The Climate of Venezuela is characterized for being

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

and megathermal as a result of its geographical location near the

Equator The equator is a circle of latitude, about in circumference, that divides Earth into the Northern and Southern hemispheres. It is an imaginary line located at 0 degrees latitude, halfway between the North and South poles. The term can als ...

, but because of the topography and the dominant wind direction, several climatic types occur which can be the same as found in temperate latitudes, and even polar regions. Latitude exerts little influence on the Venezuelan climate. While the coastal cities of Maracaibo, Barcelona, Porlamar and Maiquetia can get extremely hot, cities in valleys such as Mérida, Caracas, Los Teques and San Cristobal have cooler climates, and the highest towns of Mucuchies and Apartaderos have cold (tundra) climates. The hottest part of Venezuela is the northwest ( Paraguana Peninsula and

Guajira Peninsula The Guajira Peninsula ( es, Península de La Guajira, links=no, also spelled ''Goajira'', mainly in colonial period texts, guc, Hikükariby) is a peninsula in northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela in the Caribbean. It is the northernm ...

), where temperatures of more than are frequently recorded. The coldest part in the country are located in the highest areas of the

Cordillera de Mérida The Cordillera de Mérida is a series of mountain ranges, or massif, in northwestern Venezuela. The Cordillera de Mérida is a northeastern extension of the Andes Mountains and the most important branch of the Venezuelan Andes. The ranges run south ...

, where temperatures lower than are recorded. The

Venezuelan Coastal Range The Venezuelan Coastal Range ( es, Cordillera de la Costa or ), also known as Venezuelan Caribbean Mountain System ( es, Sistema Montañoso Caribe) is a mountain range system and one of the eight natural regions of Venezuela, that runs along the c ...

and

Guiana Highlands The Guianas, sometimes called by the Spanish loan-word ''Guayanas'' (''Las Guayanas''), is a region in north-eastern South America which includes the following three territories: * French Guiana, an overseas department and region of France * G ...

have average temperatures from to , while the

Llanos The Llanos (Spanish ''Los Llanos'', "The Plains"; ) is a vast tropical grassland plain situated to the east of the Andes in Colombia and Venezuela, in northwestern South America. It is an ecoregion of the tropical and subtropical grasslands, sav ...

average temperature is over . The highest temperature recorded was in

Machiques Machiques is a city in Zulia State, Venezuela, located in the northwest portion of the country. It is close to the border with Colombia, and the area's main economic activity is cattle raising. On 16 August 2005 West Caribbean Airways Flight 708, ...

, and the lowest temperature recorded was , it has been reported from an uninhabited high altitude at Páramo de Piedras Blancas (

Mérida state Mérida or Merida may refer to: Places *Mérida (state), one of the 23 states which make up Venezuela *Mérida, Mérida, the capital city of the state of Mérida, Venezuela *Merida, Leyte, Philippines, a municipality in the province of Leyte *M� ...

), even though no official reports exist, lower temperatures in the mountains of the

Sierra Nevada de Mérida The Sierra Nevada de Mérida is the highest mountain range in the largest massif in Venezuela, the Cordillera de Mérida, which in turn is part of the northern extent of the Cordillera de los Andes (Andes Mountains). The Sierra Nevada de Mérida i ...

are known.

Climate zones according to Köppen

According to the

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

, Venezuela's climate types are:

Group A: Tropical climates

It's the most prevalent and characteristic climate of the country. Maintaining temperatures above and rainfall in most of the year: *

Tropical savanna climate Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories ''Aw'' (for a dry winter) and ''As'' (for a dry summer). The driest month has less than of p ...

(Aw) It can be found throughout the country, dominating the

and northern Guayana Region, as well as other parts of the country. It is dry between December and March with annual rainfall between 600 and 1,500 mm. *

Tropical monsoon climate An area of tropical monsoon climate (occasionally known as a sub-equatorial, tropical wet climate or a tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate) is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category ...

