Weather and climate in Riohacha (Colombia)

The climate of Riohacha is tropical arid. Temperatures are high all year round, but especially from June to August. However, the northeast trade winds blow all year round, tempering the heat. There are two rainy periods, one in May, and the other from August to November, when it is also the period of hurricanes.
The city is located in northern Colombia, on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, in the department of La Guajira, at 11 degrees north latitude. We are in the southern part of the Guajira Peninsula, the driest area of Colombia, where rainfall even drops below 300 millimeters (12 inches) per year.
Riohacha lies at the edge of the area over which hurricanes, the tropical cyclones of the Atlantic Ocean, can pass. This means that hurricanes affect this area quite rarely, but sometimes they can do it, as happened with Hurricane Joan in October 1988, Cesar in late July 1996, Matthew in late September 2016, and Iota in mid-November 2020. The hurricane season runs from June to November, but they are most likely from August to October.

Best Time

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The best time to visit Riohacha is from December to March, as it is the driest of the year. In summer, from June to August, the rains are rare, but the temperatures are even higher than in winter.

Riohacha - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 27.8 °C (82.1 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 31.1 °C (87.9 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 555 millimeters (21.9 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 2 mm (0.1 in) in the driest month (February) to 150 mm (5.9 in) in the wettest one (October). Here is the average precipitation.
The sea temperature ranges from 25.5 °C (78 °F) in February to 29 °C (84 °F) in October. Here are the average sea temperatures.
There are on average around 2695 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Riohacha - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the least warm month of the year, is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 27.8 °C (82 °F), with a minimum of 23.4 °C (74 °F) and a maximum of 32.4 °C (90.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 20 °C (68 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F).
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 26 °C (78.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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February is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 28.0 °C (82 °F), with a minimum of 23.3 °C (73.9 °F) and a maximum of 32.6 °C (90.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 20 °C (68 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95 °F).
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 21 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 25.5 °C (78 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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March is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 28.2 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 24.1 °C (75.4 °F) and a maximum of 32.2 °C (90 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C (69.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (96.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to only 3 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 26 °C (78.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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April is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 29.2 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 25.2 °C (77.3 °F) and a maximum of 33.3 °C (91.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (71.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (98.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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May is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 30.0 °C (86 °F), with a minimum of 26 °C (78.7 °F) and a maximum of 34 °C (93.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 23.5 °C (74 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (98.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 27 °C (81 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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June is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 30.6 °C (87 °F), with a minimum of 26.3 °C (79.3 °F) and a maximum of 34.8 °C (94.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 27.5 °C (81.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 31.1 °C (88 °F), with a minimum of 26.4 °C (79.5 °F) and a maximum of 35.8 °C (96.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C (100.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 23 kph (14 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 27 °C (81 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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August is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 30.2 °C (86 °F), with a minimum of 25.7 °C (78.3 °F) and a maximum of 34.7 °C (94.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 23 °C (73.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 27.5 °C (82 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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September is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 29.6 °C (85 °F), with a minimum of 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) and a maximum of 34 °C (93.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 22.5 °C (73 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28.5 °C (83.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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October is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 28.6 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 24.4 °C (76 °F) and a maximum of 32.8 °C (91 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (72 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (96.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 150 mm (5.9 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 29 °C (84 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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November is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 28.2 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 24.1 °C (75.3 °F) and a maximum of 32.3 °C (90.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 22 °C (72 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (93.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 28.5 °C (83 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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December is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 28.3 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 24 °C (75.2 °F) and a maximum of 32.5 °C (90.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C (70 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 27 °C (80.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.