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Weather & Climate in Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Basse-Terre has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 78°F (25°C). Winters average 75°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 225 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 61.3 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 36 feet.
Temperature
75°F Jan (24°C)
80°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 77.7°F |
| 44% above US avg | |
| January Average | 75°F (24°C) |
| July Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 225 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Area | 2.2 sq mi (5.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 5,144/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 15.9971°N, 61.7321°W |
| Timezone | America/Guadeloupe |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
1,273 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.1.
| Jan 20, 2023 | 40 km WSW of Pointe-Noire, Guadeloupe | M6.1 | 48 km | 162 km |
| Sep 24, 1996 | 10 km WSW of Soufrière, Dominica | M5.8 | 95 km | 147 km |
| Feb 14, 2005 | 13 km SW of Petites Anses, Guadeloupe | M5.8 | 25 km | 12 km |
| Mar 26, 2021 | 65 km NE of Beauséjour, Guadeloupe | M5.8 | 139 km | 19 km |
| Feb 21, 1990 | 17 km NW of Brades, Montserrat | M5.8 | 119 km | 110 km |
| Jan 5, 2001 | 21 km SSE of Beauséjour, Guadeloupe | M5.7 | 76 km | 33 km |
| Oct 18, 2016 | 14 km WSW of Pointe Michel, Dominica | M5.6 | 89 km | 146 km |
| Aug 15, 1994 | 61 km NE of Beauséjour, Guadeloupe | M5.5 | 135 km | 33 km |
| Jul 23, 1994 | 30 km NNE of Anse-Bertrand, Guadeloupe | M5.5 | 89 km | 68 km |
| Sep 25, 2001 | 38 km ESE of Parham, Antigua and Barbuda | M5.4 | 118 km | 33 km |
| Dec 20, 1999 | 23 km NNE of Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda | M5.4 | 146 km | 59 km |
| Aug 28, 1999 | 43 km E of Parham, Antigua and Barbuda | M5.4 | 131 km | 28 km |
| Aug 3, 1992 | 47 km E of Grand-Bourg, Guadeloupe | M5.4 | 92 km | 43 km |
| Mar 1, 1990 | 48 km NNE of Beauséjour, Guadeloupe | M5.4 | 116 km | 42 km |
| May 7, 2010 | Leeward Islands | M5.2 | 101 km | 34 km |
| Dec 7, 2001 | 44 km N of Beauséjour, Guadeloupe | M5.1 | 105 km | 33 km |
| Apr 5, 2001 | 46 km E of Grand-Bourg, Guadeloupe | M5.1 | 91 km | 52 km |
| Feb 15, 2022 | 37 km NNE of Anse-Bertrand, Guadeloupe | M5.0 | 96 km | 47 km |
| Sep 9, 2011 | 20 km NNE of Basse-Pointe, Martinique | M5.0 | 129 km | 150 km |
| Feb 27, 2007 | 30 km E of Parham, Antigua and Barbuda | M5.0 | 126 km | 51 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
20 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 5.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2023 | Tammy | Category 1 | 92 mph | 100 km |
| 2021 | Elsa | Category 1 | 86 mph | 255 km |
| 2017 | Maria | Category 5 | 173 mph | 38 km |
| 2017 | Irma | Category 5 | 178 mph | 189 km |
| 2017 | Jose | Category 4 | 150 mph | 219 km |
| 2014 | Gonzalo | Category 1 | 92 mph | 114 km |
| 2010 | Earl | Category 3 | 121 mph | 217 km |
| 2010 | Tomas | Category 2 | 98 mph | 255 km |
| 2007 | Dean | Category 4 | 127 mph | 178 km |
| 2000 | Debby | Category 1 | 81 mph | 151 km |
| 1999 | Lenny | Category 4 | 150 mph | 225 km |
| 1999 | Jose | Category 2 | 98 mph | 112 km |
| 1998 | Georges | Category 4 | 132 mph | 111 km |
| 1997 | Erika | Category 1 | 81 mph | 298 km |
| 1996 | Hortense | Category 1 | 81 mph | 275 km |
| 1996 | Bertha | Category 1 | 86 mph | 155 km |
| 1995 | Luis | Category 4 | 144 mph | 160 km |
| 1995 | Marilyn | Category 2 | 98 mph | 22 km |
| 1990 | Klaus | Category 1 | 81 mph | 135 km |
| 1989 | Hugo | Category 4 | 150 mph | 51 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
11 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 5.0 m (16 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1902 | MOUNT PELEE | Explosion | 5.0 m | 23 | 144 km |
| 2003 | SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO | Astronomical | 4.0 m | — | 94 km |
| 1902 | MOUNT PELEE | Astronomical | 4.0 m | — | 144 km |
| 1997 | WHITE RIVER VALLEY | Explosion | 3.0 m | — | 94 km |
| 1902 | MOUNT PELEE | Astronomical | 3.0 m | 1,500 | 144 km |
| 2004 | BASSE-TERRE, LES SAINTES | Earthquake | 2.0 m | 1 | 36 km |
| 1999 | SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO | Astronomical | 2.0 m | — | 94 km |
| 1843 | POINTE-A-PITRE | Earthquake | 1.2 m | 5,000 | 75 km |
| 2006 | SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO | Astronomical | 1.0 m | — | 94 km |
| 1985 | GUADELOUPE | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 136 km |
| 2005 | DOMINICA PASSAGE | Earthquake | — | — | 25 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
10 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Soufriere Guadeloupe (9 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Soufriere Guadeloupe | Stratovolcano | 1,467 m (4,813 ft) | 1977 | 9 km |
| Diables, Morne aux | Lava dome(s) | 861 m (2,825 ft) | Unknown | 54 km |
| Diablotins, Morne | Stratovolcano | 1,430 m (4,692 ft) | Unknown | 66 km |
| Trois Pitons, Morne | Complex | 1,387 m (4,551 ft) | 920 | 82 km |
| Watt, Morne | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,224 m (4,016 ft) | 1997 | 89 km |
| Plat Pays, Morne | Stratovolcano | 940 m (3,084 ft) | 1270 | 93 km |
| Soufriere Hills | Stratovolcano | 915 m (3,002 ft) | 2013 | 94 km |
| Pelee | Stratovolcano | 1,394 m (4,573 ft) | 1932 | 145 km |
| Nevis Peak | Stratovolcano | 985 m (3,232 ft) | Unknown | 157 km |
| Liamuiga | Stratovolcano | 1,156 m (3,793 ft) | 160 | 190 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 in | |
| February | 75°F (24°C) | 2.4 in | Coldest |
| March | 76°F (24°C) | 2.4 in | Driest |
| April | 77°F (25°C) | 3.3 in | |
| May | 79°F (26°C) | 4.5 in | |
| June | 80°F (27°C) | 5.4 in | |
| July | 80°F (27°C) | 6.5 in | |
| August | 80°F (27°C) | 7.8 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| September | 80°F (26°C) | 7.8 in | |
| October | 79°F (26°C) | 6.9 in | |
| November | 78°F (25°C) | 6.3 in | |
| December | 76°F (24°C) | 4.3 in |
Basse-Terre has a seasonal temperature swing of 5°F / from 75°F in February to 80°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 61.3 inches, with August being the wettest month (7.8") and March the driest (2.4").