(Am) It is located in the Guayana Region, Orinoco Delta, west of

Zulia Zulia State ( es, Estado Zulia, ; Wayuu: ''Mma’ipakat Suuria'') is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Maracaibo. As of the 2011 census, it has a population of 3,704,404, the largest population among Venezuela's states. It ...

, Andean and Coastal range foothills, Paria Peninsula and Barlovento region; with rainfall between 1,600 and 2,500 mm per year and a drought of just 45 days. *

Tropical rainforest climate A tropical rainforest climate, humid tropical climate or equatorial climate is a tropical climate sub-type usually found within 10 to 15 degrees latitude of the equator. There are some other areas at higher latitudes, such as the coast of southea ...

(Af) It's located south of Venezuela, Orinoco Delta, El Tamá area in west of Venezuela, and south of Maracaibo Lake. Rainfall exceeds 2,500 mm, not tending dry season. File:Cerro_El_Avila.jpg, Tropical savanna climate, influenced by a temperate highland climate in

Caracas Caracas (, ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas, abbreviated as CCS, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the ...

Valley File:Matawy tepuy.jpg, Tropical savanna climate in the Gran Sabana File:Los Llanos.JPG, Tropical savanna climate in the

File:Relampago_del_catatumbo_observado_desde_bachaquero-3.jpg, Tropical monsoon climate in Sur del Lago File:Tepuy Autana (Kuaymayojo).jpg, Tropical rainforest climate in Southern Venezuela File:Canaima 7.JPG, Tropical monsoon climate in Canaima File:Familia de Warao en canoe.jpg, Tropical rainforest climate in Orinoco Delta File:Cordillera al Mar.jpg, Tropical rainforest climate in Paria Peninsula File:El Agua Beach (9).jpg, Tropical hot climate in Margarita Island

Group B: Dry climates

This type of climate the evaporation exceeds precipitation. In Venezuela is typical of desert and arid coastal areas and with annual temperatures above 18 °C. The cold semiarid type can be found at elevated portions of the Andes. *Hot

desert climate The desert climate or arid climate (in the Köppen climate classification ''BWh'' and ''BWk''), is a dry climate sub-type in which there is a severe excess of evaporation over precipitation. The typically bald, rocky, or sandy surfaces in desert ...

(BWh) It can be found in

, Paraguana Peninsula,

Araya Peninsula The Araya Peninsula is a peninsula on the Caribbean Sea, located in Sucre State, northern Venezuela. The peninsula is part of the eastern Serranía del Litoral mountain range, in the Venezuelan Coastal Ranges System of the northern Andes. It exte ...

and most of the Insular region. *Hot

semi-arid climate A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of semi-ar ...

(BSh) It is located in the northern part of

state, most of the area of

Lara state Lara State ( es, Estado Lara, ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Barquisimeto. Lara State covers a total surface area of and, in 2015, had a census population of 2,019,211. Toponymy The state is named after a notable ...

and

Falcón state ) , anthem = , image_map = Falcon in Venezuela.svg , map_alt = , map_caption = Location within Venezuela , pushpin_map = , pushpin_map_alt = , pushpin_mapsiz ...

, the coastal area, Insular region and some semi-arid areas in

Venezuelan Andes The Venezuelan Andes (Spanish: ''Andes Venezolanos'') also simply known as the Andes (Spanish: ''Los Andes'') in Venezuela, are a mountain system that form the northernmost extension of the Andes. They are fully identified, both by their geologic ...

. *Cold semi-arid (BSk) It can be found locked at the temperate zones of high Andean valleys of

. File:Medanos- Coro.jpg, Hot desert climate in Medanos de Coro National Park File:Faro del Cabo San Roman - Estado Falcón.JPG, Hot desert climate in Cabo San Roman File:Panorámica_del_desierto_de_La_Guajira.jpg, Hot desert climate in Guajira Desert File:Playa el Amor, Isla de Coche.jpg, Hot desert climate in

Coche Island Isla de Coche (''Coche Island'') is one of three islands forming the Nueva Esparta State of Venezuela, located in the Caribbean between Isla Margarita and the mainland. The other two islands are Isla Margarita, the main island of the state, and ...

