Weather in Bermuda

Thanks to the Gulf Stream and the Bermuda-Azores High, Bermuda enjoys a temperate, sub-tropical climate. The Gulf Stream pushes warm, equatorial water to the west and north of the island, up from the Gulf of Mexico. This ensures comfortable temperatures year round, from mid 60s in winter to mid 80s in summer. The Bermuda-Azores High is a high-pressure zone that lies east of the island in summer, shielding Bermuda from storm systems to the north and wafting light, southerly winds its way.

Bermuda is a year-round destination offering a variety of island experiences any time of year. The island doesn’t experience the heat of the Caribbean (it’s about 1,000 miles north) or the chills of London or the northeast U.S. Daytime high temperatures in Bermuda average 65 degrees in January, 71 in April, 84 in July, and 80 in October. June through August brings southerly breezes, which makes evenings delightful. The difference between water and air temperatures averages 2 degrees.

Rain isn’t likely to spoil your Bermuda vacation. Unlike other islands, Bermuda has no rainy season. And you won’t hear Bermudians complain about rainfall because they collect it for drinking water via their white slate roofs, pipes, and underground tanks. Heavier downpours (typically at night in the summer) don’t usually last longer than a couple of hours; the sun rarely disappears for long. If you do encounter a day of rain, check out the island’s great indoors.

Beyond satellites and radar, some traditional forecasting methods are still in use. Some old-timers turn to shark oil when the weather is unsettled. Cloudy shark oil signals a storm – read more about the shark oil tradition. There’s also the old Weather Stone at Fort Scaur in the West End. The instructions are tongue-in-cheek: a dry stone = it’s not raining; a shadow underneath = the sun’s shining. The noticeboard adds, “If ever it is white on top, it is snowing.”