The weather in Punta Cana – all you need to know for a worry-free vacation

If you check climate graphs or the weather forecast of Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic, you can get the impression that the Punta Cana weather always is the same: high temperatures, some rain, always sun. But there are some differences which you should know if the weather is important for you as all seasons have their advantages (and some disadvantages). If you are planning a trip to Punta Cana and are not sure which month to pick, here is everything you need to know about the weather in Punta Cana – from a general point of view and the Punta Cana by month. It also includes our own experiences from living in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic for more than 6 years.

This article is about the weather in Punta Cana. If you want to know when is the best time to travel to Punta Cana, check out this article here.
If you need help finding the best resort for your trip to Punta Cana, continue reading here.

Completely UPDATED: July 2023

The weather in Punta Cana – general information, experiences and thoughts

 In general, you can expect the perfect Caribbean weather when you come to Punta Cana. I am living in the Dominican Republic for more than 6 years now and can confirm that the weather in Punta Cana is simply amazing, fully loaded with tropical temperature, (nearly) endless sunshine and only a few severe weather disruptions.

 However, the weather in Punta Cana deserves a little further explanation. One of them is that a rainy day in the Dominican Republic is not the same as a rainy day in other countries. Another truth is that there are only a few weather forecasts on the internet you can trust because most of them are showing just generic data not considering the specific weather characteristics of the Caribbean.

 Let us start with some general information, facts and figures about the Punta Cana weather. The temperature in Punta Cana year-round is between 66°F (lowest nightly temperature) and 90°F (highest daily temperature). This sounds like a huge difference, but in fact, the daily temperatures are always varying between 75°F and 90°F while you have typically between 65°F and 80°F at night. The hottest months are between July and September, the “coolest” between December and February. Depending on the humidity, sun, wind and your personal sensation, temperatures in Punta Cana can seem and feel as high as 100°F.

 Monthly rainfall cumulates between 2 to 5 inches per month, with January to March being the driest months and July to November being considerably wetter. However, even during the rainy season in Punta Cana (May to November), Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic are perfect travel destinations as I am going to explain in the next chapter.

When is the rainy season in Punta Cana?

 The rainy season in Punta Cana lasts from May to November when rainfall amounts are more or less doubled compared to the dry season from December to April. However, the rainy season in the Dominican Republic is not comparable to the monsoon season in Asia as you still can experience a lot of sunshine during these months.

 The rainy season in Punta Cana distinguishes itself by a couple of daily, heavy showers, which lasts usually between 10 and 20 minutes, often in the morning, in the afternoon and at night. Between those showers, you will have a lot of sunshine and can enjoy the Caribbean heat. Humidity is quite high in those months so be prepared to sweat a lot.

 On the other hand, you also can and will have showers in the dry season, just less frequent.

 Furthermore, it is important to note that – even in the rainy season – it is quite rare that you have a full day of clouds and rain. It can happen, but from my personal experience at maximum once or twice a month. Therefore also the rainy season is a great time to travel to Punta Cana.

When is hurricane season in Punta Cana?

 Another frequently asked question is the one about when the hurricane season in Punta Cana starts respectively ends. Similar to the rainy season, the hurricane season in Punta Cana (and in the Dominican Republic) lasts from June to November. However, it is important to note that most tropical storms and hurricanes occur quite locally which is why I have only experienced side effects of 1 tropical storm in my full 8-year track-record of living in the Caribbean. The chances of being affected by a tropical storm or a hurricane are exceptionally low. It is hard to predict, but assuming that one disturbance per year is affecting Punta Cana – usually for around 2-3 days – and the hurricane season officially lasts 180 days, chances are in the single-digit area of being affected by bad weather and some serious rain. The probability of getting hit by a hurricane is even lower than 1% and probably lower than in most coastal areas of the southern and southeastern United States.

 That’s why in my opinion Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic are a great year-round travel destination. We never had problems venturing out also during the wetter months and it is always a pleasure to see the lush nature of the Dominican Republic in its full abundance. As an additional plus, prices from May to November are significantly lower. Find more information about this topic in my article about the best time to travel to Punta Cana.

How is the Punta Cana weather in the different months?