File:Cayo de Agua, Archipiélago de Los Roques, Venezuela.jpg, Hot desert climate in

Los Roques The Los Roques Archipelago (Spanish: ''Archipiélago de Los Roques'') is a federal dependency of Venezuela consisting of approximately 350 islands, cays, and islets in a total area of 40.61 square kilometers. The archipelago is located dire ...

File:Pico Bolìvar, Venezuela (12680065045).jpg, Cold semi-arid climate in

Los Nevados Los Nevados National Natural Park ( es, Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados) is a national park located in the Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes. The park surrounds the northern volcanic complex formed by Nevado del Ruiz, Nevado del Toli ...

File:Anzoátegui.jpg, Hot semi-arid climate in Puerto La Cruz File:Asentamiento informal I.jpg, Hot semi-arid climate in Barquisimeto

Group C: Temperate climates

The monthly averages temperatures are below 22 °C (72 °F) but above 0 °C (32 °F). At least one month's average temperature is below 18 °C (64 °F): * Temperate highland climates with dry winters (Cwb) It tends to experience noticeably drier weather during the lower-sun "winter" season. It's located in the medium areas of the southern-east slope of

and Sierra de Perija, the highest areas of south-western

Venezuelan coastal range The Venezuelan Coastal Range ( es, Cordillera de la Costa or ), also known as Venezuelan Caribbean Mountain System ( es, Sistema Montañoso Caribe) is a mountain range system and one of the eight natural regions of Venezuela, that runs along the c ...

. * Temperate highland climates without dry season (Cfb) This climate doesn't tend to has a dry season. It's located in the medium areas of the

and Sierra de Perija, the highest areas of

, and the top of the highest

Tepuis A tepui , or tepuy (), is a table-top mountain or mesa found in South America, especially in Venezuela and western Guyana. The word tepui means "house of the gods" in the native tongue of the Pemon, the indigenous people who inhabit the Gran S ...

. File:Precioso paisaje.jpg, Temperate highland climate in Colonia Tovar File:Audan Tüpü (Auyantepuy).JPG, Temperate highland climate in Auyantepui File:Cerro_Wichuj(Cara_de_Indio)_(12111191594).jpg, Temperate highland climate in Amazonas File:Refugio natural.jpg, Temperate highland climate in

Sierra La Culata The Sierra de La Culata is a mountain range in the largest massif in Venezuela, the Cordillera de Mérida, which in turn is part of the northern extent of the Cordillera de los Andes (Andes Mountains). The Sierra la Culata includes some of the hig ...

File:Picacho de Galipan.jpg, Temperate highland climate in El Avila National Park File:Descendiendo de La Verde..JPG, Temperate highland climate in Táchira

Group E: Alpine climates

It's characterized by average temperatures below 10 °C in all 12 months of the year: *

Alpine tundra Alpine tundra is a type of natural region or biome that does not contain trees because it is at high elevation, with an associated alpine climate, harsh climate. As the latitude of a location approaches the poles, the threshold elevation for alp ...

(ETH) Also known as páramo climate, this climate often undergo a sudden and drastic change in daily-weather in which they fluctuate between temperatures from below freezing to as high as 20 °C. Mean annual temperatures range from 2 °C (36 °F) to 10 °C (50 °F). It is located above the 3,000 m in the Sierra de Perija and

. The most popular village with this climate in the country is the town of Apartaderos * Alpine glacier (EFH) This climate is reserved to the highest peaks of the

, such as

Pico Bolívar Pico Bolívar is the highest mountain in Venezuela, at 4,978 metres (16,332 ft).Pérez et al (Sep. 2005)"Alturas del Pico Bolívar y otras cimas andinas venezolanas a partir de observaciones Gps."INCI v.30, n.4, Caracas sep. 2005. Retrieved ...

