Peru Climate

Climate of Peru

Peru's climate varies greatly, influenced by terrain, altitude and the influence of the cold Peruvian Current. These factors cause the climate to vary from region to region. Considering the weather occurring throughout the year, in most areas there are two distinct seasons: dry from May to October and rainy from November to April. The course of the dry and rainy seasons also depends on individual areas.

Extending along the Pacific coast, the coastal lowland belt (Costa) along with the western slopes of the Andes is characterized by a dry tropical climate. In places, the area is desert and semi-desert with annual precipitation of only 20 mm - 50 mm. Moisture is supplied mainly by fog ("garua"). Air temperature in winter reaches 15°C - 17°C, while in summer it varies between 20°C and 27°C. Over the ocean itself, as a result of the cold Peruvian Current, temperatures are much lower.

In the Andes (Sierra), there is climatic stackedness and temperatures decrease by an average of one degree for every 150 meters. Temperatures oscillate between 19°C - 23°C in summer and about 5°C - 10°C in winter. At altitudes above 2,300 meters above sea level, temperatures of 10°C - 15°C are typical for temperate climates. However, it is already cold at altitudes above 3,500 meters above sea level, with average temperatures not exceeding 5°C. High daily temperature fluctuations and the occurrence of snowfall are common in mountainous areas. In the Peruvian Andes, the perpetual snow limit is at around 4,000 meters above sea level.

The period of increased rainfall and snowfall in the Andes region is from October to April. It falls 800 mm - 900 mm during this time.

In the Amazon region (Montania), a humid equatorial climate is formed, characteristic of the Amazon rainforest zone. The temperature here is high all year round (about 25°C - 27°C), rarely does the temperature drop below 20°C. It is humid and sultry, with an annual rainfall of more than 3,000 mm. Most rain can be expected between late December and mid-April.

It is worth remembering that the El-Nino phenomenon periodically occurs in Peru due to global climate change. This causes a reversal of the direction of the flow of the cold Peruvian current and its replacement by warm waters. This phenomenon leads to a disruption of the natural cycles occurring in nature, strongly influences climate anomalies and fluctuations, so that the weather can be really surprising.