Because of its almost year-round warmth and sunshine, some people refer to the Dominican Republic’s climate as “endless summer.”

The temperature on the island remains fairly consistent at around 77 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. Generally, the whole island is sunny with tropical weather. The change in seasons is determined more by the annual rainfall then by the temperature.

May to October are considered the summer months on the Dominican Republic. This is usually the hottest time of year. Highs reach about 87 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, with the nighttime low around 72 degrees Fahrenheit. But since the humidity is higher during this time of year, it can feel hotter than it really is.

The month of May is when the island sees the most rainfall, which usually comes in short storm bursts followed by sunshine. The annual rainfall in the Dominican Republic averages about 58.5 inches per year The western part of the country receives less rainfall than other areas, but unexpected showers can happen anywhere on the island.

Although there are very few temperature difference between the summer and winter months, summer in the Republic is usually the low season for tourism. The island still sees some visiting tourists, but most are there for long summer vacations. The island experiences its busiest tourist time from December through April. This is when most travelers are trying to escape the colder northern weather.

During the high season, the humidity is low, and there is less rainfall on the island. Evenings are noticeably cooler during November to April in comparison to the summer months. Areas of higher altitude, which are mostly mountainous regions on the interior of the country, experience cooler temperatures than the rest of the island. Temperatures in the mountains have dropped below freezing, and frost has even been seen on their peaks.

Like most other Caribbean islands, the Dominican Republic does experience some hurricane activity. Hurricane season lasts from the beginning of June until the end of November, and the island feels most of the effects in August and September.  Most recently the Dominican Republic felt the effects of both Hurricane Wilma and record-breaking Tropical Storm Alpha.