Pico Humboldt Pico Humboldt is Venezuela's second highest peak, at 4,925 metres above sea level. It is located in the Sierra Nevada de Merida, in the Venezuelan Andes of (Mérida State). The peak, its sister peak Pico Bonpland, and the surrounding páramos ar ...

, [ File:Glacial Pico Humboldt 2.JPG, Alpine glacier in the

File:PicoBolivar2.jpg, Alpine glacier in the

File:Nevado hermoso.JPG, Alpine glacier climate in Pico La Concha File:Valle_de_Mifafí_2.jpg, Alpine tundra climate in

Sierra de La Culata The Sierra de La Culata is a mountain range in the largest massif in Venezuela, the Cordillera de Mérida, which in turn is part of the northern extent of the Cordillera de los Andes (Andes Mountains). The Sierra la Culata includes some of the hig ...

File:Pico Piedras Blancas 5.jpg, Alpine tundra climate in

Pico Piedras Blancas The Pico Piedras Blancas (also known as Misamán), at , is the highest mountain of the Sierra de la Culata range in the Mérida State, and the fifth-highest mountain in Venezuela. Its name, meaning "White Stones", is of uncertain origin, since th ...

File:Laguna de Mucubaji I.jpg, Alpina tundra at Laguna de Mucubají File:Laguna_La_Coromoto.jpg, Alpine tundra at Laguna Coromoto File:Páramo andino venezolano nevado.jpg, Snow in Mérida File:Valle de Mifafí 4.jpg, Alpina tundra at Mifafí Valley

Climate zones according to altitude

Venezuelan climates are structured in "thermal floors", as mentioned next:

Very Hot

This climate is characterized by very hot temperatures above , with precipitations that ranges from dry (less than 300 mm) to pluvial (more than 3300 mm) conditions. This climate can be found in areas below 300 m in sedimentary basins and lowlands such as the

, Orinoco Delta, Maracaibo Basin, Orinoco Basin, and coastal plains and islands; it comprises almost all the country. This climate zone is present in cities like

Maracaibo ) , motto = "''Muy noble y leal''"(English: "Very noble and loyal") , anthem = , image_map = , mapsize = , map_alt = ...

, Punto Fijo,

Ciudad Guayana Ciudad Guayana () (in English Guayana City) is a city in Bolívar State (Venezuela), Bolívar State, Venezuela. It stretches 40 kilometers along the south bank of the Orinoco, Orinoco river, at the point where it is joined by its main tributary ...

Porlamar ) Pueblo de La Mar ( en, Village by the Sea) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Panoramic , image_flag = Bandera santiagomarino.jpg , image_seal = , pushpin_map =Venezuela , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_type1 = State , subdivis ...

, Puerto La Cruz, Barinas, Tucupita,

Cumaná Cumaná () is the capital city of Venezuela's Sucre State. It is located east of Caracas. Cumaná was one of the first cities founded by Spain in the mainland Americas and is the oldest continuously-inhabited Hispanic-established city in South ...

, Maturin, Anaco,

Ciudad Bolívar Ciudad Bolívar (; Spanish for "Bolivar City"), formerly known as Angostura and St. Thomas de Guyana, is the capital of Venezuela's southeastern Bolívar, Venezuela, Bolívar State. It lies at the spot where the Orinoco River narrows to about ...

Cabimas Cabimas is a city on the shore of Maracaibo Lake in Zulia State in northwestern Venezuela. In 2005, its population was around 200,859. Before 1900, Venezuela was known to possess commercial quantities of petroleum. One major find was the 'Zumaqu ...

El Vigía The Alberto Adriani Municipality () (better known as El Vigia) is one of the 23 Municipalities of Venezuela, municipalities () that makes up the Venezuelan state of Mérida (state), Mérida and, according to a 2007 population estimate by the Natio ...

and others.

