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Weather & Climate in Portsmouth, Dominica
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Portsmouth has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 77°F (25°C). Winters average 74°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 198 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 76.3 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 3 feet.
Temperature
74°F Jan (23°C)
79°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 77.1°F |
| 43% above US avg | |
| January Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| July Average | 79°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 198 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Area | 2.1 sq mi (5.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,747/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 15.5829°N, 61.4559°W |
| Timezone | America/Dominica |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
1,339 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 | 97 km | 162 km |
| Sep 24, 1996 | 10 km WSW of Soufrière, Dominica | M5.8 | 44 km | 147 km |
| Feb 14, 2005 | 13 km SW of Petites Anses, Guadeloupe | M5.8 | 38 km | 12 km |
| Feb 3, 2017 | 59 km ENE of Sainte-Marie, Martinique | M5.8 | 115 km | 44 km |
| Jul 12, 1990 | Windward Islands | M5.8 | 149 km | 28 km |
| Jun 8, 1999 | 67 km ENE of La Trinité, Martinique | M5.8 | 126 km | 55 km |
| Jan 5, 2001 | 21 km SSE of Beauséjour, Guadeloupe | M5.7 | 74 km | 33 km |
| Oct 18, 2016 | 14 km WSW of Pointe Michel, Dominica | M5.6 | 40 km | 146 km |
| Jul 23, 1994 | 30 km NNE of Anse-Bertrand, Guadeloupe | M5.5 | 126 km | 68 km |
| Mar 1, 1990 | 48 km NNE of Beauséjour, Guadeloupe | M5.4 | 138 km | 42 km |
| Aug 3, 1992 | 47 km E of Grand-Bourg, Guadeloupe | M5.4 | 72 km | 43 km |
| Feb 6, 2008 | 66 km ENE of La Trinité, Martinique | M5.3 | 130 km | 27 km |
| May 7, 2010 | Leeward Islands | M5.2 | 119 km | 34 km |
| Dec 7, 2001 | 44 km N of Beauséjour, Guadeloupe | M5.1 | 131 km | 33 km |
| Apr 5, 2001 | 46 km E of Grand-Bourg, Guadeloupe | M5.1 | 71 km | 52 km |
| Sep 9, 2011 | 20 km NNE of Basse-Pointe, Martinique | M5.0 | 74 km | 150 km |
| Jan 24, 2010 | 34 km SSE of Beauséjour, Guadeloupe | M5.0 | 75 km | 65 km |
| Feb 15, 2022 | 37 km NNE of Anse-Bertrand, Guadeloupe | M5.0 | 133 km | 47 km |
| Feb 8, 2005 | 6 km SSW of Marigot, Dominica | M5.0 | 20 km | 115 km |
| Nov 27, 1992 | 4 km NE of Grand-Bourg, Guadeloupe | M4.9 | 41 km | 107 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
19 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 | 91 km |
| 2021 | Elsa | Category 1 | 86 mph | 223 km |
| 2017 | Maria | Category 5 | 167 mph | 10 km |
| 2017 | Irma | Category 5 | 178 mph | 212 km |
| 2017 | Jose | Category 4 | 155 mph | 241 km |
| 2014 | Gonzalo | Category 1 | 86 mph | 158 km |
| 2010 | Tomas | Category 2 | 98 mph | 223 km |
| 2010 | Earl | Category 2 | 109 mph | 253 km |
| 2007 | Dean | Category 3 | 127 mph | 134 km |
| 2000 | Debby | Category 1 | 81 mph | 179 km |
| 1999 | Lenny | Category 4 | 150 mph | 280 km |
| 1999 | Jose | Category 2 | 98 mph | 141 km |
| 1998 | Georges | Category 4 | 132 mph | 147 km |
| 1996 | Bertha | Category 1 | 86 mph | 186 km |
| 1995 | Luis | Category 4 | 144 mph | 197 km |
| 1995 | Marilyn | Category 2 | 98 mph | 19 km |
| 1990 | Klaus | Category 1 | 81 mph | 171 km |
| 1989 | Hugo | Category 4 | 150 mph | 82 km |
| 1980 | Allen | Category 4 | 144 mph | 207 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
15 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 | 90 km |
| 2003 | SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO | Astronomical | 4.0 m | — | 148 km |
| 1902 | MOUNT PELEE | Astronomical | 4.0 m | — | 90 km |
| 1997 | WHITE RIVER VALLEY | Explosion | 3.0 m | — | 148 km |
| 1902 | MOUNT PELEE | Astronomical | 3.0 m | 1,500 | 90 km |
| 2004 | BASSE-TERRE, LES SAINTES | Earthquake | 2.0 m | 1 | 29 km |
| 1999 | SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO | Astronomical | 2.0 m | — | 148 km |
| 1843 | POINTE-A-PITRE | Earthquake | 1.2 m | 5,000 | 129 km |
| 2006 | SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO | Astronomical | 1.0 m | — | 148 km |
| 1902 | FORT-DE-FRANCE | Astronomical | 1.0 m | — | 117 km |
| 1902 | MARTINIQUE | Astronomical | 0.6 m | — | 124 km |
| 2005 | DOMINICA PASSAGE | Earthquake | — | — | 38 km |
| 1839 | MARTINIQUE | Earthquake | — | 390 | 119 km |
| 1823 | SAINT PIERRE | Earthquake | — | — | 140 km |
| 1767 | MARTINIQUE & BARBADOS | Earthquake | — | — | 140 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
9 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Diables, Morne aux (4 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Diables, Morne aux | Lava dome(s) | 861 m (2,825 ft) | Unknown | 4 km |
| Diablotins, Morne | Stratovolcano | 1,430 m (4,692 ft) | Unknown | 11 km |
| Trois Pitons, Morne | Complex | 1,387 m (4,551 ft) | 920 | 27 km |
| Watt, Morne | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,224 m (4,016 ft) | 1997 | 35 km |
| Plat Pays, Morne | Stratovolcano | 940 m (3,084 ft) | 1270 | 39 km |
| Soufriere Guadeloupe | Stratovolcano | 1,467 m (4,813 ft) | 1977 | 56 km |
| Pelee | Stratovolcano | 1,394 m (4,573 ft) | 1932 | 92 km |
| Soufriere Hills | Stratovolcano | 915 m (3,002 ft) | 2013 | 148 km |
| Qualibou | Caldera | 777 m (2,549 ft) | 1766 | 200 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 74°F (23°C) | 5.5 in | Coldest |
| February | 74°F (23°C) | 3.4 in | |
| March | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 in | Driest |
| April | 77°F (25°C) | 3.5 in | |
| May | 78°F (26°C) | 5.4 in | |
| June | 79°F (26°C) | 6.4 in | |
| July | 79°F (26°C) | 6.4 in | |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 8.5 in | Warmest |
| September | 79°F (26°C) | 9.1 in | |
| October | 78°F (26°C) | 8.6 in | |
| November | 77°F (25°C) | 9.2 in | Wettest |
| December | 75°F (24°C) | 7.0 in |
Portsmouth has a seasonal temperature swing of 5°F / from 74°F in January to 79°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 76.3 inches, with November being the wettest month (9.2") and March the driest (3.3").