# Climate of Ecuador

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

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.

## 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, (precipitation data), ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA Voodoo Skies (records), Danish Meteorological Institute (sun and relative humidity) ||||||||||||||
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 ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA ||||||||||||||
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, Voodoo Skies ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: Other: Cuenca Climate Guide ||||||||||||||
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 ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: World Climate Guide (sunshine only) ||||||||||||||
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 ||||||||||||||