The climate of Guatemala is tropical and sub-tropical, but varies greatly in relation to altitude. In fact, in the areas of the plateau, between 800 and 1,600 meters high, where the largest inhabited centers of the country are located, the climate is temperate throughout the year. With average minimum temperatures ranging between 12 ° C and 16 ° C, and average maximum temperatures between 29 ° C and 22 ° C. The rains are concentrated in the months between May and October, while the dry season runs from November to April. In these areas, the annual average rainfall is around 1,300 mm.
On the mountains at over 2,000 meters the temperatures drop considerably with average temperatures between 5 ° C and 14 ° C and strong temperature variations between day and night.
In the coastal area of the Pacific Ocean and in the Petén plains the climate is tropical. The temperature never drops below 25 ° C, with summer maximums (July) of 30 ° C-32 ° C, and an annual average of temperatures around 28 ° C. Here the average annual rainfall is around 1,500 mm, in this area sometimes during the rainy season (May-October) even violent cyclones can occur.
The northern area of the country is the rainiest, with averages ranging from 1,500 mm to 2,500 mm, and with higher peaks at the most exposed hills.
The seawater temperature of Guatemala varies between 28 ° C and 30 ° C along the coast of the Pacific Ocean and between 26 ° C and 30 ° C along the coast of the Caribbean Sea.
WHEN TO GO TO GUATEMALA
The best time to visit Guatemala is the dry season, which runs from late November to early April.
THE CLIMATE OF GUATEMALA: CLIMATIC TABLES
GUATEMALA CITY (1500 meters) | ||||
Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
January | 13,2 | 24,3 | 2,8 | 1,7 |
February | 13,6 | 25,8 | 5,4 | 1,4 |
March | 14,6 | 26,8 | 6,0 | 2,0 |
April | 16,0 | 27,8 | 31,0 | 4,7 |
May | 16,8 | 27,1 | 128,9 | 12,3 |
June | 16,8 | 25,8 | 271,8 | 21,1 |
July | 16,3 | 25,4 | 202,6 | 18,6 |
August | 16,5 | 25,5 | 202,7 | 19,0 |
September | 16,4 | 25,1 | 236,6 | 20,8 |
October | 16,0 | 24,7 | 131,6 | 14,6 |
November | 14,7 | 24,2 | 48,8 | 6,2 |
December | 13,7 | 23,9 | 6,6 | 2,6 |
YEAR | 15,4 | 25,5 | 1274,8 | 125,2 |
QUETZALTENANGO (2330 meters) | ||||
Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
January | 2,3 | 22,0 | 1,8 | 0,8 |
February | 2,9 | 23,5 | 5,5 | 0,9 |
March | 3,9 | 25,5 | 14,4 | 2,3 |
April | 6,3 | 23,8 | 41,1 | 5,9 |
May | 8,8 | 23,1 | 131,5 | 16,8 |
June | 9,3 | 21,9 | 147,8 | 21,9 |
July | 8,2 | 21,9 | 98,6 | 18,0 |
August | 8,5 | 22,1 | 106,9 | 17,5 |
September | 9,0 | 20,9 | 134,7 | 22,8 |
October | 8,4 | 21,7 | 93,5 | 14,5 |
November | 6,0 | 21,3 | 18,7 | 5,7 |
December | 2,8 | 22,1 | 7,1 | 2,1 |
YEAR | 6,4 | 22,5 | 801,8 | 129,3 |
CHAMPERICO (Pacific Ocean) | ||||
Month | Sea Water Temperature °C | |||
January | 28,2 | |||
February | 28,4 | |||
March | 29,1 | |||
April | 29,7 | |||
May | 30,1 | |||
June | 30,0 | |||
July | 30,1 | |||
August | 30,3 | |||
September | 29,9 | |||
October | 29,1 | |||
November | 29,6 | |||
December | 29,0 |
LIVINGSTON (Carribean Sea) | ||||
Month | Sea Water Temperature °C | |||
January | 26,6 | |||
February | 26,5 | |||
March | 27,2 | |||
April | 27,9 | |||
May | 28,8 | |||
June | 29,5 | |||
July | 29,4 | |||
August | 29,6 | |||
September | 29,9 | |||
October | 29,0 | |||
November | 28,2 | |||
December | 27,4 |