Climate of Paraguay facts for kids

Paraguay map of Köppen climate classification.

The climate of Paraguay is quite varied! It has a subtropical climate in the eastern part, called the Paranaense region. The western part, known as the Gran Chaco, has tropical and semi-arid weather. The Paranaense region is generally humid. It gets plenty of rain all year. Temperatures there change only a little between seasons.

Paraguay's seasons are opposite to those in countries like the United States or Canada. When it's summer in the northern hemisphere, it's winter in Paraguay, and vice versa.

During the Paraguayan summer, warm winds called sirocco blow from the northeast. These winds make the weather hot.

In winter, a cold wind named pampero arrives from the South Atlantic. It travels across Argentina and then turns towards Paraguay. Because Paraguay doesn't have big mountains to block these winds, the weather can change very quickly. Winds are often strong. Sometimes, winds have reached speeds of 160 kilometers per hour (about 100 mph) in southern areas. Once, a powerful tornado even damaged the town of Encarnación.

Understanding the Paranaense Climate

This eastern part of Paraguay has a humid climate. It gets a lot of rain.

Winter Weather in Paranaense

July is the coldest month during the subtropical winter. In Asunción, the capital city, the average temperature is about 17 degrees Celsius (63°F). It's a bit cooler on the Paraná Plateau. Temperatures don't change much from north to south in this region.

Freezing temperatures can happen. Some years, there are only 3 days below freezing. Other years, there can be as many as 16 days. Very mild winters occur when warm winds blow from the north. These winters have little frost.

However, cold air from Antarctica can bring freezing temperatures to all areas. Frost can damage crops. Sometimes, light snow has even been reported in different places.

Summer Heat in Paranaense

From October to March, moist tropical air keeps the Paranaense region warm. January is the warmest month. In Asunción, the average temperature is about 28 degrees Celsius (82°F).

Daytime temperatures often reach 38 degrees Celsius (100°F) in summer. But cool air from the south often arrives. This causes the weather to switch between clear, humid days and sudden storms.

Rainfall Patterns in Paranaense

Rain falls fairly evenly across the Paranaense region. Tropical air masses usually bring this rain. August is the driest month. During August, different parts of the region get between 100 mm and 200 mm (4 to 8 inches) of rain.

The most rain falls in two periods: March to May and October to November. The difference between the driest and wettest months is usually 100 mm to 180 mm (4 to 7 inches). The region gets about 1270 mm (50 inches) of rain each year on average. The Paraná Plateau gets even more, about 250 mm to 380 mm (10 to 15 inches) extra.

Rainfall can vary a lot from year to year. Asunción has recorded as little as 793 mm (31 inches) and as much as 1518 mm (60 inches) in a year. Puerto Bertoni on the Paraná Plateau has seen rainfall from 790 mm (31 inches) to a huge 3300 mm (130 inches) in different years!

Exploring the Chaco Climate

Temperature change in Paraguay since 1901 in the context of global warming.

The Chaco region is very different from the Paranaense region. It has a tropical wet-and-dry climate. This climate is almost semi-arid, meaning it's very dry at times.

The Chaco experiences seasons that either flood the land or make it very dry. However, temperatures don't change much between seasons. It's usually hot in the Chaco. Temperatures drop only a little in winter. Even at night, the air can feel heavy, even with breezes.

Rainfall is light here, usually between 500 to 1,000 millimeters (20 to 39 inches) per year. Higher areas to the northwest might get a bit more rain. Most of the rain falls in the summer months. Large areas that become deserts in winter turn into swamps during the summer.

Caring for Paraguay's Environment

In 2017, a young activist named Diana Vicezar started a group. This group helps with climate change issues and animal welfare. Paraguay has many abandoned dogs and a problem with plastic pollution.

Diana's group, called Mymba Rayhu, builds shelters for these free-ranging dogs. They use recycled materials, especially plastic, to create these shelters. This helps both the animals and the environment.

Detailed Climate Information

Here you can find detailed weather information for several cities in Paraguay. These tables show average temperatures, rainfall, and other climate data. They are collapsed to save space, but you can click to expand them!

See also

In Spanish: Clima de Paraguay para niños

• Geography of Paraguay
• Climate of Argentina
• Climate of Brazil
• Climate of Asunción