AI-generatedSantiago de Cuba at a glance
- Best time
- Nov – Mar
- Warmest month
- Jul · 33°
- Warmest sea
- Sep · 30.0°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,860 h
- Rain a year
- 731 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC−5 / UTC−4
- Elevation
- 33 m
Climate in Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. July is the warmest month with average highs of 33 °C, while January is the coolest at 29 °C. With around 2,860 hours of sunshine a year, Santiago de Cuba is sunny; February is the sunniest month with 8.8 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: November – March
October is the peak of the hurricane season
Keep in mindFrequent rainStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 26°
- Midday, 13:00: about 30°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 30°
- Evening, 20:00: about 27°
- Night, 23:00: about 26°
06:5718:40
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:44–07:27 · evening 18:11–18:54
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:35–06:44 · evening 18:54–19:03
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Santiago de Cuba in October?
In October, Santiago de Cuba is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.6 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 18 days, totalling 122 mm. On about 19 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Santiago de Cuba.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 43 min06:57 – 18:40
- UV index
- 9 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 12 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 60 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 19 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−4America/Havana
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %60 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %65 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Water bottle – drink plenty
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Santiago de Cuba
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 29.3 – 30.0 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Santiago de Cuba ranges from 27.0 °C in February to 30.0 °C in September. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in September, while the air already peaks in July. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in September, eight out of ten years were between 29.5 and 30.4 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 27.2° | 26.6° | 27.8° | warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 27.0° | 26.4° | 27.5° | warm |
| MarchMar | 27.1° | 26.6° | 27.6° | warm |
| AprilApr | 27.6° | 27.1° | 28.2° | warm |
| MayMay | 28.4° | 27.8° | 28.9° | warm |
| JuneJun | 29.0° | 28.6° | 29.4° | very warm |
| JulyJul | 29.5° | 29.1° | 30.0° | very warm |
| AugustAug | 29.9° | 29.5° | 30.4° | very warm |
| SeptemberSep | 30.0° | 29.5° | 30.4° | very warm |
| OctoberOct | 29.6° | 29.3° | 30.0° | very warm |
| NovemberNov | 28.8° | 28.3° | 29.3° | warm |
| DecemberDec | 27.9° | 27.2° | 28.5° | warm |
Sunshine hours in Santiago de Cuba
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 6.9 of 11.7 hours of daylight in Santiago de Cuba, 59 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Santiago de Cuba
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 9 · very highStay in the shade around midday; SPF 50, clothing, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in May (UV 12).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 15 min
- Fair skin
- about 20 min
- Light brown skin
- about 25 min
- Olive skin
- about 35 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Santiago de Cuba: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Santiago de Cuba has about 18 rainy days with 122 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Santiago de Cuba
How breezy and how cloudy Santiago de Cuba is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Santiago de Cuba typically peaks at 12 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
The daily breeze rarely reaches Beaufort 4 (20 km/h), so wind sports depend on single windy days.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 60 % of the sky over Santiago de Cuba: variable cloud, with about 6.9 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Santiago de Cuba
How often the day gets hot in Santiago de Cuba (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Santiago de Cuba has about 19 hot days, with an average daytime high of 30 °C: hot and muggy. Plan outdoor activities for the morning and evening, drink a lot and take breaks in the cool.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Santiago de Cuba
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Warm 20–24°
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
HotOctober: nights around 24°. Hot nights: air conditioning makes sleeping much easier. Muggy on about 31 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (21°), the warmest in August (25°). Nights stay tropical all year (20 °C and more), so a room with air conditioning or at least a fan pays off. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 329 days a year, mostly all year round.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 85 | 29° | 21° | 27.2° | 8.2 h | 2 | 10 |
| FebruaryFeb | 84 | 30° | 21° | 27.0° | 8.8 h | 3 | 11 |
| MarchMar | 77 | 30° | 22° | 27.1° | 8.2 h | 5 | 24 |
| AprilApr | 67 | 30° | 23° | 27.6° | 8.3 h | 8 | 44 |
| MayMay | 48 | 31° | 24° | 28.4° | 7.6 h | 15 | 102 |
| JuneJun | 46 | 31° | 25° | 29.0° | 7.5 h | 14 | 85 |
| JulyJul | 44 | 33° | 25° | 29.5° | 8.1 h | 13 | 58 |
| AugustAug | 38 | 33° | 25° | 29.9° | 7.7 h | 15 | 81 |
| SeptemberSep | 36 | 31° | 25° | 30.0° | 7.1 h | 20 | 116 |
| OctoberOct | 43 | 30° | 24° | 29.6° | 6.9 h | 18 | 122 |
| NovemberNov | 71 | 30° | 23° | 28.8° | 7.6 h | 8 | 57 |
| DecemberDec | 83 | 29° | 22° | 27.9° | 7.9 h | 3 | 22 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
20.02° N, 75.82° W · 33 m · America/Havana
Best time to visit Santiago de Cuba
The best time to visit Santiago de Cuba is from November to March. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from November to April. Rain is most frequent from May to October; the wettest month is October with 122 mm.
Santiago de Cuba through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Santiago de Cuba in the dry season
Nov – Apr
Good
- 29–30 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 29 rainy days in all
Santiago de Cuba in the rainy season
May – Oct
Fair
- 30–33 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 96 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Santiago de Cuba for you.