Super often we see the question about the Punta Cana weather by month – travelers are curious about the climate as they want to figure out which month is the best time to visit Punta Cana. As you will see throughout this article, you can visit Punta Cana year-round as the weather always offers tropical temperatures and a lot of sunshine. Still, to help you with this decision, we have created a table with all the figures and stats you need to know when looking for the Punta Cana weather by month:

Punta Cana weather by month	Average temperature in Punta Cana	Average temperature at night	Rainy days in Punta Cana (per definition)	Total precipation	Sunshine hours per day in Punta Cana	Average water temperature in Punta Cana
January	81°F	75°F	17	0.9 inches	9 hours	81°F
February	81°F	75°F	15	1.1 inches	9 hours	79°F
March	81°F	75°F	16	1.2 inches	9 hours	79°F
April	82°F	75°F	18	1.8 inches	9 hours	81°F
May	84°F	77°F	23	2,7 inches	10 hours	81°F
June	84°F	79°F	19	2 inches	11 hours	82°F
July	86°F	79°F	24	3 inches	9 hours	82°F
August	86°F	81°F	23	3.8 inches	10 hours	84°F
September	86°F	81°F	21	2.8 inches	10 hours	84°F
October	86°F	79°F	23	3.4 inches	9 hours	84°F
November	84°F	79°F	23	3.3 inches	7 hours	84°F
December	82°F	77°F	18	1.6 inches	8 hours	82°F

As you can see in this table for the Punta Cana weather by month, there is basically a guarantee that you will always have enough sunshine. With regard to the rainfall, don’t be scared about the days of rainfall, as a day count as a rainy day if it only rains for 5 minutes. And last but not least, as you can see in the table, the Punta Cana temperatures are always warm enough to guarantee a perfect Caribbean holiday.

Punta Cana weather in January

 The weather in Punta Cana in January is usually dry and sunny. While a few showers and partly rainy days from December might overlap, January is a great month to enjoy the best of the Dominican weather. According to the climatograph, January is also the driest month of the entire year.

When traveling to Punta Cana, the weather in January won’t disappoint you. It is super stable with a lot of sunshine and hardly any rain, 0% chances for hurricanes and usually also no seaweed in Punta Cana. In short, the weather in Punta Cana in January is simply the best (along with the months of February and March).

 Furthermore, as for the entire Dominican Republic, the sun is less intense in Punta Cana in January compared to other months, particularly during July and August. This means that you have less risk of severe sunburn and can enjoy the Caribbean weather better (and safer). 

 Last but not least, the temperature in Punta Cana in January is lower than during summer, which is particularly perfect for those who can’t cope with higher temperatures of 90°F and more. But don’t worry, even though the maximum temperatures of Punta Cana’s January weather are around 85°F, you still can enjoy the perfect Caribbean climate – it is just not as hot as from July to September.  

Average Punta Cana weather in January
Average Punta Cana temperature in January: 81°F
Average nightly temperatures in Punta Cana in January: 75°F
Meteorological rainy days: 17 (meaning days where it rains at least once a day for 5 minutes)
Total precipitation in January: 23 mm
Average sunshine hours per day in January: 9 hours
Average water temperature in Punta Cana: 81°F

Do you like the Punta Cana weather in January? If so, why not plan your trip to the Dominican Republic and read a bit more about the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, the most exciting excursion and tours and the safest Punta Cana airport transfers.

Punta Cana weather in February

 February is another great month to travel to Punta Cana and one of the best months to go, thanks to the stable climate, which is as great as the Punta Cana January weather. The weather in Punta Cana in February is one of the most stable throughout the year with the most rain-free days, together with December, January and March. Usually, temperatures are very pleasant in their low 80’s and at night it might get a little bit chilly (temperatures at night might fall below the 70’s) if you are sensitive to non-tropical temperatures.

Average Punta Cana weather in February
Average Punta Cana temperature in February: 81°F
Average nightly temperatures in Punta Cana in February: 75°F
Meteorological rainy days: 15 (meaning days where it rains at least once a day for 5 minutes)
Total precipitation in February: 27 mm
Average sunshine hours per day: 9 hours
Average water temperature in Punta Cana: 79°F

Do you like the Punta Cana weather in February? If so, why not plan your trip to the Dominican Republic and read a bit more about the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, the most exciting excursion and tours and the safest Punta Cana airport transfers.

Punta Cana weather in March

 Similar to February, the weather in March is distinguished by its stability. A few showers are common during every time of the year in the Dominican Republic but you can expect at least 70% to 80% sunshine while enjoying your vacation in Punta Cana on its picture-perfect beaches.

