Santiago weather by month
In Santiago the three driest months in a row run from January to March (185 mm across the three) and rainfall peaks in May (140 mm). The average high goes from 28.9 °C (84 °F) in January to 33.5 °C (92 °F) in August. Of the 5 stations with WMO normals we publish, Santiago is the driest (1,066 mm a year), the one with the highest average high (33.5 °C (92 °F) in August) and the one with the lowest average low (18.8 °C (66 °F) in January).
Best time to visit Santiago
If you want the least rain, the best stretch in Santiago is January to March: the three months add up to 185 mm on average, and the month with the least rain is February (42 mm). That stretch falls outside hurricane season, which runs from June to November.
If you prefer less heat, the lowest average high comes in January (28.9 °C (84 °F)). These are 30-year averages, not a forecast: for the next few days, check INDOMET (formerly ONAMET).
Santiago temperature and rainfall by month
In Santiago the average high rises from 28.9 °C in January to 33.5 °C in August. The wettest months on average are May (140 mm), April (121 mm) and October (118 mm) and the driest are February (42 mm), June (67 mm) and January (69 mm). Bus tip: if you travel in April, May or October, the rainiest months, and connect with a flight, we suggest leaving extra time.
| Month | High °C (°F) | Low °C (°F) | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.9 (84) | 18.8 (66) | 69 |
| February | 29.7 (85) | 19.1 (66) | 42 |
| March | 30.7 (87) | 19.5 (67) | 74 |
| April | 31.3 (88) | 20.7 (69) | 121 |
| May | 31.9 (89) | 21.8 (71) | 140 |
| June | 33.1 (92) | 22.8 (73) | 67 |
| July | 33.2 (92) | 22.9 (73) | 73 |
| August | 33.5 (92) | 22.9 (73) | 77 |
| September | 33.3 (92) | 22.4 (72) | 95 |
| October | 32.6 (91) | 22.0 (72) | 118 |
| November | 30.6 (87) | 20.7 (69) | 108 |
| December | 29.3 (85) | 19.3 (67) | 81 |
Santiago weather station, 11.7 km from the center. 30-year average, 1991 to 2020.
Source: WMO 1991-2020 climate normals (ONAMET stations), published by NOAA NCEI · checked on 2026-10-04
Hurricane season in Santiago
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 and peaks around September 10, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center.
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center, climatology · checked on 2026-10-04
At the Santiago station, 50.5% of the year's rain falls from June to November, 538 mm out of 1,066.
Santiago vs Puerto Plata
On average 1,066 mm of rain falls in Santiago each year and 1,663 mm in Puerto Plata. Rainfall peaks in May in Santiago (140 mm) and in November in Puerto Plata (258 mm). Santiago gets more rain from May to October, 53.5% of the yearly total, the opposite of Puerto Plata, where 64.4% falls from November to April.
Bus trips from Santiago
- Santiago → Santo Domingo · 2 h 15 min
- Santiago → Puerto Plata · 1 h 30 min
- Santiago → Bonao · 1 h 15 min
- Santiago → La Vega · 40 min
- Santiago → Punta Cana · 6 h 25 min
- Santiago → Las Terrenas · 5 h 45 min