Plan your travel taking Weather into consideration
While most people make their holiday plans weeks or months in advance of departure, weather forecasts are only available at best for 3 to 5 days into the future. So how do you find out what sort of weather to expect when you are planning your holiday?
Luckily recurring weather patterns do exist for most places and these can be identified from historical weather records (climate statistics) averaged over many years. Find the best month to travel to a particular destination based on the sort of weather you would like on your holiday.
Take the following into consideration while planning an Holiday trip:
Average Maximum Daytime Temperature gives a good indication of the highest temperatures to expect at the warmest time of the day for each month.
Maximum Daytime Temperatures are classified in the following ranges:
*Cool 8-14°C (46-58°F)
*Comfortable 14-22°C (58-72°F) — Beast suitable for Trekking and walks
*Warm 22-30°C (72-86°F)
*Hot 30-38°C (86-100°F)
Average Minimum Night-time Temperature gives a good indication of the lowest temperatures to expect during the night for each month. In some places it can become relatively cold at night for example at high elevations, and in desert areas. 12°C (54°F) to 15°C (59°F) is the comfortable temparature during nights.
Average Hours of Sunshine shows the average number of hours of bright sunshine per day for each month, rounded to the nearest hour. A further indication of good weather is the percentage of Daylight Hours with bright sunshine. Typically 11-14 hours of daylight hours is considered to be good.
Average Monthly Rainfall shows the average monthly rainfall in millimeters and inches for each month. High levels of rainfall do not necessarily indicate poor weather conditions. Many places in the tropics have high levels of rainfall and lots of sunshine as well. The Maldives, for example, has more than twice the rainfall of Manchester but also has more than twice the amount of sunshine.
Heat & Humidity gives an indication of average levels of discomfort caused by high temperatures combined with high humidity. High temperatures alone do not necessarily indicate how hot it ‘feels’, because high levels of humidity in the air also play a role. As the air temperature approaches body temperature (37°C / 98°F) in humid conditions, the body’s ability to cool itself by perspiring becomes impaired. The result is a feeling of discomfort. The higher the level of heat and humidity the more uncomfortable you are likely to feel.
Heat and Humidity is not an issue at temperatures below about 24°C (75°F), no matter how high the humidity.
UV Index (Maximum) gives an indication of how strong UV radiation may be under clear sky conditions around midday, i.e. noon. This shows the potential for skin damage through exposure to the sun at the most dangerous time of the day.
Average Sea Temperature shows average monthly sea-surface temperatures for each month rounded to the nearest degree. Because the sun also emits infra-red radiation, swimming in the sea in direct sun can help to improve the sensation of the cooler water temperatures. Temperatures are classified in the following ranges:
* Very cold and Dangerous : Less than 16°C
* Cool 18°C to 24°C (65°F to 75°F)
* Comfortable 24°C to 28°C (75°F to 82°F) — Best Suitable for Swimming
* Warm 28°C or more (82°F or more)
