Santiago is inland and at higher elevation than the coast, which makes it noticeably cooler — generally a few degrees less than Santo Domingo or the beach resorts. Daytime temperatures range from the mid-20s C in winter to the low 30s in summer, with cooler nights.
The dry season runs from November through April; the wet season May through October has heavier downpours, mainly in late afternoon. The peak time to visit is February for Carnival; baseball season runs October through January. Hurricane season (August–October) generally affects the coast more than the interior, but heavy rain can still cause local flooding.