Average Punta Cana weather in March
Average Punta Cana temperature in March: 81°F
Average nightly temperatures in Punta Cana in March: 75°F
Meteorological rainy days: 16 (meaning days where it rains at least once a day for 5 minutes)
Total precipitation in March: 29 mm
Average sunshine hours per day: 9 hours
Average water temperature in Punta Cana: 79°F

Do you like the Punta Cana weather in March? If so, why not plan your trip to the Dominican Republic and read a bit more about the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, the most exciting excursion and tours and the safest Punta Cana airport transfers.

Punta Cana weather in April

 In April, the weather in Punta Cana continues to be favorable for worry-free holidays and sufficient beach time without any rain interruptions. However, some rainy days might move in in the second half of April, but depending on the general weather conditions this might also be delayed into May or June.

Average Punta Cana weather in April
Average Punta Cana temperature in April: 82°F
Average nightly temperatures in Punta Cana in April: 75°F
Meteorological rainy days: 18 (meaning days where it rains at least once a day for 5 minutes)
Total precipitation in April: 44 mm
Average sunshine hours per day: 9 hours
Average water temperature in Punta Cana: 81°F

Do you like the Punta Cana weather in April? If so, why not plan your trip to the Dominican Republic and read a bit more about the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, the most exciting excursion and tours and the safest Punta Cana airport transfers.

Punta Cana weather in May

 Usually, May brings some more rainy days in Punta Cana, but everything is still on a very reasonable level. Showers and sunshine are alternating with less share for the liquid part of it. 😉

Average Punta Cana weather in May
Average Punta Cana temperature in May: 84°F
Average nightly temperatures in Punta Cana in May: 77°F
Meteorological rainy days: 23 (meaning days where it rains at least once a day for 5 minutes)
Total precipitation in May: 67 mm
Average sunshine hours per day: 10 hours
Average water temperature in Punta Cana: 81°F

Do you like the Punta Cana weather in May? If so, why not plan your trip to the Dominican Republic and read a bit more about the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, the most exciting excursion and tours and the safest Punta Cana airport transfers.

Punta Cana weather in June

 In June you can start to feel the summer heat in the Dominican Republic as temperatures are regularly climbing over the 90°F mark. June also is the beginning of the hurricane season.

Average Punta Cana weather in June
Average Punta Cana temperature in June: 84°F
Average nightly temperatures in Punta Cana in June: 79°F
Meteorological rainy days: 19 (meaning days where it rains at least once a day for 5 minutes)
Total precipitation in June: 50 mm
Average sunshine hours per day: 11 hours
Average water temperature in Punta Cana: 82°F

Do you like the Punta Cana weather in June? If so, why not plan your trip to the Dominican Republic and read a bit more about the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, the most exciting excursion and tours and the safest Punta Cana airport transfers.

Punta Cana weather in July

 The weather in Punta Cana in July continues to be a mix of hot and sunny days, interrupted by heavy, but short tropical showers. The highest temperatures each day should always be in their 90s and above.

Average Punta Cana weather in July
Average Punta Cana temperature in July: 86°F
Average nightly temperatures in Punta Cana in July: 79°F
Meteorological rainy days: 24 (meaning days where it rains at least once a day for 5 minutes)
Total precipitation in July: 75 mm
Average sunshine hours per day: 9 hours
Average water temperature in Punta Cana: 82°F

Do you like the Punta Cana weather in July? If so, why not plan your trip to the Dominican Republic and read a bit more about the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, the most exciting excursion and tours and the safest Punta Cana airport transfers.

Punta Cana weather in August

 August is one of the warmest months in Punta Cana. If you are looking for real Caribbean heat, that is your month to travel. Shower activity is similar to the months before, averaging 4 inches of rainfall per month.

Average Punta Cana weather in August
Average Punta Cana temperature in August: 86°F
Average nightly temperatures in Punta Cana in August: 81°F
Meteorological rainy days: 23 (meaning days where it rains at least once a day for 5 minutes)
Total precipitation in August: 94 mm
Average sunshine hours per day: 10 hours
Average water temperature in Punta Cana: 84°F

Do you like the Punta Cana weather in August? If so, why not plan your trip to the Dominican Republic and read a bit more about the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, the most exciting excursion and tours and the safest Punta Cana airport transfers.

Punta Cana weather in September

 This month the weather in Punta Cana continues to be hot and humid, but still with loads of sunshine. Furthermore, September is statistically the most active month for hurricanes and tropical storms. While it is still perfect to travel, it pays off to have a little bit of flexibility in your plans (rental car to move to another area in the Dominican Republic or flexible cancellation conditions in case you’d like to wait for better weather) in case a strong weather disturbance is arriving to Punta Cana (which can usually predicted 3-4 days in advance).

