Climate of Venezuela

The Climate of Venezuela is characterized for being tropical and megathermal as a result of its geography of Venezuela, geographical location near the Equator, but because of the topography and the dominant wind direction, several climatic types occur which can be the same as found in Temperate climate, temperate latitudes, and even polar regions. Latitude exerts little influence on the Venezuelan climate. While the coastal cities of Maracaibo, Barcelona, Porlamar and Maiquetia can get extremely hot, cities in valleys such as Mérida, Caracas, Los Teques and San Cristobal have cooler climates, and the highest towns of Mucuchies and Apartaderos have cold (tundra) climates.

The hottest part of Venezuela is the northwest (Paraguana Peninsula and Guajira Peninsula), where temperatures of more than are frequently recorded. The coldest part in the country are located in the highest areas of the Cordillera de Mérida, where temperatures lower than are recorded. The Venezuelan Coastal Range and Guiana Highlands have average temperatures from to , while the Llanos average temperature is over .

The highest temperature recorded was in Machiques, and the lowest temperature recorded was , it has been reported from an uninhabited high altitude at Pico Piedras Blancas, Páramo de Piedras Blancas (Mérida state), even though no official reports exist, lower temperatures in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Mérida are known.

Climate zones according to Köppen

According to the Köppen climate classification, Venezuela's climate types are:

Group A: Tropical climates

It's the most prevalent and characteristic climate of the country. Maintaining temperatures above and rainfall in most of the year:

*Tropical savanna climate (Aw)
It can be found throughout the country, dominating the Llanos and northern Guayana Region, as well as other parts of the country. It is dry between December and March with annual rainfall between 600 and 1,500 mm.

*Tropical monsoon climate (Am)
It is located in the Guayana Region, Orinoco Delta, west of Zulia, Andean and Coastal range foothills, Paria Peninsula and Barlovento region; with rainfall between 1,600 and 2,500 mm per year and a drought of just 45 days.

*Tropical rainforest climate (Af)
It's located south of Venezuela, Orinoco Delta, Tamá Massif, El Tamá area in west of Venezuela, and south of Maracaibo Lake. Rainfall exceeds 2,500 mm, not tending dry season.

File:Cerro_El_Avila.jpg, Tropical savanna climate, influenced by a temperate highland climate in Caracas Valley
File:Matawy tepuy.jpg, Tropical savanna climate in the Gran Sabana
File:Los Llanos.JPG, Tropical savanna climate in the Llanos
File:Relampago_del_catatumbo_observado_desde_bachaquero-3.jpg, Tropical monsoon climate in Sur del Lago
File:Tepuy Autana (Kuaymayojo).jpg, Tropical rainforest climate in Southern Venezuela
File:Canaima 7.JPG, Tropical monsoon climate in Canaima National Park, Canaima
File:Familia de Warao en canoe.jpg, Tropical rainforest climate in Orinoco Delta
File:Cordillera al Mar.jpg, Tropical rainforest climate in Paria Peninsula
File:El Agua Beach (9).jpg, Tropical hot climate in Margarita Island

Group B: Dry climates

This type of climate the evaporation exceeds precipitation. In Venezuela is typical of desert and arid coastal areas and with annual temperatures above 18 °C. The cold semiarid type can be found at elevated portions of the Andes.

*Hot desert climate (BWh)
It can be found in Guajira Peninsula, Paraguana Peninsula, Araya Peninsula and most of the Insular Region, Venezuela, Insular region.

*Hot semi-arid climate (BSh)
It is located in the northern part of Zulia state, most of the area of Lara state and Falcón state, the coastal area, Insular Region, Venezuela, Insular region and some semi-arid areas in Venezuelan Andes.

*Cold Semi-arid climate#Cold semi-arid climates, semi-arid (BSk)
It can be found locked at the temperate zones of high Andean valleys of Cordillera de Mérida.

