The country is facing a sustained drop in temperatures that could intensify in the coming weeks and extend until the beginning of next year, indicated hydrometeorological engineer Valdemar Andrade, researcher at the Central University of Venezuela.
In interview with Union Radio, Andrade explained that Caracas already registers values below usual for this time and that January could mark minimums close to 14 °C.
The minimum temperatures in the capital, Andrade indicated, They currently average 19.6°C, about one degree lower than in October. The UCV weather station recently recorded the lowest minimum of November: 16 °C.
“The trend is that they continue to decline in December and January,” stated the specialist.
According to his projections, The city could be between 14 and 15 °C in January, a behavior similar to that recorded at the beginning of this year, when Caracas remained below 16 °C for days.
The maximums have also experienced a decrease. While in October they reached much higher values, They are currently around 28.8 °C and it is estimated that they will continue to decrease as the season progresses.
Rainfall below average and less intense La Niña phenomenon
Andrade explained that although the La Niña phenomenon is usually associated with increased rainfall and a consequent drop in temperatures, on this occasion Its influence has been weaker than expected.
“It hasn’t rained what was expected,” he pointed out.
In Caracas, until this Tuesday 35 millimeters had accumulated, a figure well below the average for November, which is 99 millimeters.
This is also observed in the country’s rivers because, he pointed out, the levels of the Orinoco and Caroní They remain at average parameters or even below, which confirms that the rainfall has been less.
The specialist also indicated that the main cause of the cooling that the country is experiencing is the arrival of remains of cold fronts from the northern hemisphere. This dynamic, common between the end of the year and the beginning of the next, usually causes more marked decreases in temperature in the central region and the coastal strip.
He warned that a new cold front is moving across the Atlantic and could reach the north of the country in the coming days.
“Next week we could feel even colder,” advancement.
Differences from last year
The hydrometeorologist recalled that the beginning of 2024 was marked by an unusually warm Atlantic Ocean, which raised temperatures in Venezuela and triggered forest fires. In February alone, 7,000 claims were registered, more than double the usual average, which is around 3,000.
This extreme warming of the Atlantic – considered a historical record – is not present this year, and that contributes to a cooler environment and different conditions than those experienced in recent cycles.
