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Weather & Climate in Santa Cruz, Jamaica
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Santa Cruz has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 79°F (26°C). Winters average 77°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 213 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 67.8 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 43 feet.
Temperature
77°F Jan (25°C)
81°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 79.2°F |
| 47% above US avg | |
| January Average | 77°F (25°C) |
| July Average | 81°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 213 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Area | 454.6 sq mi (1,177.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 18/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 18.0534°N, 77.6984°W |
| Timezone | America/Jamaica |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
74 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.5.
| Jan 13, 1993 | 3 km N of Easington, Jamaica | M5.5 | 119 km | 16 km |
| Jun 13, 2005 | 8 km E of Ulster Spring, Jamaica | M5.2 | 40 km | 2 km |
| May 16, 2011 | 15 km SSW of Black River, Jamaica | M4.7 | 28 km | 28 km |
| Apr 15, 2023 | Saint Thomas, Jamaica | M4.6 | 128 km | 10 km |
| Aug 16, 2024 | 7 km NNE of Stony Hill, Jamaica | M4.5 | 100 km | 10 km |
| Aug 10, 2002 | 9 km N of Trinity Ville, Jamaica | M4.5 | 124 km | 33 km |
| Apr 14, 1993 | 75 km SSW of Negril, Jamaica | M4.5 | 116 km | 26 km |
| Sep 22, 2023 | 9 km S of Buff Bay, Jamaica | M4.4 | 111 km | 10 km |
| Aug 31, 2011 | 63 km SW of Negril, Jamaica | M4.4 | 109 km | 46 km |
| Feb 7, 2000 | 27 km SSW of Bluefields, Jamaica | M4.4 | 44 km | 5 km |
| May 6, 2011 | 7 km ENE of Mavis Bank, Jamaica | M4.2 | 116 km | 5 km |
| Aug 10, 2002 | 5 km WNW of Trinity Ville, Jamaica | M4.1 | 120 km | 15 km |
| May 2, 2024 | 5 km ENE of Buff Bay, Jamaica | M4.1 | 117 km | 10 km |
| Dec 21, 2013 | 6 km W of Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica | M4.1 | 55 km | 13 km |
| Mar 3, 2018 | 5 km WSW of Hope Bay, Jamaica | M4.0 | 115 km | 14 km |
| Jun 18, 2024 | 2 km S of Maggotty, Jamaica | M4.0 | 12 km | 10 km |
| Jun 14, 2020 | 8 km NNW of Buff Bay, Jamaica | M4.0 | 111 km | 10 km |
| May 27, 2004 | 14 km NE of Port Antonio, Jamaica | M3.9 | 142 km | 10 km |
| May 29, 1992 | 77 km SSW of Niquero, Cuba | M3.9 | 149 km | 33 km |
| Jul 14, 2008 | 2 km SE of Constant Spring, Jamaica | M3.9 | 98 km | 16 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 |
| 2025 | Melissa | Category 5 | 190 mph | 32 km |
| 2024 | Beryl | Category 4 | 144 mph | 65 km |
| 2024 | Rafael | Category 1 | 81 mph | 217 km |
| 2020 | Delta | Category 1 | 75 mph | 276 km |
| 2012 | Sandy | Category 3 | 115 mph | 113 km |
| 2010 | Tomas | Category 1 | 81 mph | 258 km |
| 2008 | Paloma | Category 4 | 144 mph | 265 km |
| 2008 | Gustav | Category 1 | 86 mph | 179 km |
| 2007 | Dean | Category 4 | 150 mph | 63 km |
| 2005 | Emily | Category 5 | 161 mph | 184 km |
| 2005 | Dennis | Category 4 | 138 mph | 149 km |
| 2004 | Ivan | Category 5 | 167 mph | 69 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 1 | 86 mph | 84 km |
| 2002 | Lili | Category 1 | 75 mph | 264 km |
| 2001 | Iris | Category 1 | 86 mph | 79 km |
| 1999 | Lenny | Category 1 | 86 mph | 248 km |
| 1998 | Mitch | Category 4 | 144 mph | 262 km |
| 1988 | Gilbert | Category 4 | 132 mph | 12 km |
| 1980 | Allen | Category 4 | 144 mph | 111 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 1.8 m (6 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1692 | PORT ROYAL | Eruption + Earthquake | 1.8 m | 3,000 | 109 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 77°F (25°C) | 2.1 in | Driest |
| February | 77°F (25°C) | 2.2 in | Coldest |
| March | 78°F (25°C) | 3.2 in | |
| April | 79°F (26°C) | 6.2 in | |
| May | 80°F (27°C) | 8.9 in | |
| June | 81°F (27°C) | 5.9 in | |
| July | 81°F (27°C) | 5.4 in | |
| August | 81°F (27°C) | 7.8 in | Warmest |
| September | 81°F (27°C) | 8.0 in | |
| October | 80°F (27°C) | 10.5 in | Wettest |
| November | 79°F (26°C) | 5.1 in | |
| December | 78°F (25°C) | 2.6 in |
Santa Cruz has a seasonal temperature swing of 5°F / from 77°F in February to 81°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 67.8 inches, with October being the wettest month (10.5") and January the driest (2.1").