CLIMATE AND WEATHER

BARRANQUILLA


Barranquilla has a tropical savanna
climate (Aw) according to Kppen
climate classification; it is hot all-year-
round, with high levels of relative
humidity. The average temperature is
28.4 C (85 F). Daytime temperature
usually remains around 32 C (90 F).
Nevertheless, from late November to
early April, trade winds more or less
cool it to a more comfortable temperature during daylight. During
evening and through the night, temperature can change due to the
strong winds it receives. Rainy seasons are from April to June and from
August to November, when some streets flood producing "arroyos"
(streams) that can be very dangerous, given the lack of appropriate
rain drainage in some sectors of town.

BOGOTA


Bogot has a subtropical highland
climate (Kppen Cwb). The average
temperature is 14.5 C (58 F), and it
varies from 6 to 19 C (43 to 66 F) in
fair skies days, to 10 to 18 C (50 to
64 F) in heavy rain days. Dry and
rainy seasons alternate throughout the
year. The driest months are December, January, July and August. The
warmest month is March, bringing a maximum of 19.7 C (67.5 F).
The coolest nights occur in January, with an average of 7.6 C (45.7
F) in the city; fog is very usual in early morning, 220 days per year,
whilst sunny days are quite unusual.

The official highest recorded temperature inside city limits is 26.6 C
(80 F), the lowest is 7.1 C (19 F).

The rainiest months are April, May, September, October and
November, in which typical days are mostly overcast, with low clouds
and some winds, bringing maximum temperatures of 18 C (64 F) and
lows of 7 C (45 F). Though hailstorms is a rare extreme event, it is
possible during the rainy season, and can be very heavy, especially in
October. Days are mild or cool and nights can get moderately cold due
to the city having mild winds at night all year round, though frequent
fog from sinking of cold mountain air in the enclosed valley of the city
means sunshine totals are much lower than would be expected for a
relatively dry location in such low latitude.


MEDELLIN

Medelln features a tropical
rainforest climate (Af), albeit a
noticeably cooler version of this
climate that borders closely on a
subtropical highland climate (Cfb)
and also on a tropical monsoon
climate (Am). Because Medelln is
located at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) above
sea level, its climate is not as hot as
other cities located at the same latitude near the equator. Because of
its altitude above sea level and privileged location in the Andes Range,
Medelln's weather at times is more characteristic of a humid
subtropical climate than that of a tropical climate. The city's average
annual temperature is 22 C (72 F), and because of its proximity to the
equator, its temperature is constant year round, with minimal
temperature variations. Temperatures range from 15 to 30 C (59 to 86
F). Because of the pleasant springlike climate all year, Medelln is
known as La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera or City of the Eternal
Spring. However, as the city is located in a valley and many of its
districts are on slopes, temperatures can be slightly cooler on the
surrounding mountains.


CARLOS BUELVAS.