USVI-On-Line

Any comments on water temperature during early March versus late April/early May. We are "toying" with the idea of changing a current reservation. We have always gone late April, early May.
Thanks!

Sue: Comments and memories are fine, but data is even better! Here are two graphs from earlier in 2016, taken at Lameshur Bay; the first one is from March 1st to the 15th; the second is from April 22nd to May 7th. In general, ocean temperatures on St. John follow both a slow, year-long sine wave, as well as a far faster daily one, peaking in mid-afternoon. Of course, variations in cloud cover impose their own, less predictable variations. The warmest time of year for ocean temperature is August-September, at ~87 F in mid-afternoon, and the coolest is in January, at ~ 79 - 80F (Brrr!!!).
Enjoy!

All the best,

Kevin

You will get more swells in March than in late April/May.

Water is definitely cooler in March compared to May but the biggest factor MHO is the crowds. There are more people in March so more people at the beaches. Just my 2 cents.

On the matter of crowds, early March may well be more crowded than early May, but the original comparison was to "late April to early May". We were astounded once by the spike in crowds that occurred on the Saturday between week two and week three of April. Due to many villas dropping from high to low season rates around April 15th, along with school break week along the East coast and especially New England, airfares and crowds really surge at week three. Week four may be better, but could still be really crowded as bargain hunters who had been waiting for low-season rates continue to stream in. We would never again schedule a visit for the third week of April.

All the best,

Kevin

Earlier comment that beach was crowded on a Saturday. Saturday and Sunday are days most locals go to the beach. It's the weekend.

Also, a lot of locals won't get in the water during the winter because it is too cold. So when the temp climbs there will be more locals on the beaches.