Climate Map of STT and STJ

Do you realize that these islands are pretty small and that the climate doesn't change a whole lot from one part to another? STX has a bit more of a diverse climatology than do STT and STJ due to its larger size and elongated form.

yes, i have been to STJ and STT before. i am talking about which side gets the most wind, for example. which side is more humid than the other, if any. it's mostly a question geared towards things like this and if plant life, insects, etc vary from east to west or north to south. i realize in terms of climate per se, it's all about the same, more or less. what i would like to know is will i get more of a breeze if my home is located at x.

surely someone has done a study on it. i just cannot find it yet. :o)

you generally get more of a breeze in the islands if you have some exposure towards the east, as the prevailing winds (trade winds) come from that direction most of the year. Occasional weather patterns disrupt that and have wind coming from other directions for a day or two or three, but rarely for extended periods. The one exception to that are the "Christmas Winds" that blow for a few weeks or a month starting usually in late December and running into January. If you buy a house that is leeward from the prevailing winds, it will seem hotter and stuffier. The breeze also blows the humidity on past rather than letting it build up and it blows away mosquitos, too. Breezes are highly desirable!

Insects and critters vary some by altitude and proximity to (or distance from) the beach. On STX the centipedes are more common in some areas than others, but you can still get them anywhere. You see more of them after a heavy rain as they come out of their holes in the ground when it gets saturated and floods them out. Mosquitos hatch a few days after a heavy rain, also, and are worst near the water or anywhere that standing water can collect from heavy rains.

Plant growth tends to be sparser right near the ocean since salt content in the soil makes it unfriendly to many plant species, among other reasons. The higher altitudes get more rain (a function of condensation and altitude) so that also contributes to higher plant volume at higher altitudes.

thank you. great post. :o)

i just found this for example...
http://rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas/maps/chap3/3-72m.html

You might find something here. http://www.srh.noaa.gov/sju/climate.html

simkiss: There is a book: "Island Peak to Coral Reef- A Field Guide to the Plant and Marine Communities of the Virgin Islands" by Toni Thomas and Barry Devine, c. 2005, published by the University of the Virgin Islands. ISBN 0-615-12992-7. $20 at Dockside Books. It comes with a large map that indicates moist forest, dry forest, woodland, scrubland, wetland, developed area, etc. It also describes the underwater bay areas- seagrass, coral reef, rubble area, sand, etc. Very cool book with photos of the various eco-communities.

perfect!