Warm

Warm climate can be found between 300 and 650 m. It's characterized by temperatures from to and precipitations that ranges from scarcely rainy (300 – 700 mm) to pluvial (more than 3300 mm) conditions. This climate can be found in lower foothills and plateaus in the

Coro region The Sistema Coriano also known as Lara-Falcón Formation, Coro region or Coriano system is one of the eight natural regions of Venezuela. Is the hilly and semi-mountainous area in northwest Venezuela, north of the Mérida Andes and east of the Mara ...

and

. Cities which have this climate zone are Barquisimeto, Maracay,

Valencia Valencia ( va, València) is the capital of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, Valencia and the Municipalities of Spain, third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 791,413 inhabitants. It is ...

, Guarenas-Guatire,

San Juan de Los Morros San Juan de Los Morros () is the capital of the Guárico State in Venezuela. It is several miles almost the gateway to the Central Plains however without turning into simple itself. Having a complete specific geography in which brilliant mountain ...

Charallave Charallave is a city in the state of Miranda, Venezuela, and part of Miranda's Valles del Tuy region. It is the capital of Cristóbal Rojas Municipality. The name derives from the local ''Charavares'' indigenous people found at the time the city ...

Valera Valera is a city in Trujillo State in Venezuela, situated between the rivers Momboy and Motatán. The mayor is José Karkom, who has had that post since 2013. The city is home to Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Colombian and Spanish communit ...

, Barinitas,

San Antonio del Táchira San Antonio del Táchira is a city in the Venezuelan Andean state of Táchira. The busy highway across the Simón Bolívar International Bridge linking the cities of Cúcuta, Colombia, and San Cristóbal, Venezuela, passes through San Antonio d ...

, Quibor and others.

Cool

This climate features temperatures between to and precipitations that ranges from scarcely rainy (300 – 700 mm) to pluvial (more than 3300 mm) conditions. It can be found in the country's mountainous areas between 650 and 1,350-1,600 m This climate zone is present in cities like Mérida, San Cristóbal,

, Sanare,

Villa de Cura Villa de Cura or Villa de San Luis Rey de Cura () is the main town in the Zamora district of the Aragua state in Venezuela. A small town, very dry between the months of October and April and rainy during the rest of the year, it is best known in ...

, Ejido, Trujillo, Escuque, Rubio, Tovar,

Boconó Boconó is a city in the Venezuelan Andean state of Trujillo. Founded in 1560, this city is the shire town of the Boconó Municipality and, according to the 2001 Venezuelan census, the municipality has a population of 79,710.

, Duaca,

Bejuma Bejuma is a small town in Carabobo State, Venezuela, seat of the Bejuma Municipality. Geography Bejuma is located at 667 metres over sea level. Vegetation and natural resources The municipality of Bejuma lies in the Cordillera La Costa Mont ...

Los Teques Los Teques ) is the capital of the state of Miranda and the municipality of Guaicaipuro Municipality. It is located in the capital region of north-central Venezuela. More specifically, southwest of Caracas, 10° 21' 00" N latitude and 67° 02' 3 ...

Nirgua Nirgua is a city and the seat of the Nirgua Municipality in the state of Yaracuy, Venezuela. History The city was founded on January 25, 1625, by Don Juan de Meneses. References

Cities in Yaracuy 1625 establishments in the Spanish Empire ...

, Santa Elena de Uairen, among others.

Mild/Temperate

Mild or Temperate climate can be found in the mountainous areas between 1,350-1,600 to 2,400 m. It features temperatures around to and precipitations that ranges from scarcely rainy (300 – 700 mm) to pluvial (more than 3300 mm) conditions. This climate zone is present in cities like Mérida (higher part), Colonia Tovar,

San Antonio de Los Altos San Antonio de los Altos is a suburban town, capital of Los Salias Municipality, Miranda State, Venezuela with a population of 68,255 in 2011. The town was named after Saint Anthony of Padua, a Portuguese Catholic priest, the patron saint of the ...

