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My husband and I were looking to plan a trip to St. Thomas this coming November. I started doing some research on your website about the weather in the Virgin Islands during the month of November and I am a little concerned. I know November is the end of hurricane season but I also saw that it is the the month with the most expected rainfall. Can someone give me a little more detail about the weather in November? I am paranoid that we will plan a trip and have it rain a lot. Would we be better off to plan it in December or to even push it back to next January or February?
Jan:
I visited the USVI during the first and/or second week of November these past 2 years. The plus side of going during November is that it is much more affordable. Check the prices for December and January and they are DOUBLE or MORE! Another plus side is that both Islands are less crowded.
This last November we had more rain than the previous November. Most of the rainfall was overnight. During the day it was a 70/30 percent sun/rain. We still had lots of sunshine and got to do all the things we wanted to do.
And as you will find out, do not watch the weather channel there because they say the same thing every day. RAIN! And guess what..... they are wrong most of the time.
Another thing to note is that it is completely normal for 10-15 minute showers in between an otherwise sunny beautiful day. Hope this helps!
TMax
Jan,
TMax is right, We were in STT the last week of Oct. & the first week of Nov. this past year. It rained mostly at night and spotty during the day...in fact I can't remember getting an all day rain in the two weeks.
So make your plans and enjoy, besides...even if it rains in STT, it's a better than a day at work back home, the bars are open even if it rains 🙂
Thank you STT and TMax for your replies. I was also wondering
if you noticed that a lot of restaurants and stores were closed
when you vistied? I read somewhere that during the months of October and November that some places close down for the off season. I just don't want to get there and have the place be a ghost town. Any input would be appreciated.
No Worries Jan!
In my experience a much larger percentage of restaurants and shops will be open as opposed to the ones that may be closed (85/15 or better). Some restaurant and shop owners take a vacation for 2-3 weeks and close during that period. But.... the owners may vacation at various times during the year..... point being, there is always a chance that any time you visit some places could be closed.
Believe me..... you will have no lack of choices of restaurants or shopping.... Or beaches, or tourists, or friendly locals, or rum, or lasting memories..... Have fun! 🙂
TMax
Jan,
Over the past few years We would plan our vacation for either the end of Sept. or the begining of Oct. for two weeks. During those months we found more businesses close than in Nov. Last year we were on island at the end of Oct. first of Nov. and didn't find anyone closed. This is the time of year businesses are gearing up for the season.
We'll be on island the first two weeks of Nov. and staying at the Elysian Beach Resort. Have you finalized you plans yet?
We haven't finalized plans yet. I have a call into our travel agent and she is checking on prices for us for the months of November, December and January. I was concerned about the weather in November since it is their rainiest month and I was paranoid that we would get there and have it rain every day. I feel a little better after reading the e-mails of others who have traveled during November. Thanks for your input. If we plan on going in November I think it will be the second week of the month.
I guess you are always taking a risk on the weather no matter when you go.
