Ecuador Weather

Ecuador is located in the tropics of South America. The terrain of Ecuador consists of coastal plain, inter-Andean central highlands, and the eastern jungle. The weather is tropical in the Amazonian jungle lowlands and along the coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations. Ecuador weather is hot and humid with a wet equatorial climate along the coast. Rain falls throughout the year. The chief rainy season is from December to April, and the country receives an average rainfall of about 112 centimeters.

Ecuador’s weather is affected by different factors. There is marked variation in climate in the country’s different natural regions. Ecuador has a rainy season and a dry season. Along the coast, high rainfall occurs during the months of February and March. From the month of June to December, the coast experiences dry weather. The inter-Andean region has a rainy season starting from October and extending to May. Maximum rainfall occurs in the months of October and April. The region experiences dry weather from June to September. The Amazon region has rainfall throughout the year and it is Ecuador’s wettest region. The inland region has characteristics similar to the coastal region.

The altitude also plays a major part in Ecuador’s weather. The temperature drops down to 8.5 degree Celsius at 3,500 m above sea level. With each increase in altitude by 200 m, the temperature drops by 1 degree Celsius. The coastal region has a tropical climate with temperatures ranging from 23 to 26 degree Celsius. Ecuador’s weather is also characterized by the El Nino effect, which occurs every six years. At that time, the temperature and humidity are higher than usual. These conditions produce heavy showers resulting in flooding. The Galapagos Islands have a climate pattern similar to that of the sierra because of the Peruvian current.

Source: Kent Pinkerton,EzineArticles