Guyana's Climate

Guyana lies on the north-eastern shoulder of the South American continent between 1°N and 9°N and 56°W and 62°W. It is bounded on the north by the tropical Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by Suriname, on the south and southwest by Brazil and on the northwest by Venezuela. Guyana has a total area of approximately 216,000 km² and a coastline that is about 434 km long and a continental extent of about 724 km.

Guyana enjoys a wet tropical climate with warm temperatures and abundant rainfall without the extremes of hot or cold. Annual average rainfall totals range between 1778mm (70.0 inches) and 2800mm (110.2 inches). Annual average temperature have relatively little seasonal variation with an annual average daytime maximum temperature of 29.6°C and an annual average nighttime minimum temperature of 24.0°C. Relative humidity is generally above 70 percent.

Most of Guyana generally experiences two distinct wet seasons and two dry seasons. Seasonal rainfall variability is generally the dominant characteristic of climate in Guyana.. The annual rainfall distribution of coastal Guyana shows a bimodal pattern. This is as a result of the annual meridional migration of the Inter tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The northward movement of the ITCZ generally brings heavy rainfall between mid April and the ending of July, with a major peak rainfall in June. This is refers to as the primary wet season. During the southward migration of the ITCZ, a second wet season is observed between mid November and the ending of January with peak rainfall in December. The periods in between are often referred to as primary dry (long) season and secondary (short) dry season respectively.

Seasonal changes in monthly rainfall and surface air temperature for Georgetown, the capital city, located on the coast.

Southern locations of Guyana in our country lie close to the equator: this part would experience one extended rainfall period (mid April to September).