File:Medanos- Coro.jpg, Hot desert climate in Medanos de Coro National Park
File:Faro del Cabo San Roman - Estado Falcón.JPG, Hot desert climate in Cabo San Roman
File:Panorámica_del_desierto_de_La_Guajira.jpg, Hot desert climate in La Guajira Desert, Guajira Desert
File:Playa el Amor, Isla de Coche.jpg, Hot desert climate in Coche Island
File:Cayo de Agua, Archipiélago de Los Roques, Venezuela.jpg, Hot desert climate in Los Roques
File:Pico Bolìvar, Venezuela (12680065045).jpg, Cold semi-arid climate in Los Nevados, Venezuela, Los Nevados
File:Anzoátegui.jpg, Hot semi-arid climate in Puerto La Cruz
File:Asentamiento informal I.jpg, Hot semi-arid climate in Barquisimeto

Group C: Temperate climates

The monthly averages temperatures are below 22 °C (72 °F) but above 0 °C (32 °F). At least one month's average temperature is below 18 °C (64 °F):

*Oceanic climate#Subtropical highland variety (Cfb, Cwb), Temperate highland climates with dry winters (Cwb)
It tends to experience noticeably drier weather during the lower-sun "winter" season. It's located in the medium areas of the southern-east slope of Cordillera de Mérida and Sierra de Perija, the highest areas of south-western Venezuelan coastal range.

*Oceanic climate#Subtropical highland variety (Cfb, Cwb), Temperate highland climates without dry season (Cfb)
This climate doesn't tend to has a dry season. It's located in the medium areas of the Cordillera de Mérida and Sierra de Perija, the highest areas of Venezuelan coastal range, and the top of the highest Guiana Highlands Tepuis.

File:Precioso paisaje.jpg, Temperate highland climate in Colonia Tovar
File:Audan Tüpü (Auyantepuy).JPG, Temperate highland climate in Auyantepui
File:Cerro_Wichuj(Cara_de_Indio)_(12111191594).jpg, Temperate highland climate in Amazonas (Venezuela), Amazonas
File:Refugio natural.jpg, Temperate highland climate in Sierra La Culata
File:Picacho de Galipan.jpg, Temperate highland climate in El Avila National Park
File:Descendiendo de La Verde..JPG, Temperate highland climate in Táchira

Group E: Alpine climates

It's characterized by average temperatures below 10 °C in all 12 months of the year:

*Tundra#Alpine, Alpine tundra (ETH)
Also known as páramo, páramo climate, this climate often undergo a sudden and drastic change in daily-weather in which they fluctuate between temperatures from below freezing to as high as 20 °C. Mean annual temperatures range from 2 °C (36 °F) to 10 °C (50 °F). It is located above the 3,000 m in the Sierra de Perija and Cordillera de Mérida. The most popular village with this climate in the country is the town of Apartaderos

*Ice cap climate#Extreme altitudes, Alpine glacier (EFH)
This climate is reserved to the highest peaks of the Venezuelan Andes, such as Pico Bolívar, Pico Humboldt, [

File:Glacial Pico Humboldt 2.JPG, Ice cap climate#Extreme altitudes, Alpine glacier in the Pico Humboldt
File:PicoBolivar2.jpg, Ice cap climate#Extreme altitudes, Alpine glacier in the Pico Bolívar
File:Nevado hermoso.JPG, Alpine glacier climate in Pico La Concha
File:Valle_de_Mifafí_2.jpg, Alpine tundra climate in Sierra de La Culata
File:Pico Piedras Blancas 5.jpg, Alpine tundra climate in Pico Piedras Blancas
File:Laguna de Mucubaji I.jpg, Alpina tundra at Laguna de Mucubají
File:Laguna_La_Coromoto.jpg, Alpine tundra at Laguna Coromoto
File:Páramo andino venezolano nevado.jpg, Snow in Mérida (state), Mérida
File:Valle de Mifafí 4.jpg, Alpina tundra at Mifafí Valley

Climate zones according to altitude

Venezuelan climates are structured in "thermal floors", as mentioned next:

Very Hot

This climate is characterized by very hot temperatures above , with precipitations that ranges from dry (less than 300 mm) to pluvial (more than 3300 mm) conditions. This climate can be found in areas below 300 m in sedimentary basins and lowlands such as the Llanos, Orinoco Delta, Maracaibo Basin, Orinoco Basin, and coastal plains and islands; it comprises almost all the country. This climate zone is present in cities like Maracaibo, Punto Fijo, Ciudad Guayana, Porlamar, Puerto La Cruz, Barinas, Barinas, Barinas, Tucupita, Cumaná, Maturín, Maturin, Anaco, Ciudad Bolívar, Cabimas, El Vigía and others.

