The climate of Ecuador is generally tropical and varies with altitude and region, due to differences in elevation and, to a degree, in proximity to the equator.[1]

Ecuador map of Köppen climate classification.

The coastal lowlands in the western part of Ecuador are typically warm with temperatures in the region of 25 °C (77 °F).[2] Coastal areas are affected by ocean currents and are hot and rainy between January and April.[3]

The weather in Quito is consistent with that of a subtropical highland climate. The average temperature during the day is 21 °C (70 °F), which generally falls to an average of 10 °C (50 °F) at night. The average temperature annually is 18 °C (64 °F). There are two seasons in the city: dry and wet. The dry season runs from June to September and the wet season is from October to May.

Effects of Climate Change

Protesters in Quito during the September 2019 climate strikes.

Ecuador has a diverse geography and is very vulnerable to climate change. Antisana, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Cayambe, the Ilinizas (north and south), El Altar, and Carihuairazo are the seven glaciers of Ecuador. These glaciers are all located on volcanic craters that are affected by the greenhouse effect. Because of global warming glacier Carihuairazo has already lost 96% of its glacier surface. With the continued worsening of climate change, Carihuairazo can disappear within five years. By the end of 2018, there was an average nationwide loss of 53% of glacier coverage. Glacier shrinkage is a natural phenomenon that has existed; however, in the last 20 years climate change has exacerbated shrinkage. These glaciers in Ecuador play a major role in the climate because they gather the atmospheric circulation from the Pacific and the humidity of the Amazon region.[4]

