The climate in Peru

Climate zone: tropics

It is warm to hot all year round and invites to bathe at average water temperatures of 19 degrees. The warmest and rainiest part of the country is San Martín. The coldest is Puno.

Temperature records of the last 73 years

The hottest temperature measured from 1949 to March 2022 was reported by the Pucallpa weather station. In August 2006 the record temperature of 40.0 °C was reported here. The hottest summer from July to September, based on all 31 weather stations in Peru below 3830 metres altitude, was recorded in 1997 with an average temperature of 21.9 °C. This average temperature will normally be measured every 4 to 6 hours, thus also including the nights. Normally, this value is 19.7 degrees Celsius.

The coldest day in these 73 years was reported by the weather station Cuzco. Here the temperature dropped to -8.0 °C in May 2014. Cuzco lies at an altitude of 3249 meters above sea level. The coldest winter (January to March) was in 1950 with an average temperature of 20.8 °C. In Peru, it is usual to have about 1.8 degrees more at 22.5 °C for this three-month period.

The most precipitation fell in February 1978. With 95.2 mm per day, the Quincemil weather station recorded the highest monthly average of the last 73 years. Incidentally, the region with the most rainfall for the whole year is around Tingo Maria. The driest region is near San Juan.

Data basis and methodology

The data of the individual measuring stations are based on the archives of the German Weather Service, individual values averaged and supplemented by own elements. In order to determine a representative national average, average values were first calculated for each part of the country, which were then summarized at the national level. Thus, if a disproportionate number of weather stations are located in a small area, their number does not affect the national average.