Warm

Warm climate can be found between 300 and 650 m. It's characterized by temperatures from to and precipitations that ranges from scarcely rainy (300 – 700 mm) to pluvial (more than 3300 mm) conditions. This climate can be found in lower foothills and plateaus in the Guiana Highlands, Venezuelan Coastal Range, Coro region and Venezuelan Andes. Cities which have this climate zone are Barquisimeto, Maracay, Valencia, Venezuela, Valencia, Guarenas-Guatire conurbation, Guarenas-Guatire, San Juan de Los Morros, Charallave, Valera, Barinitas, San Antonio del Táchira, Quibor and others.

Cool

This climate features temperatures between to and precipitations that ranges from scarcely rainy (300 – 700 mm) to pluvial (more than 3300 mm) conditions. It can be found in the country's mountainous areas between 650 and 1,350-1,600 m This climate zone is present in cities like Mérida, Mérida, Mérida, San Cristóbal, Táchira, San Cristóbal, Caracas, Sanare, Venezuela, Sanare, Villa de Cura, Ejido, Venezuela, Ejido, Trujillo, Trujillo, Trujillo, Escuque, Rubio, Venezuela, Rubio, Tovar Municipality, Mérida, Tovar, Boconó, Duaca, Bejuma, Los Teques, Nirgua, Santa Elena de Uairen, among others.

Mild/Temperate

Mild or Temperate climate can be found in the mountainous areas between 1,350-1,600 to 2,400 m. It features temperatures around to and precipitations that ranges from scarcely rainy (300 – 700 mm) to pluvial (more than 3300 mm) conditions. This climate zone is present in cities like Mérida, Mérida, Mérida (higher part), Colonia Tovar, San Antonio de Los Altos, El Jarillo, El Junquito, Galipan, Timotes, La Grita, Tabay, La Mucuy and others; most of the top of the tepuis also present this climate.

Cold

This climate is characterized by temperatures above and below , with precipitations that ranges from scarcely rainy (300 – 700 mm) to pluvial (more than 3300 mm) conditions. This climate can be found in mountainous areas around 2,400 to 3,200 m specifically in Sierra de Perija, Cordillera de Mérida, higher elevations at Venezuelan Coastal Range and higher tepuis (Monte Roraima, Kukenan, Cerro Marahuaca, Chimantá Massif). This climate zone is present in towns like Mucuchíes, Chachopo and Los Nevados.

Very Cold

This climate can be found in the Venezuelan Andes area, between 3,200 and 4,150 m. It's characterized by temperatures from to and precipitations that ranges from scarcely rainy (300 – 700 mm) to rainy (1800–2500 mm) conditions. This climate zone is present in towns like Apartaderos and Llano del Hato National Astronomical Observatory, Llano del Hato. The condition of this climate is also known as páramo

Frosty

Frosty climate is found at the highest areas in Venezuelan Andes, between 4,150 and 4,700 m. where the temperatures are between to . This climate zone is present exclusively at Sierra Nevada de Mérida, Sierra de La Culata and Sierra de Santo Domingo.

Glacial

This climate is characterized by average temperatures below all year, it's located in the highest peaks of Venezuela in the Cordillera de Mérida such as Pico Bolívar, Pico Humboldt, Pico La Concha, Pico Bonpland, Pico Espejo, Pico Mucuñuque and Pico Piedras Blancas. Only Pico Bolivar and Pico Humboldt have their glaciers preserved, while the other peaks are exposed to nival zone conditions.

See also

* Geography of Venezuela

References

External links

{{South America topic, Climate of

Climate of Venezuela,
Climate by country, Venezuela
Geography of Venezuela,