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Climate - Guatemala


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Guatemala

Map - Guatemala

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In Guatemala, a Central American country extended from 13 to 18 degrees north latitude, there is a tropical climate, hot all year round in the lowlands, while in mountainous areas, it becomes cooler with increasing altitude.
In almost all of Guatemala, there is a dry season from late November to mid-April, when the northeast trade winds blow, and a rainy season from May to October.
Geographically, the country is divided into three zones: in the north, there's an area almost entirely occupied by plains (departments of Petén, north of Alta Verapaz, and Izabal), with a short stretch of coastline on the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea); in the center, there's a large mountainous area, where the capital is also located; and finally, in the south, we find a thin flat strip south of the mountains, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
From December to March, Guatemala can be reached by cool air masses from the United States, and in these cases, the temperature at night can drop below 10 °C (50 °F) in Guatemala City, and around 13/15 °C (55/59 °F) in the plains.

Index


  • North - Flores
  • Center-north - Puerto Barrios
  • Hills and mountains - Guatemala City, Quetzaltenango
  • South - Puerto San José
  • Hurricanes

North



Guatemala, north

In the north, in the Department of Petén, highs in December and January are around 28 °C (82.5 °F), but sometimes, cool air from the north can lower the night temperature to 10/12 °C (50/54 °F). In February, the temperature rises and a very hot period begins. From March to May, the temperature can reach 40 °C (104 °F). From June to October, the temperature drops a bit, but the heat becomes definitely sultry, as happens in all the lowland areas of Guatemala in the rainy period.

Flores

Here are the average temperatures of Flores, the capital of the Petén Department.
Flores - Average temperatures (2000-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January182823648373.4
February183024.4658775.8
March183325.7659178.3
April203628.2699782.8
May223528.8729683.8
June233428.2739382.8
July223327.6719281.8
August223428729382.3
September223327.9729282.2
October223226.6718980
November203024.9688676.8
December192923.6658374.5
Year20.632.326.356990.179.5

Rainfall in Flores amounts to 1,700 mm (67 in) per year. The driest period is from February to April. Here is the average rainfall.
Flores - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January75311
February602.48
March451.86
April401.66
May1405.59
June2208.718
July2158.520
August2108.318
September2509.817
October2258.916
November1305.113
December953.712
Year171567.5154

In this area, we find the Mayan site of Tikal, surrounded by the forest (the National Park of the same name is a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Here, the best period is from February to April; in December, and partly also in January, it still rains quite a lot. It is also true that December and January are not as hot as the period from March to May, when there can be uncomfortably hot days.

Tikal

Center-north



Guatemala, humid zone

In north-central Guatemala, north of the mountains and near the Gulf of Honduras, unlike in the rest of the country, it rains all year round; in fact, in winter, the trade winds reach the coast after picking up moisture from the sea, or they are forced to rise when they encounter the first mountain slopes. Although the rainfall still amounts to about 100 millimeters (4 inches) per month, the best period here is from February to April, since it goes better than in the rest of the year. Owing to the abundance of rainfall, the climate here can be defined as equatorial, and in fact, the area is occupied by a rainforest.

Puerto Barrios

In Puerto Barrios, located in the short coastal stretch of the Caribbean Sea, between Belize and Honduras, the average temperature ranges from 23.5 °C (74.5 °F) in January to around 28 °C (82 °F) from May to August. In winter, especially in January, there can sometimes be short, slightly cool periods, with highs of 22-23 °C (72-73 °F). In January 2009 and 2018, the night minimum dropped to 14 °C (57 °F). From March to May, on the hottest days of the year, the temperature generally reaches 35/36 °C (95/97 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Puerto Barrios - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January202723.6688174.5
February212924.7698476.5
March213025.7708678.3
April233227.2738981.1
May243227.9759082.3
June243228759082.4
July243127.6758981.7
August243227.8758982
September243227.9758982.2
October233127748780.6
November222925.2718477.4
December202824.1698275.4
Year22.430.426.3572.386.779.5

Here is the average precipitation in Puerto Barrios: as you can see, after all, the rains reach an acceptable level from February through April.
Puerto Barrios - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January2007.912
February1104.39
March953.77
April1154.56
May1505.99
June2509.819
July42016.522
August33513.221
September29011.419
October29511.617
November27510.814
December2208.714
Year2745108.1169

The Caribbean Sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Puerto Barrios - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2781
February2781
March2882
April2883
May2984
June2985
July2985
August3085
September3085
October2985
November2984
December2882
Year28.683.5

Hills and mountains



Guatemala, hills and mountains

In the central area of Guatemala, occupied by mountains and plateaus, rainfall is scarce from December to April, as happens in the south, while the temperatures vary with altitude. During the rainy season, the rains are usually plentiful, but there are also some sheltered slopes which experience only moderate rains.