Average Punta Cana weather in September
Average Punta Cana temperature in September: 86°F
Average nightly temperatures in Punta Cana in September: 81°F
Meteorological rainy days: 21 (meaning days where it rains at least once a day for 5 minutes)
Total precipitation in September: 70 mm
Average sunshine hours per day: 10 hours
Average water temperature in Punta Cana: 84°F

Do you like the Punta Cana weather in September? If so, why not plan your trip to the Dominican Republic and read a bit more about the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, the most exciting excursion and tours and the safest Punta Cana airport transfers.

Punta Cana weather in October

 In October, you will have a typical mix of tropical weather in Punta Cana: sunshine, rain showers, high temperatures (but not as high as the weather in July), not too chilly nights.

Average Punta Cana weather in October
Average Punta Cana temperature in October: 86°F
Average nightly temperatures in Punta Cana in October: 79°F
Meteorological rainy days: 23 (meaning days where it rains at least once a day for 5 minutes)
Total precipitation in October: 84 mm
Average sunshine hours per day: 9 hours
Average water temperature in Punta Cana: 84°F

Do you like the Punta Cana weather in October? If so, why not plan your trip to the Dominican Republic and read a bit more about the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, the most exciting excursion and tours and the safest Punta Cana airport transfers.

Punta Cana weather in November

 If you are looking for an average month of weather in Punta Cana, it might be November. Hurricane and rainy season are ending, so it is unlikely to get affected by any kind of severe weather. Temperatures are dropping a little bit, making it more comfortable to travel for those not preferring the highest Caribbean humidity.

Average Punta Cana weather in November
Average Punta Cana temperature in November: 84°F
Average nightly temperatures in Punta Cana in November: 79°F
Meteorological rainy days: 23 (meaning days where it rains at least once a day for 5 minutes)
Total precipitation in November: 82 mm
Average sunshine hours per day: 7 hours
Average water temperature in Punta Cana: 84°F

Do you like the Punta Cana weather in November? If so, why not plan your trip to the Dominican Republic and read a bit more about the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, the most exciting excursion and tours and the safest Punta Cana airport transfers.

Punta Cana weather in December

 December is a wonderful month to travel to Punta Cana weather-wise as we are arriving into the season with stable and dry weather. However, my experience of 8 years in the Caribbean showed me that especially in the second half of the month some heavier showers are somewhat likely.

Average Punta Cana weather in December
Average Punta Cana temperature in December: 82°F
Average nightly temperatures in Punta Cana in December: 77°F
Meteorological rainy days: 18 (meaning days where it rains at least once a day for 5 minutes)
Total precipitation in December: 39 mm
Average sunshine hours per day: 8 hours
Average water temperature in Punta Cana: 82°F

Do you like the Punta Cana weather in December? If so, why not plan your trip to the Dominican Republic and read a bit more about the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, the most exciting excursion and tours and the safest Punta Cana airport transfers.

Temperatures in Punta Cana

 You get a pretty comprehensive overview of the weather in the Dominican Republic above, but let’s have a closer look specifically at the temperatures. They are extremely stable year-round even though there are slight differences during some months. People always love when I tell them that it gets cold here in winter (December to March), just because the Punta Cana temperatures are dropping from around 90°F in summer to around 75-80°F in winter, especially during the months of January and February. 

 In general, it is important to know that it never gets cold in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic, except in the Central Mountain Area (which is, however, pretty far away from Punta Cana). This being said, during the day you will never see temperatures in Punta Cana below 75°F. Even during the “coldest” months in Punta Cana, January and February, the average temperatures are over 80°F, which means you can always enjoy the perfect Caribbean weather in the Dominican Republic.

 However, even though there is no real winter in the Dominican Republic, it also doesn’t get as blazing hot as in Dubai, Rome or Las Vegas. The temperatures in Punta Cana are gradually increasing over the year until the park during July and August, when average temperatures reach around 86°F, even though the daily temperatures are usually closer to 90°F or even above.

 To visualize even better the very marginal differences between the Dominican summer and winter, let’s have a look at the Punta Cana temperatures by month.

