Venezuela Climate

Climate of Venezuela

Venezuela's climate is very varied, determined by its proximity to the equator, the altitude of individual regions above sea level and the influence of sea currents washing over the northern part of the country. These factors mean that we can distinguish several climate zones, and the weather in many regions differs.

The southern and eastern parts (the Guiana Highlands) lie in the humid equatorial climate zone, while the remaining areas have a humid sub-equatorial climate. In the mountains, the climate also varies, with a dry sub-equatorial climate in the northeast and a humid sub-equatorial climate on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera de Mérida.

A common feature of the weather throughout Venezuela, in both equatorial and sub-equatorial climates, is high and relatively constant temperatures throughout the year.

Northern areas under the influence of the warm Caribbean Current are characterized by temperatures between 27°C and 29°C. Also in most of the Guyana Highlands, they do not vary much and oscillate between 24°C and 26°C. Differences in temperature are more pronounced only in the higher mountain areas (the Roraima massif, the Andes and the Caribbean Mountains), where there is climatic stackedness. There, the mercury bar drops nearly six degrees per 1,000 meters. At altitudes above 1,500 meters above sea level, it's slightly cooler at 20°C - 24°C. At 2000 m - 2200 m above sea level, temperatures drop to 14°C - 18°C. In areas above 3,400 meters above sea level, that is, in the Venezuelan Andes, they do not exceed 10°C. In contrast, in the high areas of the Cordiliera de Mérida, temperatures oscillate close to 0°C, there are frosts, and snow-capped peaks persist throughout the year.

An important role in Venezuela's climate is played by the trade winds, which carry moist and hot air from the Atlantic Ocean. Over the lowlands these winds are dry, but in mountainous areas they cool down, causing violent rains. A characteristic local wind is the "chubasco," which blows in the Maracaibo Basin in summer, bringing brief but heavy rain.

The driest regions are in the northern, northeastern and coastal parts of the country, where it rains about 300 mm - 400 mm per year. Increased rains occur near the equator and in the Orinoco Plain, with about 800 mm to 1,400 mm of rain falling there. However, the heaviest rainfall is recorded in the Guiana Highlands (about 2,000 mm per year) and on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera de Mérida (nearly 3,000 mm).

We can distinguish between the rainy and dry seasons over almost the entire country.

During the rainy season, which lasts from May to November, precipitation intensifies in the form of intense downpours occurring on hot days. Humidity also increases to an average of 85%. There is also snowfall in the higher reaches of the Andes, with a perpetual snow limit running from 4,600 meters above sea level.

The dry season covers the time from December to April, and most areas in the country are sunny and serene. True, precipitation does occur, but it is less frequent and less intense, and humidity drops to 70%.

On the southern edge of the country (the southern part of the Guiana Highlands) there is no distinct rainy season, rains here are frequent and occur throughout the year.

MARGARITA ISLAND

The island of Margarita is characterized by sunny and warm weather that persists almost year-round. Temperatures of both air and water are high, reaching around 27°C - 30°C. The sea breeze that occurs is salutary and helps offset the sensation of heat by several degrees. Nights are usually slightly cooler. The rainy season, as in the rest of Venezuela, occurs from May to November, however, rainfall is fleeting and not very frequent. They usually occur at night, and during the day they are small and last at most several minutes.

LOS ROQUES

The Los Roques archipelago has a tropical climate, with high air and water temperatures. The weather is relatively constant throughout the year. Temperatures range between 28°C and 30°C. November and December are the rainiest and there are brief, fleeting rainfalls and thunderstorms then, but these do not impede vacationing.