Guatemala City

The capital, Guatemala City, is located in the so-called tierras templadas, 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) above sea level, and has a spring-like climate all year round: the average daytime temperatures range from 24 °C (75 °F) from November to January, to 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) in April.
The temperature is rarely too hot, even though it may reach or exceed 30 °C (86 °F) from March to May, before the rains. In May 1998, it reached 33.5 °C (92 °F).
From the end of November to March, cool air from the north can lower the temperature up to 7/8 °C (45/46 °F). The city is also quite windy. Here are the average temperatures.
Guatemala City - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January132418.5557565.2
February142519.5577867.1
March142620.4588068.7
April162721.7618171
May172721.8628071.3
June172521627769.8
July172520.8627769.5
August172621627869.9
September172520.8627769.5
October162420.3617668.5
November152419.1587566.4
December142418.6567565.6
Year15.425.220.2559.777.468.5

Here too, the rainy season runs from May to October, with frequent and abundant rains from June to September, while from December to mid-April, it rains very rarely. Here is the average precipitation.
Guatemala City - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January30.12
February50.21
March60.22
April301.25
May1305.112
June27010.621
July2058.119
August2058.119
September2359.321
October1305.115
November5026
December70.33
Year127550.2125

Although the tropical rains occur mainly in the form of heavy showers and downpours, the amount of sunshine in the rainy season is not very good, since cloudiness usually begins to develop in the warmest hours. Here are the sunshine hours per day in Guatemala City.
Guatemala City - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January8250
February8.5235
March8245
April8240
May6185
June5155
July6185
August6190
September5.5160
October5.5180
November7210
December6.5210
Year6.72440

Nearby, at an altitude of 1,545 meters (5,070 feet), is the city of Antigua Guatemala.

Quetzaltenango

In Quetzaltenango, located at 2,300 meters (7,500 ft) above sea level, and therefore in the tierras frìas, the climate is cooler: the average temperature in January is only 13 °C (55.5 °F), with remarkable differences between night and day. At night, the temperature can drop below freezing from November to April, and from December to February, it can drop to -5 °C (23 °F). Here too, the warmest days occur from March to May, when the temperature generally reaches 26/27 °C (79/81 °F), but can sometimes reach 29/30 °C (84/86 °F). From April to September, the daily average is 16/17 °C (61/63 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Quetzaltenango - Average temperatures (1997-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January52113407155.5
February52213.5417256.2
March62314.5437358.1
April82315.9477460.6
May112216.7527262.1
June112116.1527061
July102215.8497160.4
August102215.9507160.7
September112115.9517060.6
October102115.4507059.8
November72114.2457057.6
December52113.3417055.9
Year8.321.71546.971.159

Here too, there is a pronounced rainy season, but the rainfall amounts to just 800 millimeters (31.5 inches) per year. This happens because the city is located in a valley between the mountains to the north, which reach 3,200 meters (10,500 feet), and the chain of mountains and volcanoes to the south. However, rainfall exceeds 90 mm (3.5 in) per month between May and October. Here is the average precipitation.
Quetzaltenango - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January20.11
February60.21
March150.62
April401.66
May1305.117
June1505.922
July1003.918
August1054.118
September1355.323
October953.714
November200.86
December70.32
Year80531.7130

In Guatemala, there are as many as 37 volcanoes, the highest of which is Volcán Tajumulco, which stands out with its 4,220 meters (13,845 feet) and is also the highest peak in Central America. Above 3,500 meters (11,500 ft), at night, it can freeze throughout the year.

South



Guatemala, south

In the south, in the plain and along the Pacific coast, the heat is intense throughout the year; in winter, the trade winds warm up as they descend on the leeward side of the mountains. So, the winter here is hot, with highs around 31/32 degrees Celsius (88/90 °F), but sometimes even above; on the positive side, it's sunny and not too humid. In March and April, before the rains, the hottest days occur, with peaks of 36/37 °C (97/99 °F).
In the south, the dry season from late November to mid-April is very evident. From May to October, the rains are more abundant in the area at the foot of the volcanoes: in Mazatenango they amount to 2,500 mm (100 in) per year.

Puerto San José

Here are the average temperatures of Puerto San José, on the south coast.
San José - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January193325.9669178.5
February203326.5689279.8
March213427.5709381.6
April233428.6739483.5
May243328.5749283.3
June233227.9749082.2
July233327.9739182.2
August233328749182.4
September233227.6749081.7
October233227.3738981.2
November213226.8719080.3
December203226.1689079
Year21.932.827.3571.591.181

In Puerto San José, 1,600 mm (63 in) of rain fall per year, but from December to March it rains very rarely. Here is the average rainfall.
San José - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January50.21
February50.21
March150.63
April401.68
May1807.117
June27510.819
July1807.118
August2158.519
September32512.820
October28511.218
November652.68
December100.42
Year160563.2134

The Pacific Ocean is warm enough to swim in all year round as well: the water temperature is between 27 °C (81 °F) in winter and 30 °C (86 °F) in summer. Here are the average sea temperatures near San José.
San José - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January2781
February2781
March2882
April2984
May3086
June3086
July3086
August3086
September2984
October2984
November2984
December2882
Year28.984

Hurricanes



Guatemala is located in the path of tropical storms and hurricanes, which may affect the country in the period from June to November, however, they are most likely from August to October. Usually, they come from the east, from the Caribbean Sea, but sometimes, tropical depressions can also form on the Pacific Ocean, which can especially affect the western part of the country, as early as in mid-May.
Generally, the country is hit less intensively than Honduras; however, tropical storms and cyclones can cause heavy rains, which can trigger landslides and floods. Some hurricanes that hit the country in the past were Francelia in early September 1969, Fifi in mid-September 1974, Mitch in late October 1998, Keith in early October 2000, Iris in early October 2001, Felix in early September 2007, and Earl in early August 2016.

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