, El Jarillo,

El Junquito El Junquito is one of the 22 parishes located in the Libertador Bolivarian Municipality and one of 32 of Caracas, Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuel ...

, Galipan, Timotes,

La Grita La Grita is a town in the north west of Táchira state, Venezuela. It has a population of 80.000. Located in an Andean valley, La Grita has a beautiful natural setting and fertile land. The town includes colonial style houses and open plazas. The ...

, Tabay, La Mucuy and others; most of the top of the

tepuis A tepui , or tepuy (), is a table-top mountain or mesa found in South America, especially in Venezuela and western Guyana. The word tepui means "house of the gods" in the native tongue of the Pemon, the indigenous people who inhabit the Gran S ...

also present this climate.

Cold

This climate is characterized by temperatures above and below , with precipitations that ranges from scarcely rainy (300 – 700 mm) to pluvial (more than 3300 mm) conditions. This climate can be found in mountainous areas around 2,400 to 3,200 m specifically in Sierra de Perija,

, higher elevations at

and higher

(

Monte Roraima Mount Roraima ( es, Monte Roraima; Tepuy Roraima; Cerro Roraima pt, Monte Roraima ) is the highest of the Pakaraima chain of tepuis (table-top mountain) or plateaux in South America. It is located at the junction of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana. ...

, Kukenan,

Cerro Marahuaca Cerro Marahuaca, also spelled Marahuaka (Ye'kuana: ), is a tepui in Amazonas state, Venezuela. It has an elevation of above sea level and is the second-highest mountain of the entire Guayana Shield (after the Cerro de la Neblina complex).Huber, ...

Chimantá Massif The Chimantá Massif is a highly fragmented complex of tepuis in Bolívar state, Venezuela. The massif comprises around 11 tepuis and has a total summit area of and an estimated slope area of .Huber, O. (1995). Geographical and physical feature ...

). This climate zone is present in towns like

Mucuchíes Mucuchíes is a town in the Rangel Municipality of Mérida State, Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South A ...

, Chachopo and

Very Cold

This climate can be found in the

area, between 3,200 and 4,150 m. It's characterized by temperatures from to and precipitations that ranges from scarcely rainy (300 – 700 mm) to rainy (1800–2500 mm) conditions. This climate zone is present in towns like Apartaderos and Llano del Hato. The condition of this climate is also known as

páramo Páramo () can refer to a variety of alpine tundra ecosystems located in the Andes Mountain Range, South America. Some ecologists describe the páramo broadly as "all high, tropical, montane vegetation above the continuous timberline". A narrower ...

Frosty

Frosty climate is found at the highest areas in

, between 4,150 and 4,700 m. where the temperatures are between to . This climate zone is present exclusively at

and

Sierra de Santo Domingo Sierra (Spanish for "mountain range" and "saw", from Latin ''wikt:serra#Latin, serra'') may refer to the following: Places Mountains and mountain ranges * Sierra de Juárez, a mountain range in Baja California, Mexico * Sierra de las Nieves, a ...

Glacial

This climate is characterized by average temperatures below all year, it's located in the highest peaks of Venezuela in the

such as

, Pico La Concha,

Pico Bonpland Pico Bonpland is Venezuela's third highest peak, at 4,883 metres above sea level. It is located in the Sierra Nevada de Merida, in the Venezuelan Andes of (Mérida State). The peak with its sister peak Pico Humboldt, and the surrounding páramo ...

Pico Espejo Pico Espejo (Mirror Peak) is a mountain in the Andes of Venezuela. It has a height of . Near its peak is the fifth and final station of the Mérida cable car, which is now back in service after renovations. See also * List of mountains in the An ...

, Pico Mucuñuque and

. Only Pico Bolivar and Pico Humboldt have their glaciers preserved, while the other peaks are exposed to nival zone conditions.

References

External links

{{South America topic, Climate of

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...