Your best months: December – February
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Santiago de Cuba
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
January has the better holiday weather in Santiago de Cuba: score 85 against 43. In January, days are 1 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 2 °C cooler in January. January has 16 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in January.
| Month | October | January |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 43 | 85better |
| Day high | 30° | 29° |
| Night low | 24° | 21° |
| Sea | 29.6° | 27.2° |
| Sunshine | 6.9 h | 8.2 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 18 | 2better |
| Rainfall | 122 mm | 10 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 31 | 24better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Nov – Apr
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
May – Oct
12 or more rainy days
Santiago de Cuba month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
85January29° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In January, Santiago de Cuba is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 27.2 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 10 mm in total. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Santiago de Cuba.
Santiago de Cuba in January84February30° · Sea 27° · 9 h
In February, Santiago de Cuba is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 27.0 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 11 mm in total. On about 11 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Santiago de Cuba.
Santiago de Cuba in February77March30° · Sea 27° · 8 h
In March, Santiago de Cuba is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 27.1 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 24 mm. On about 15 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Santiago de Cuba.
Santiago de Cuba in March67April30° · Sea 28° · 8 h
In April, Santiago de Cuba is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 27.6 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 44 mm. On about 19 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Santiago de Cuba.
Santiago de Cuba in April48May31° · Sea 28° · 8 h
In May, Santiago de Cuba is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 28.4 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 15 days, totalling 102 mm. On about 22 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Santiago de Cuba.
Santiago de Cuba in May46June31° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In June, Santiago de Cuba is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 14 days, totalling 85 mm. On about 26 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Santiago de Cuba.
Santiago de Cuba in June44July33° · Sea 30° · 8 h
In July, Santiago de Cuba is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.5 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 58 mm in total. On about 30 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Santiago de Cuba.
Santiago de Cuba in July38August33° · Sea 30° · 8 h
In August, Santiago de Cuba is hot: daytime highs average 33 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 29.9 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 15 days, totalling 81 mm. On about 29 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Santiago de Cuba.
Santiago de Cuba in August36September31° · Sea 30° · 7 h
In September, Santiago de Cuba is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 25 °C. The sea averages 30.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 20 days, totalling 116 mm. On about 26 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Santiago de Cuba.
Santiago de Cuba in September43October30° · Sea 30° · 7 h
In October, Santiago de Cuba is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.6 °C – almost as warm as a bath. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 18 days, totalling 122 mm. On about 19 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Santiago de Cuba.
Santiago de Cuba in October71November30° · Sea 29° · 8 h
In November, Santiago de Cuba is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 28.8 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 57 mm. On about 12 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Santiago de Cuba.
Santiago de Cuba in November83December29° · Sea 28° · 8 h
In December, Santiago de Cuba is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sea averages 27.9 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 22 mm in total. On about 10 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Santiago de Cuba.
Santiago de Cuba in DecemberSantiago de Cuba compared
Put Santiago de Cuba side by side with another destination.
No destination found
Santiago de Cuba vs. Guantánamo Bay
In October Guantánamo Bay has the better holiday weather (score 51 vs. 43). During the day it is about as warm in Guantánamo Bay as in Santiago de Cuba. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Santiago de Cuba | Guantánamo Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 43 | 51 |
| Daytime high | 30° | 30° |
| Sea | 30° | 30° |
| Sunshine | 7 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 18 | 15 |
| Best time | Nov – Mar | Nov – Jul |
Through the year
Cuba in October: the best places
In October, Santiago de Cuba ranks 5 of 5 destinations in this country.
- Guantánamo Bay30°30°76
- 2Varadero28°29°74
- 3Havana29°29°58
- 4Trinidad30°30°47
- 5Santiago de CubaThis page30°30°43
Planning a trip to Santiago de Cuba
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Santiago de Cuba in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Santiago de Cuba has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 84) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 40).
- 70
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 30 °C by day
- Sea 27 °C
- 8.3 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
- 48
May half-term
May – Jun
Fair
- 31 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 7.6 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 40
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 33 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 7.8 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 43
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 30 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 6.9 h of sun a day
- 18 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 84
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
ExcellentBest holidays
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 28 °C
- 8.1 h of sun a day
- 3 rainy days a month
Good for: Beach & swimming
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 9 h 15 min
- Distance
- 7,280 km
- Time zone
- UTC−4
- Jet lag
- About 3 days (5 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Santiago de Cuba lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June: Season
- July: Season
- August: Peak
- September: Peak
- October: Peak
- November: Season
- December
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Santiago de Cuba
When is the best time to visit Santiago de Cuba?
The best time to visit Santiago de Cuba is from November to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Santiago de Cuba?
The sea temperature in Santiago de Cuba ranges from 27.0 °C in February to 30.0 °C in September. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Santiago de Cuba in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 29.6 °C – almost as warm as a bath.
What is the warmest month in Santiago de Cuba?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C and nights around 25 °C. January is the coolest month at 29 °C.
When does it rain most in Santiago de Cuba?
Rain is most frequent from May to October; the wettest month is October with 122 mm. The driest month is January with 10 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Santiago de Cuba get?
Santiago de Cuba gets around 2,860 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is February with 8.8 hours a day; in October there are 6.9 hours a day.
What time zone is Santiago de Cuba in?
Santiago de Cuba uses the time zone America/Havana: UTC−5 in January and UTC−4 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Santiago de Cuba?
A nonstop flight from London to Santiago de Cuba takes about 9 h 15 min, for a straight-line distance of about 7,280 km.
When is hurricane season in Santiago de Cuba?
Santiago de Cuba lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for Santiago de Cuba?
Santiago de Cuba has its best school-holiday weather during the Christmas holidays (score 84) and its weakest during the summer holidays (score 40). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 70, May half-term 48, Summer holidays 40, October half-term 43, Christmas holidays 84.
Near Santiago de Cuba
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Santiago de Cuba
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Santiago de Cuba's – good alternatives.