Examples

Climate data for Quito
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 33.0
(91.4) 		28.6
(83.5) 		32.0
(89.6) 		25.6
(78.1) 		30.4
(86.7) 		29.0
(84.2) 		31.0
(87.8) 		27.0
(80.6) 		29.0
(84.2) 		27.0
(80.6) 		29.3
(84.7) 		29.0
(84.2) 		33.0
(91.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 21.2
(70.2) 		21.0
(69.8) 		20.8
(69.4) 		20.9
(69.6) 		21.0
(69.8) 		21.1
(70.0) 		21.5
(70.7) 		22.2
(72.0) 		22.3
(72.1) 		21.8
(71.2) 		21.3
(70.3) 		21.3
(70.3) 		21.4
(70.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 15.5
(59.9) 		15.6
(60.1) 		15.5
(59.9) 		15.6
(60.1) 		15.6
(60.1) 		15.5
(59.9) 		15.5
(59.9) 		15.9
(60.6) 		15.9
(60.6) 		15.7
(60.3) 		15.5
(59.9) 		15.5
(59.9) 		15.6
(60.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 9.8
(49.6) 		10.1
(50.2) 		10.1
(50.2) 		10.2
(50.4) 		10.1
(50.2) 		9.8
(49.6) 		9.4
(48.9) 		9.6
(49.3) 		9.4
(48.9) 		9.5
(49.1) 		9.6
(49.3) 		9.7
(49.5) 		9.8
(49.6)
Record low °C (°F) 3.0
(37.4) 		4.7
(40.5) 		5.1
(41.2) 		5.3
(41.5) 		2.5
(36.5) 		3.0
(37.4) 		3.0
(37.4) 		2.2
(36.0) 		3.4
(38.1) 		4.2
(39.6) 		2.5
(36.5) 		2.5
(36.5) 		2.2
(36.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 82.5
(3.25) 		111.0
(4.37) 		146.6
(5.77) 		171.2
(6.74) 		105.5
(4.15) 		39.5
(1.56) 		21.5
(0.85) 		27.7
(1.09) 		68.9
(2.71) 		114.9
(4.52) 		108.5
(4.27) 		100.4
(3.95) 		1,098.2
(43.24)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 10 11 15 15 13 7 5 5 11 14 11 11 128
Mean monthly sunshine hours 197 140 122 136 164 189 249 256 196 177 197 215 2,238
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization,[5] (precipitation data),[6]
Source 2: NOAA[7][8] Voodoo Skies (records),[9] Danish Meteorological Institute (sun and relative humidity)[10]
Climate data for Guayaquil
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 37.2
(99.0) 		35.4
(95.7) 		37.3
(99.1) 		35.8
(96.4) 		35.2
(95.4) 		35.0
(95.0) 		34.1
(93.4) 		34.7
(94.5) 		34.4
(93.9) 		35.1
(95.2) 		35.4
(95.7) 		36.7
(98.1) 		37.3
(99.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31.2
(88.2) 		31.2
(88.2) 		32.2
(90.0) 		32.0
(89.6) 		31.2
(88.2) 		29.8
(85.6) 		29.1
(84.4) 		29.7
(85.5) 		30.5
(86.9) 		30.2
(86.4) 		31.1
(88.0) 		31.8
(89.2) 		30.8
(87.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27.1
(80.8) 		27.3
(81.1) 		28.0
(82.4) 		27.8
(82.0) 		26.9
(80.4) 		25.7
(78.3) 		25.0
(77.0) 		25.2
(77.4) 		25.5
(77.9) 		25.6
(78.1) 		26.2
(79.2) 		27.1
(80.8) 		26.5
(79.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23.0
(73.4) 		23.4
(74.1) 		23.7
(74.7) 		23.5
(74.3) 		22.6
(72.7) 		21.5
(70.7) 		20.8
(69.4) 		20.7
(69.3) 		20.5
(68.9) 		20.9
(69.6) 		21.3
(70.3) 		22.4
(72.3) 		22.0
(71.6)
Record low °C (°F) 20.0
(68.0) 		15.8
(60.4) 		19.9
(67.8) 		19.4
(66.9) 		18.5
(65.3) 		17.6
(63.7) 		17.0
(62.6) 		17.2
(63.0) 		17.2
(63.0) 		17.8
(64.0) 		17.0
(62.6) 		18.0
(64.4) 		15.8
(60.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 200.7
(7.90) 		332.0
(13.07) 		315.7
(12.43) 		207.7
(8.18) 		62.6
(2.46) 		34.0
(1.34) 		15.6
(0.61) 		1.2
(0.05) 		1.5
(0.06) 		5.6
(0.22) 		29.1
(1.15) 		68.0
(2.68) 		1,263.2
(49.73)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 12 14 15 10 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 59
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization[11]
Source 2: NOAA[12]
Climate data for Cuenca
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 33.0
(91.4) 		29.9
(85.8) 		28.8
(83.8) 		33.0
(91.4) 		32.0
(89.6) 		31.6
(88.9) 		29.5
(85.1) 		34.0
(93.2) 		31.2
(88.2) 		33.0
(91.4) 		33.0
(91.4) 		33.0
(91.4) 		34.0
(93.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 22.4
(72.3) 		22.4
(72.3) 		21.9
(71.4) 		21.7
(71.1) 		21.4
(70.5) 		20.4
(68.7) 		19.9
(67.8) 		20.4
(68.7) 		21.3
(70.3) 		22.3
(72.1) 		23.1
(73.6) 		23.1
(73.6) 		21.7
(71.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 15.3
(59.5) 		15.8
(60.4) 		15.6
(60.1) 		15.3
(59.5) 		14.4
(57.9) 		13.6
(56.5) 		13.3
(55.9) 		13.3
(55.9) 		14.7
(58.5) 		15.3
(59.5) 		14.7
(58.5) 		15.6
(60.1) 		14.7
(58.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 10.9
(51.6) 		11.1
(52.0) 		11.2
(52.2) 		10.9
(51.6) 		10.6
(51.1) 		9.8
(49.6) 		9.4
(48.9) 		9.1
(48.4) 		9.5
(49.1) 		10.1
(50.2) 		10.2
(50.4) 		10.6
(51.1) 		10.3
(50.5)
Record low °C (°F) 0.0
(32.0) 		0.0
(32.0) 		1.0
(33.8) 		1.0
(33.8) 		0.0
(32.0) 		−0.6
(30.9) 		−3.0
(26.6) 		−1.1
(30.0) 		−1.0
(30.2) 		−2.0
(28.4) 		−0.6
(30.9) 		0.0
(32.0) 		−3.0
(26.6)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 67
(2.6) 		85
(3.3) 		107
(4.2) 		109
(4.3) 		77
(3.0) 		68
(2.7) 		53
(2.1) 		47
(1.9) 		56
(2.2) 		73
(2.9) 		69
(2.7) 		67
(2.6) 		878
(34.5)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) 20 21 22 19 15 11 10 10 12 16 13 10 179
Mean monthly sunshine hours 155 113 124 120 155 150 186 186 150 155 150 155 1,799
Source 1: Temperatures: Climate Ecuador,[13] Voodoo Skies[14]
Source 2: Other: Cuenca Climate Guide [15]
Climate data for Manta
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 35.0
(95.0) 		34.4
(93.9) 		34.4
(93.9) 		35.6
(96.1) 		34.4
(93.9) 		35.0
(95.0) 		35.0
(95.0) 		35.6
(96.1) 		32.8
