Climate of Atlántico

The department of Atlántico has a warm semi-arid climate typical of the Colombian Caribbean. Barranquilla, its capital, records temperatures between 28 and 34 °C throughout the year, with a relative humidity of 75–85% and trade winds from the north that provide refreshment especially between December and March. It is the smallest department in Colombia and its flat terrain facilitates coastal wind circulation. Rainfall is moderate compared to the rest of the country: barely 800–1,000 mm annually in most of the territory. The dry season, from December to April, coincides with the Barranquilla Carnival, the most important celebration of the department.

THERMAL FLOORS OF ATLÁNTICO

Temperature in Atlántico varies by altitude. These are the department's thermal floors:

Thermal Floor	Altitude	Temperature	Municipalities
Warm arid	0 – 200 m	28 – 34 °C	Whole department: Barranquilla, Soledad, Malambo, Sabanalarga

RAINY AND DRY SEASONS IN ATLÁNTICO

Unimodal regime: one long dry season (December–April) and one rainy season (May–November). January and February are the coolest months thanks to the trade winds. July and August have a brief dry period within the wet season, known as 'veranillo'. Maximum rainfall occurs in October.

TEMPERATURE BY MUNICIPALITY IN ATLÁNTICO

Average annual temperatures of the main municipalities of Atlántico:

Municipality	Average Temperature
Barranquilla	30 °C
Soledad	30 °C
Malambo	31 °C
Sabanalarga	28 °C
Baranoa	29 °C
Sabanagrande	29 °C
Polo Nuevo	32 °C
Juan de Acosta	29 °C

BEST TIME TO VISIT ATLÁNTICO

December to March: dry season, fresh winds and ideal weather. February coincides with the Barranquilla Carnival. Avoid October and November, peak rainfall.