Punta Cana temperature by month	Average temperature in Punta Cana	Average temperature at night
January	81°F / 27°C	75°F / 24°C
February	81°F / 27°C	75°F / 24°C
March	81°F / 27°C	75°F / 24°C
April	82°F / 28°C	75°F / 24°C
May	84°F / 29°C	77°F / 25°C
June	84°F / 29°C	79°F / 26°C
July	86°F / 30°C	79°F / 26°C
August	86°F / 30°C	81°F / 27°C
September	86°F / 30°C	81°F / 27°C
October	86°F / 30°C	79°F / 26°C
November	84°F / 29°C	79°F / 26°C
December	82°F / 28°C	77°F / 25°C

 As you can see, there are not many differences in the Punta Cana temperatures by month – but there are some, which are particularly important when tropical, humid and high temperatures are critical for you. In this case, better visit Punta Cana between December and March. If the temperature doesn’t matter to you, every month is a good time to go to Punta Cana.

Punta Cana weather forecast – why you shouldn’t trust it

 Something I get asked incredibly often is a question about the rain in Punta Cana. Often when checking the weather forecast, you’ll see many forecasted rainy days. People are scared and ask “Does it rain all day in Punta Cana”?

 The clear answer is NO, not even in the rainy season, and this brings us to the reason why you should never trust the online weather forecast when checking the weather in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. The problem here is that those forecasts mark a day as a “rainy day” even if only a drop of rain is supposed to fall. Or even more, the Punta Cana weather forecast suggests a rainy day as long as the probability of rain is more than 70% (even though this chance might apply to just 5 minutes of the day).

 Furthermore, it is important to know, that even if it rains, the rain showers often last no longer than 15 minutes. Usually, there is a heavy tropical downpour and afterwards, you’ll see the sun out pretty quickly again. It is not without a reason that the rain in Punta Cana is called “liquid sunshine”. 

 And last but not least, you should also learn to apply the same standards as back home. Sometimes I see people checking the Punta Cana weather forecast for 30 days or asking how the weather in Punta Cana will be next month – would you do this (or would you trust this kind of forecast) back home? Probably not. Even the 10-day forecast for Punta Cana is critical, as the Caribbean weather can change quickly. I would say, that every weather forecast in the Dominican Republic for more than 4-5 days simply doesn’t make sense.

The Cap Cana weather

 You might wonder if all this information here about the climate in Punta Cana is also applicable to the Cap Cana weather. Short answer: yes, it is. 

 As Cap Cana, a world-class luxury destination with popular high-end resorts such as Secrets Cap Cana, Hyatt Ziva or Eden Roc, is only a few kilometers away from Punta Cana, the same weather forecast applies here as explained above for Punta Cana. 

 The only difference is that officially Cap Cana is located on the Caribbean side of the ocean while Punta Cana borders the Atlantic Ocean, but this doesn’t have any influence on the weather. The Cap Cana weather is the same as in Punta Cana.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Punta Cana Weather

My weather app is showing rain in Punta Cana for the entire week. Is it really that bad?

 No! General weather apps from the US or Europe are usually useless in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic. That’s because first of all, the weather in Punta Cana and the entire Caribbean is completely different and hard to predict and second, if it is just raining one drop a day, the weather app marks this day as a rainy day. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if it is the rainy season in Punta Cana or the dry season, it won’t rain all day. The rain in Punta Cana is part of the weather, but usually, there are 2-3 heavy rain showers (often at night) and in between, you can enjoy the perfect Caribbean weather with a lot of sunshine. Completely overcast days are pretty rare in the Dominican Republic and often only happen 3 or 4 times per month.

Do I have to be afraid of a tropical storm in Punta Cana?

 Tropical storms only can occur between June and November, with August, September and October being the months with the highest activity. However, even in those months, it is very unlikely that a tropical storm in Punta Cana interferes with your vacation. A tropical storm is a Caribbean weather system usually characterized by high amounts of precipitation (it is usually raining for a day or two) and by winds between 39 and 72 mph, which means that it isn’t harmful, neither for buildings nor for human beings. To give you an idea of the probability, since 2018 there hasn’t been any tropical storm in Punta Cana, just some impacts of clouds and rains of weather systems passing nearby. As you can see, there is not much to worry about when it comes to the weather in Punta Cana.

Do I have to be afraid of hurricanes in Punta Cana?

 Hurricanes are even less likely than tropical storms, hence you can see that the probability of a hurricane in Punta Cana is somewhere below 1%. A hurricane is categorized by wind speeds of 73mph and over. Usually, during a hurricane, the hotel puts its hurricane plan in effect and takes care of you. In case of a severe hurricane, you get evacuated from your all-inclusive resort to other regions in the Dominican Republic.

Further information about the weather info Punta Cana