regions, precipitation tends to be more evenly distributed, though areas closer to the ocean may see more rain in the winter months, and areas further inland experience drier summers.

Polar Regions: Precipitation in polar regions, like Antarctica, is extremely low, often falling as snow. Average annual precipitation in Antarctica is less than 200 mm, with some areas receiving as little as 50 mm annually.

For more detailed information about Montego Bay’s weather, including sunshine hours, humidity levels, and temperature data, visit our Montego Bay Climate page.