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Climate
Blessed with cooling tradewinds, the Cayman Islands enjoy a temperate climate year-round. The hottest months are July and August when average temperatures top out at 85 to 90°; the coolest month is February, when highs range from 72 to 86° and nighttime lows dip to the mid-60s to lower 70s.

Water temperatures drop during the winter months, ranging from 78 to 82°. During the summer, the waters warm to 82-86°, a balmy bath-like temperature that makes wetsuits strictly optional.

Rainfall varies with the season, reaching its peak during hurricane season. Average rainfall is 46 inches annually; May and October are traditionally the wettest months. The driest times are March and April.

Mention weather and the Caribbean in the same sentence and, quite predictably, the topic of hurricanes arises. These deadly storms are officially a threat from June through November, although the greatest danger is during the later months, basically August through October. (September is the worst.)

Hurricanes are defined as revolving storms with wind speeds of 75 mph or greater. These counter-clockwise storms begin as waves off the west coast of Africa and work their way across the Atlantic, some eventually gaining strength and becoming tropical depressions (under 40 mph) or tropical storms (40-74 mph). Excellent warning systems keep islands posted on the possibility of oncoming storms. Radio Cayman (105.3 and 89.9) broadcasts current storm reports in the islands.

You'll find a list of hurricane shelters in the Cable and Wireless telephone directory. Keep in mind, however, that the Caribbean is a large region. We were on Grand Cayman when Hurricane Luis picked up strength on its way to batter St. Martin and Antigua in 1995, but we never saw surf over our ankles.

For a current weather report, call the Cayman Islands National Meteorological Service in George Town at (345) 945-5773.

HURRICANE CATEGORIES
Atlantic hurricanes are ranked by the Saffir-Simpson intensity scale to give an estimate of the potential flooding and damage. Category Three and above are considered intense.

Category/Winds (mph) Damage

One 74 - 95 Minimal: Damage primarily to shrubbery, trees and foliage.
Two 96 - 110 Moderate: Considerable damage to shrubbery and foliage; some trees blown down. Some dam age to roofing materials.
Three 111 - 130 Extensive: Foliage torn from trees; large trees down. Some structural damage to small buildings. Mobile homes destroyed. Coastal flooding.
Four 131 - 155 Extreme: Shrubs and trees  blown down. Complete failure of roofs on small residences. Major beach erosion. Massive evacuation of all homes within 500 yards of shore possibly required. Hurricane Andrew that smashed into S. Florida in 1992 is a good example of a "force four."
Five 155+ Catastrophic: Some complete building failures. Small build ings overturned/blown away. Low-lying escape routes inland cut by rising water three-five hours before the hurricane's center arrives. Hurricane Camille, category five, struck Miss issippi and Louisiana in 1969.