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SunnyDays

ERA5 almanac — 8 years of real data

Jamaica in March

Jamaica in March: 50% of days see measurable rain, 83°F average high, 21% of days historically clear (n=248, ERA5 2018–2025).

Jamaica in March is historically a poor month for sun: only 21% of days clear across 8 years (n=248, avg high 83°F). January is the clearest month for Jamaica historically. Historical average, not a forecast.

What you are reading: 8-year historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis, not a forecast. A month that is historically 90% clear can still be overcast on your specific trip. For this week’s actual forecast, see the live Jamaica page. Both can be true at once: “historically strong in this month; this particular week is not.” We label which is which.

Early vs. Late March

Clear-sky percentage for Jamaica in March, split by half-month. “n” is the number of days sampled across 8 years (2018–2025).
Period % Clear days Sample (n) Avg high
Early March
1st–15th		 18% n=120 83°F
Late March
16th–end		 23% n=128 83°F
Full month average 21% n=248 83°F

Sunshine & warmth in March

A second measure using actual sunshine hours (ERA5 sunshine_duration), not the daily weather code. A Lowcountry day with 12 hours of sun and a 25-minute afternoon storm is counted below as a warm, sunny day — because it was. How we define this.

Sunshine-based metrics for Jamaica in March. Primary: % of days ≥ 72°F with > 6 h of sunshine.
Period Warm & sunny (≥72°F, >6 h sun) Sample (n)
Early March
1st–15th		 100% n=120
Late March
16th–end		 100% n=128
Full month average 100% n=248
11.5 h median sunshine per day 100% of days exceed 8 h sunshine 50% of days see ≥ 1 mm rain — rain is not hidden
Comparison (old vs new): WMO-code “clear” bar: 21%. Sunshine-based “warm & sunny”: 100%. The 79-point gap is from brief afternoon convective storms that stamp the whole day as “rain” in the WMO code but leave the bulk of the sunshine untouched.

Bottom line

Jamaica is mostly overcast in March historically: only 21% of days are clear across 8 years (n=248), avg high 83°F. If you want sun in Jamaica, January is historically much better. Most visitors this month will see more clouds than sun.

→ See all destinations in January — historically the best month for sun in Jamaica.

Every month in Jamaica

Compare across all months with data. Numbers are historical clear-sky %.

Historical clear-sky % for Jamaica, all months, ERA5 2018–2025.
Month % Clear Sample (n)
January 23% n=248 All destinations →
February 19% n=226 All destinations →
March ← this page 21% n=248 All destinations →
April 8% n=240 All destinations →
May 3% n=248 All destinations →
June 14% n=240 All destinations →
July 18% n=248 All destinations →
August 11% n=248 All destinations →
September 4% n=240 All destinations →
October 4% n=248 All destinations →
November 15% n=240 All destinations →
December 21% n=248 All destinations →

Frequently asked

Does it rain in Jamaica in March?

Yes, frequently. In Jamaica, 50% of days in March see measurable rain, based on 8 years of ERA5 historical data (n=248 days, 2018–2025). This is a historical average, not a forecast.

Is Jamaica good for sun in March?

Not usually. Jamaica is historically overcast in March: only 21% of days are clear (avg high 83°F, n=248 days, ERA5 2018–2025). January is historically far better for sun here.

How Jamaica compares in March

Head-to-head clear-sky comparisons against destinations travelers plausibly weigh against Jamaica this month — same passport tier, similar flight distance, both sides from the same 8-year ERA5 record.

All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.