(91.0) 		33.3
(91.9) 		32.2
(90.0) 		32.2
(90.0) 		35.6
(96.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 30.0
(86.0) 		30.0
(86.0) 		30.6
(87.1) 		30.6
(87.1) 		30.6
(87.1) 		29.4
(84.9) 		28.9
(84.0) 		29.4
(84.9) 		28.9
(84.0) 		28.9
(84.0) 		29.4
(84.9) 		29.4
(84.9) 		29.7
(85.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.1
(79.0) 		26.1
(79.0) 		26.4
(79.5) 		26.4
(79.5) 		26.15
(79.07) 		25.25
(77.45) 		24.75
(76.55) 		24.7
(76.5) 		24.45
(76.01) 		24.45
(76.01) 		25
(77) 		25.25
(77.45) 		25.42
(77.75)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22.2
(72.0) 		22.2
(72.0) 		22.2
(72.0) 		22.2
(72.0) 		21.7
(71.1) 		21.1
(70.0) 		20.6
(69.1) 		20.0
(68.0) 		20.0
(68.0) 		20.0
(68.0) 		20.6
(69.1) 		21.1
(70.0) 		21.2
(70.1)
Record low °C (°F) 17.2
(63.0) 		17.2
(63.0) 		13.0
(55.4) 		17.2
(63.0) 		17.2
(63.0) 		13.3
(55.9) 		16.1
(61.0) 		15.0
(59.0) 		15.0
(59.0) 		14.4
(57.9) 		15.6
(60.1) 		15.6
(60.1) 		13.0
(55.4)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 40.6
(1.60) 		96.5
(3.80) 		68.6
(2.70) 		25.4
(1.00) 		2.5
(0.10) 		5.1
(0.20) 		5.1
(0.20) 		0.8
(0.03) 		0.8
(0.03) 		0.8
(0.03) 		2.5
(0.10) 		5.1
(0.20) 		253.8
(9.99)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 124 113 155 150 124 90 93 93 90 93 90 93 1,308
Source 1: Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial[16]
Source 2: World Climate Guide (sunshine only)[17]
Climate data for Machala
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 30.4
(86.7) 		30.9
(87.6) 		31.0
(87.8) 		31.1
(88.0) 		29.8
(85.6) 		27.8
(82.0) 		27.0
(80.6) 		26.6
(79.9) 		27.0
(80.6) 		26.9
(80.4) 		28.0
(82.4) 		29.7
(85.5) 		28.9
(83.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22.6
(72.7) 		22.8
(73.0) 		22.9
(73.2) 		23.1
(73.6) 		22.7
(72.9) 		21.5
(70.7) 		20.8
(69.4) 		20.1
(68.2) 		20.2
(68.4) 		20.7
(69.3) 		21.0
(69.8) 		21.8
(71.2) 		21.7
(71.0)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 71
(2.8) 		111
(4.4) 		116
(4.6) 		69
(2.7) 		24
(0.9) 		14
(0.6) 		12
(0.5) 		11
(0.4) 		11
(0.4) 		16
(0.6) 		13
(0.5) 		21
(0.8) 		489
(19.2)
Source: Climate Data
Climate data for San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos Islands (1981–2010 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29.2
(84.6) 		30.3
(86.5) 		30.5
(86.9) 		30.2
(86.4) 		29.2
(84.6) 		27.6
(81.7) 		26.4
(79.5) 		25.6
(78.1) 		25.7
(78.3) 		26.0
(78.8) 		27.0
(80.6) 		27.8
(82.0) 		28.0
(82.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.1
(79.0) 		26.7
(80.1) 		26.7
(80.1) 		26.5
(79.7) 		25.9
(78.6) 		24.7
(76.5) 		23.5
(74.3) 		22.7
(72.9) 		22.8
(73.0) 		23.0
(73.4) 		23.9
(75.0) 		24.8
(76.6) 		24.8
(76.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22.9
(73.2) 		23.1
(73.6) 		22.9
(73.2) 		22.8
(73.0) 		22.7
(72.9) 		21.7
(71.1) 		20.7
(69.3) 		19.8
(67.6) 		19.8
(67.6) 		20.0
(68.0) 		20.9
(69.6) 		21.7
(71.1) 		21.6
(70.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 83.4
(3.28) 		107.4
(4.23) 		106.3
(4.19) 		94.9
(3.74) 		41.9
(1.65) 		32.5
(1.28) 		18.8
(0.74) 		9.8
(0.39) 		7.6
(0.30) 		11.0
(0.43) 		12.6
(0.50) 		51.5
(2.03) 		577.7
(22.76)
Average precipitation days 11 10 11 6 5 8 13 14 12 11 8 10 119
Source: World Meteorological Organization[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Climate of Ecuador". Archived from the original on 2012-03-05.
  2. ^ "Climate in Ecuador". Archived from the original on 2017-08-29.
  3. ^ "Ecuador:Climate".
  4. ^ "Climate change threatens 2 of Ecuador's 7 glaciers". www.efe.com. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  5. ^ "World Weather Information Service – Guayaquil". Met Office. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  6. ^ "World Weather Information Service – Quito". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  7. ^ "WMO Normals – Guayaquil". NOAA. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Quito Mariscal Sucre". World Weather Records 9th Series 1991–2000. NOAA. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  9. ^ "Quito Monthly Temperature weather history". Voodoo Skies. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  10. ^ Cappelen, John; Jensen, Jens. "Ecudaor – Quito" (PDF). Climate Data for Selected Stations (1931–1960) (in Danish). Danish Meteorological Institute. p. 81. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  11. ^ "World Weather Information Service – Guayaquil". Met Office. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  12. ^ "WMO Normals – Guayaquil". NOAA. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  13. ^ "ECUADOR - CUENCA". Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-06-03. Retrieved 2015-09-16.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ "Cuenca Climate Guide, Ecuador". Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  16. ^ "ECUADOR - MANTA". Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  17. ^ "Manta Climate Guide". World Climate Guide. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  18. ^ "San Cristobal-Galapagos". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 23 January 2021.

External links

Climate of South America
Ecuador articles
Categories