Climate+of+Peru

= Climate of Peru =

There are many climates and microclimates that are found in the country of Peru. As you move across the country, starting at the coast and moving to the Andes, you will see that it ranges from tropical to cooler temperatures. Peru actually contains about 30 of the 32 climates found across the world.

The Pacific coast of Peru actually has a few different weather patterns. The northern coast is known to have temperature extremes. Summers here are found to be hot, humid, and sunny with the occasional afternoon or nighttime rainfall. The more north you go, the less arid the land is. This is because of the Humboldt Current, which gets warmer as it nears the Equator. Therefore, the area that borders Ecuador is the only coastal regions that has regular seasonal rainfall. Once every few years there is an El Niño events that can drastically change the annual rainfall from 8.3 inches to about 177.2 inches.

The central and southern coasts are different because their summers are warm, humid, and sunny. Rainfall here is about 150 mm per year, which is scarce compared to the northern coast. Typically the temperatures here do not exceed 84 degrees fahrenheit for more than 12 days out of the year. Winters here are characterized by overcasted, cool, damp conditions. Along the coast line there is an area that has continual layer of fog, creating garua. This is a mist that is specific to coastal Peru and Chile.

Moving east, you will reach the Andes Mountain Range. This area contains the most diverse climate of the country. Here, temperature has a direct correlation with altitude. The low-lying valleys has an average of about 64 degrees fahrenheit and the highest elevations have an average of 32 degrees.

The Eastern lowlands are known as the equatorial climate, which includes the Amazon Rainforest. This region is typically hot and rainy most of the year. The temperatures here bounce back and forth between 64.4 to about 96.8 degrees fahrenheit. Also the rainfall can range from about 1,000mm to 4,000 mm annually. Believe it or not, there is a short dry season between June and August. At this time there is the occasional cold surge that comes from Argentina, which can lower the temperature to about 50-60 degrees.

By: McKayla Holmes