, with a warm season from December to April and a cool, humid and cloudy season from June to October, with May and November as transitional months.
The city is located in the central part of the Peruvian coast, and despite its location, about 12 degrees south of the Equator, it has an arid and
During winter, from June to September, the sky is almost always cloudy, and there is a kind of mist, the
, which can deposit a bit of moisture on the ground. Temperatures are mild, but the lack of sunshine and high air humidity increase the feeling of cold, also because houses are not heated. Thermal inversion favors the accumulation of pollutants on the ground, despite the proximity to the sea.
During summer, from December to April, sunshine is frequent, at least in the warmest hours, while in the early hours of the day, fog may still form. Even in this season, at times, banks of low clouds can form, though more rarely. The temperature is pleasantly warm.
, the phenomenon consisting in the abnormal warming of the Pacific waters. In El Niño years, both air and sea temperature increase, especially in the early months of the year when there may be long periods with practically tropical heat. For example, in March 1983 and in February 1998, the monthly average has been 27.9 °C (82.2 °F), while in January 1998, the highest temperature has been 33 °C (91.5 °F). Normally, however, the temperature reaches 30 °C (86 °F) on the hottest days of the year.
is definitely scarce or completely absent: apart from the mist that falls to the ground in winter, as well as the very rare and sparse shower that occur in summer, it practically never rains.
Unlike what happens more to the north, and to the east where the Andes are located, in Lima, usually
even in El Niño years: for example, it did not rain in 1983 and 1998. However, owing to the increase in rainfall in the Andean region, during these periods, the rivers that cross the city (Chillón, Rímac, Surco, and Lurín) can swell, causing landslides, and there may be a shortage of potable water.
The rains in Lima are so rare that they occur a few times in a century. Over the past 100 years, it is worth mentioning the event of March 7, 1925, when 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) of rain fell, that of January 7, 1952, and that of January 15, 1970, when there has been a heavy shower, which unloaded 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain in 5 hours and caused flooding (mainly due to the absence of an adequate drainage system).
in Lima is decent, though not excellent, in the warm period, from December to April, while it is extremely poor from June to November because, as we mentioned, the Humboldt current causes fogs and low clouds. There are about 6 hours of sunshine per day from January to April and only one hour from July to September.
From June to November, Lima is the least sunny city in South America, and the total amount of sunshine per year (1,230 hours) also makes it the least sunny city on the continent.
in Lima is never really warm, though it becomes acceptable for swimming from January to March. However, in El Niño years, the sea warms up by a few degrees.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
23.4 °C, with a minimum of
20.3 °C and a maximum of
26.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
18 °C. However, it dropped to
16.1 °C in January 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
33 °C in January 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.8 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
February, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
24.3 °C, with a minimum of
20.8 °C and a maximum of
27.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
19 °C. However, it dropped to
17 °C in February 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
32.5 °C in February 2008.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.4 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.8 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
March is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
23.8 °C, with a minimum of
20.3 °C and a maximum of
27.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
18 °C. However, it dropped to
16 °C in March 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
33 °C in March 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.4 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
April is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.8 °C, with a minimum of
18.6 °C and a maximum of
25.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C. However, it dropped to
14.8 °C in April 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28 °C. However, it reached
31.6 °C in April 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.9 °C, with a minimum of
17.2 °C and a maximum of
22.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
13 °C in May 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
29 °C in May 1992.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.3 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.5 °C, with a minimum of
16.4 °C and a maximum of
20.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
12.3 °C in June 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23 °C. However, it reached
28.3 °C in June 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.7 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 15% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
July is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.7 °C, with a minimum of
15.8 °C and a maximum of
19.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
11.5 °C in July 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
28.3 °C in July 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
1 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There is an average of 1 hour of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 7% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
August, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.2 °C, with a minimum of
15.3 °C and a maximum of
19.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
12.5 °C in August 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
25.4 °C in August 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
1.5 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 40 minutes.
There is an average of 1 hour of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 7% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.5 °C, with a minimum of
15.3 °C and a maximum of
19.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
12.5 °C in September 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
26.2 °C in September 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.7 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There is an average of 1 hour of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 7% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.2 °C, with a minimum of
15.8 °C and a maximum of
20.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
12 °C in October 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
25.2 °C in October 2015.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.2 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 17% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
November is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.7 °C, with a minimum of
17 °C and a maximum of
22.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
13.3 °C in November 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
28.1 °C in November 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 26% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
December is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.5 °C, with a minimum of
18.6 °C and a maximum of
24.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16.5 °C. However, it dropped to
15.6 °C in December 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27 °C. However, it reached
30.1 °C in December 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.2 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.