Climate Colombia
Framed by the Pacific, the Caribbean and the Amazon, and crossed by three cordilleras along its entire length, Colombia offers an infinite variety of climatic conditions. The alternation of hot and cold seasons is almost non-existent. Here, we speak ofinvierno (winter) for the rainiest seasons and verano (summer) for drier periods. The climate here depends more on altitude than latitude. In a country where the topography varies from sea level to close to 6,000 meters, thermal gradation is a key factor. Colombia is as familiar with the icy cold of snow-capped peaks as it is with the scorching heat of the coasts and tropical forests, passing through the whole range of temperate climates of the high plateaus and valleys. So, whatever the time of year, you'll need flip-flops, fleece, sunscreen and an umbrella for your trip through Colombia!
An umbrella for the rain... or the sun!
Colombia's climate oscillates between desert conditions, as in La Guajira in the north of the country, and super-humid conditions, typical of the Pacific coast (6 m of water per year on average). The town of Tutendo, with over 10,000 mm of rainfall per year, is said to be the third rainiest place in the world! Between extreme aridity and humidity, Colombia has every type of climate, from the semi-humid of Medellín to the semi-arid of Bogotá. The main difference is the higher humidity in "winter", which corresponds to the wet season, and the more intense drought in "summer", which corresponds to the dry season. The dry season extends from December to March, and for a few days around June 24, the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. This short, sunny, windy period is known as the Veranillo de San Juan ("Little Summer of St. John"). The wet season covers the rest of the year. It's neither spring nor autumn, although there are months in between, such as April and September. Rainfall has a far greater influence on this notion of season than temperature.
The thermal stages
With the exception of the islands of San Andrés and Providencia, Colombia lies close to the equator. This is a region where temperatures are constant throughout the year, changing only with altitude. This is what is known locally as los pisos térmicos, or thermal floors. You can go from 15°C in Bogotá (2,640 m) to 30°C in La Mesa (1,400 m) in just two hours on the road! Thetierras calientes, with an average temperature of 24°C, are located at less than 1,000 m above sea level. This is the climate found in two-thirds of the country: Llanos, the Caribbean coast, western Antioquia... Above this, there's the very pleasant climate of the temperate lands(tierras templadas), located between 1,000 and 2,000 m, with temperatures averaging 17 to 23°C. Examples include Armenia, Medellín and Barichara. The cold lands(tierras frías), between 2,000 and 3,000 m, such as Bogotá or Tunja, have temperatures between 12 and 16°C. Above 3,200 m, it's páramo, with temperatures below 10°C. Above 4,500 m, we find the icy climate of the high mountains(tierras heladas), with sub-zero temperatures. In addition to these climatic zones characteristic of the Andean region and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, there are warmer, more humid climates, such as the tropical climate of the Pacific coast and the equatorial climate of Amazonia. Then there's the tropical savannah climate of the Llanos plains and part of the Caribbean coast, with high temperatures and wet and dry seasons more marked than elsewhere. Finally, there's the arid or desert tropical climate of La Guajira and Tatacoa, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C.
Climate risks
Colombia is in the intertropical convergence zone. Storms can be violent and heavy rains can cause floods, mudslides, etc. Disasters are frequent in rural areas but also in some cities, such as Barranquilla, where the " arroyos" are legendary (some streets turn into real torrents). The islands of San Andres and Providencia are subject to tropical storms, which can turn into hurricanes. On November 16, 2020, Hurricane Iota (category 5) caused enormous damage in San Andrés, but especially ravaged the beautiful Providencia, which was only 18 km from the eye of the hurricane.
