Climate
Despite its location in the tropics and the many micro climates found within the country, Guatemala City’s elevation and the resulting moderating influence of the higher altitude enable it to enjoy a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb), though depending on location, it also borders on a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw). Temperatures are lowest in the south of the city which is at the highest altitude. Guatemala City is generally mild, almost springlike, throughout the course of the year. It occasionally gets warm during the dry season, but not as hot as other sea-level cities located in the tropics. The hottest month is April. The rainy season extends from May to October while the dry season covers the remainder of the year. The city is also very windy, which may decrease the apparent temperature.
The average annual temperature is 24 to 27 °C (75 to 81 °F)) during the day, and 14 to 17 °C (57 to 63 °F) at night.
Average morning relative humidity: 82%, evening relative humidity: 58%. Average dew point is 12 °C (54 °F).
Climate data for Guatemala City - La Aurora Airport - 2010 - 2011. | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 28.7 (83.7) |
30.7 (87.3) |
29.9 (85.8) |
31.0 (87.8) |
29.5 (85.1) |
28.6 (83.5) |
28.1 (82.6) |
28.7 (83.7) |
28.2 (82.8) |
27.8 (82.0) |
27.8 (82.0) |
26.6 (79.9) |
31.0 (87.8) |
Average high °C (°F) | 24.7 (76.5) |
26.2 (79.2) |
26.8 (80.2) |
27.7 (81.9) |
26.8 (80.2) |
25.6 (78.1) |
25.5 (77.9) |
24.5 (76.1) |
25.0 (77.0) |
24.3 (75.7) |
24.5 (76.1) |
23.4 (74.1) |
25.4 (77.7) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 18.4 (65.1) |
19.5 (67.1) |
19.5 (67.1) |
21.1 (70.0) |
20.9 (69.6) |
20.3 (68.5) |
20.4 (68.7) |
20.1 (68.2) |
19.8 (67.6) |
19.1 (66.4) |
19.0 (66.2) |
17.5 (63.5) |
19.6 (67.3) |
Average low °C (°F) | 13.5 (56.3) |
14.8 (58.6) |
14.5 (58.1) |
16.7 (62.1) |
17.5 (63.5) |
17.3 (63.1) |
17.0 (62.6) |
17.0 (62.6) |
16.7 (62.1) |
13.4 (56.1) |
14.5 (58.1) |
12.8 (55.0) |
15.5 (59.9) |
Record low °C (°F) | 9.4 (48.9) |
11.8 (53.2) |
11.2 (52.2) |
14.5 (58.1) |
15.3 (59.5) |
15.9 (60.6) |
15.3 (59.5) |
15.5 (59.9) |
16.1 (61.0) |
12.2 (54.0) |
9.9 (49.8) |
10.1 (50.2) |
9.4 (48.9) |
Rainfall mm (inches) | 0.0 (0) |
4.3 (0.169) |
6.7 (0.264) |
61.6 (2.425) |
264.7 (10.421) |
300.0 (11.811) |
278.0 (10.945) |
442.4 (17.417) |
295.0 (11.614) |
206.0 (8.11) |
10.3 (0.406) |
0.8 (0.031) |
1,869.8 (73.614) |
Avg. rainy days | 0 | 2 | 1.5 | 6.5 | 14.5 | 21 | 25.5 | 25 | 21 | 11.5 | 6 | 1 | 135.5 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 260.6 | 224.1 | 239.4 | 219.5 | 174.6 | 109.9 | 140.7 | 137.8 | 132.0 | 150.9 | 223.9 | 236.9 | 2,250.3 |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia |
Read more about this topic: Guatemala City
Famous quotes containing the word climate:
“The question of place and climate is most closely related to the question of nutrition. Nobody is free to live everywhere; and whoever has to solve great problems that challenge all his strength actually has a very restricted choice in this matter. The influence of climate on our metabolism, its retardation, its acceleration, goes so far that a mistaken choice of place and climate can not only estrange a man from his task but can actually keep it from him: he never gets to see it.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (18441900)
“Nobody is so constituted as to be able to live everywhere and anywhere; and he who has great duties to perform, which lay claim to all his strength, has, in this respect, a very limited choice. The influence of climate upon the bodily functions ... extends so far, that a blunder in the choice of locality and climate is able not only to alienate a man from his actual duty, but also to withhold it from him altogether, so that he never even comes face to face with it.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (18441900)
“A tree is beautiful, but whats more, it has a right to life; like water, the sun and the stars, it is essential. Life on earth is inconceivable without trees. Forests create climate, climate influences peoples character, and so on and so forth. There can be neither civilization nor happiness if forests crash down under the axe, if the climate is harsh and severe, if people are also harsh and severe.... What a terrible future!”
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (18601904)