Climate of Puerto Rico

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Worldwide climate classifications
Worldwide climate classifications

The climate of Puerto Rico falls into the tropical climatic zone. Temperatures are moderate year round, averaging near 80 °F (27 °C) in lower elevations and 70 °F (21 °C) in the mountains. Easterly trade winds pass across the island year round. Puerto Rico has a rainy season which stretches from April into November.[1] The mountains of the Cordillera Central are the main cause of the variations in the temperature and rainfall that occur over very short distances. The mountains can also cause wide variation in local wind speed and direction due to their sheltering and channeling effects adding to the climatic variation. About a quarter of the annual rainfall for Puerto Rico, on average, occurs during tropical cyclones, which are more frequent during La Niña events.

Contents

[edit] Temperature

Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various Puerto Rico Locations
City Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Adjuntas Substation 79/55 80/54 81/55 81/58 83/61 84/62 85/62 85/62 85/62 84/61 82/60 80/57
Carite Dam 78/61 78/60 78/61 78/63 78/65 79/66 80/67 81/67 82/67 81/66 81/65 78/63
Cerro Maravilla 68/56 68/55 69/56 69/58 71/59 73/61 73/62 73/62 73/61 72/61 71/59 69/57
Lajas Substation 86/61 86/61 87/62 88/65 89/68 91/69 92/69 91/69 90/69 89/68 89/66 87/62
Ponce 4 E 86/67 86/66 87/67 87/69 88/72 90/74 90/74 91/73 90/73 89/72 88/70 87/68
San Juan City 81/71 81/71 82/71 83/73 84/74 85/75 85/76 86/76 87/76 86/75 84/74 82/72
[2]

Temperatures range from 70 °F (21 °C) to 90 °F (32 °C) in the lower elevations, while higher elevations in the central part of the island experience temperatures between 60 °F (16 °C) and 80 °F (27 °C) year round. The temperature in the south is a few degrees higher than the north. Between winter and summer, there is only a temperature swing of around 6 °F (4 °C). This is mainly due to the warm waters of the subtropical Atlantic ocean, which significantly modify cooler air moving in from the north and northwest.

[edit] Wind

Persistent 19-knot (35 km/h) trade winds move from east to west across the island year round. In lighter wind regimes, sea breeze and land breeze circulations dominate.[3] Higher winds occur in the vicinity of tropical cyclones, which pass by every 5 years.[4]

[edit] Rainfall

There is a pronounced rainy season from April to November. Due to the commonwealth's topography, rainfall varies greatly across the island. Pico del Este averages 171.09 inches (4,346 mm) of rainfall yearly while Magueyes Island averages only 29.32 inches (745 mm) a year.[5][6] There have not been any documented cases of snow falling within Puerto Rico, though occasionally it is brought in from elsewhere as a publicity stunt.[7]

[edit] Severe weather

  • Puerto Rico experiences the Atlantic hurricane season, similar to the remainder of the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic oceans. On average, a quarter of its annual rainfall is contributed from tropical cyclones, which is more prevalent during periods of La Niña than El Niño.[8] A cyclone of tropical storm strength passes near Puerto Rico, on average, every 5 years.[9] A hurricane passes in the vicinity of the island, on average, every 11 years. Only one category 5 hurricane has struck the island since 1851, the Lake Okeechobee Hurricane of September 1928.[10]

[edit] See Also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Matt Carter and J.B. Elsner. Monthly Rainfall Climatology for Puerto Rico. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  2. ^ Southeast Regional Climate Center. Historical Climate Data For Puerto Rico. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
  3. ^ Shawn P. Bennett, Vanda Grusbisic, and Roy M. Rasmussen. GRAVITY WAVES, RAINBANDS, AND DEEP CONVECTION INDUCED BY TRADE WIND FLOW PAST PUERTO RICO. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  4. ^ Alexa J. Andrews. Spatial and Temporal Variability of Tropical Storm and Hurricane Strikes in the Bahamas, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles. Retrieved on 2007-01-23.
  5. ^ Southern Region Climate Center. Pico del Este Climatology. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
  6. ^ Southern Region Climate Center. Magueyes Island Climatology. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
  7. ^ Associated Press. Canadian Snow Sails To Puerto Rico. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
  8. ^ Edward B. Rodgers, Robert F. Adler, Harold F. Pierce. Contribution of Tropical Cyclones to the North Atlantic Climatological Rainfall as Observed from Satellites.
  9. ^ Alexa J. Andrews. Spatial and Temporal Variability of Tropical Storm and Hurricane Strikes in the Bahamas, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles. Retrieved on 2007-01-23.
  10. ^ Aurelio Mercado and Harry Justiniano. Coastal Hazards of Puerto Rico. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.

[edit] External links

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