The Caribbean Sea is a tropical climate, which affects trade-wind circulation. Average monthly air temperatures vary from 23 to 27 ° C. Cloud is 4-5.
The average annual rainfall in the region varies from 250 mm on the island of Bonaire to 9000 mm in the windward parts of Dominica. Predominant north-easterly trade winds with average speeds of 16-32 km / h, but in the northern areas of the sea for tropical storms, a speed exceeding 120 km / h. The average is 8-9 such storms in the period from June to November, and in September - October, they are most frequent. According to the National hurricane center U.S. for the period from 1494 to 1900 on the Caribbean hurricane passed 385, and from 1900 to 1991 were recorded 235 such manifestations of nature. Caribbean region less vulnerable to the ravages of hurricanes than the Gulf of Mexico or the western Pacific (where from May to November, raging typhoons). Most hurricanes formed in the Cape Verde Islands trade winds and sent to the shores of America, in general, to predict the exact trajectory of Hurricane impossible.
Strong storms cause death, destruction and crop failures in the region. Great Hurricane of 1780 that raged from 10 to 16 October 1780, caused enormous damage to the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and possibly the Florida peninsula, and also resulted in the deaths of 22 to 24 thousand people. Hurricane Mitch, arising Oct. 22 1998 off the coast of Colombia, passed through Central America, Yucatan Peninsula and Florida, damaging up to 40 million dollars and lost 11-18 thousand people. Hurricanes Galveston (1900) and Fifi (1974) also caused considerable damage to the region.