☆ Saba Weather June 2026

Saba Climate Guide

Climate Overview

Saba has a tropical maritime climate with a drier season from February through April and a wetter season from August through November. Annual rainfall at lower elevations averages around 1,000 mm39 in, but the mountainous interior and summit of Mount Scenery receive considerably more due to orographic lift and persistent cloud cover.

February and March are the driest months, while September through November bring the heaviest rainfall, often exceeding 100 mm3.9 in per month at the coast.

Because Saba's settlements sit well above sea level, with The Bottom at roughly 250 m820 ft and Windwardside at approximately 430 m1,411 ft, the island runs noticeably cooler than its neighbours. Daytime highs in the inhabited areas range from 28 °C82 °F in winter to 30 °C86 °F in summer, with overnight lows between 21 °C70 °F and 23 °C73 °F.

Winter evenings can drop to 16 °C60 °F, cool enough for a light sweater. Persistent northeast trade winds provide additional cooling, particularly on the windward eastern slopes.

Monthly Climate Averages

Long-term average temperature and rainfall for Saba by month.

Approximate averages for inhabited areas (The Bottom and Windwardside). Summit temperatures are significantly cooler.

Hurricane History

Saba lies in the northern Leeward Islands, one of the most hurricane-prone zones in the eastern Caribbean. Stormcarib records show roughly 68 tropical systems have passed within 110 km69 miles of the island since 1851.

The 1932 San Ciprian hurricane (Category 4) passed very close to Saba on September 26 with winds of 225 km/h140 mph, destroying radio antennas and causing significant damage. Hurricane Hugo (1989, Category 4) passed approximately 85 km53 miles from the island, causing slight damage to buildings and tourist facilities. Hurricane Luis (1995, Category 4) brought moderate damage to Saba as it stalled over the northern Leeward Islands with sustained winds of 212 km/h132 mph.

Hurricane Lenny (1999, Category 4) followed an unusual west-to-east track and produced an unofficial wind gust of 269 km/h167 mph on Saba before the measuring instrument blew away. The airport tower and several other buildings were severely damaged, and the island lost power and telephone service.

Hurricane Irma (2017, Category 5) was the most powerful storm on record to affect Saba, passing roughly 50 km32 miles from the island with sustained winds of 295 km/h185 mph. Irma defoliated trees, damaged several homes and infrastructure, caused water shortages and communication outages, and injured several people. Despite the devastation, Saba's small community began clearing roads on the same day.

Geography & Terrain

Saba is the smallest island in the Dutch Caribbean, covering just 13 km²5 sq mi with a roughly circular shape about 5 km3 miles across. The island is the exposed peak of a dormant stratovolcano rising steeply from the ocean floor. Mount Scenery, the summit, stands at 870 m2,854 ft and is the highest point in the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The coastline consists almost entirely of steep rocky cliffs, some over 100 m328 ft tall, with no permanent sandy beaches. The four small settlements of The Bottom (the capital), Windwardside, Zion's Hill, and St. Johns are connected by a single winding road. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport has the shortest commercial runway in the world at just 400 m1,312 ft, flanked by cliffs dropping into the sea at both ends.

The dramatic elevation gain creates distinct climate zones from coast to summit. Trade winds striking the volcanic slopes are forced upward, producing orographic rainfall that sustains a rare elfin cloud forest near the peak. This summit cloud forest, found above roughly 825 m2,707 ft, is frequently shrouded in mist and receives far more precipitation than the lower slopes.

Saba lies approximately 45 km28 miles southwest of Sint Maarten and 32 km20 miles northwest of Sint Eustatius. Despite its tiny size and population of roughly 2,000, the island's steep terrain and extreme verticality make it one of the most geographically distinctive places in the Caribbean.

Climate normals based on published data from multiple meteorological sources. Monthly values are approximate long-term averages.