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No time to read? Medellin’s weather is constantly changing, so pack clothes for a variety of different types of weather.
If you’re wondering what the weather is like in Medellin, there’s a big clue in its official nickname: “the city of eternal spring”.
However, you might want to ask “whose spring?” The city’s privileged climate is certainly a world away from a cold March day in London or New York.
So, if you’re planning a trip to Medellin, it pays to know what to expect in terms of weather. That way, you’ll know what to pack!
The first thing you need to know when visiting Medellin is not to trust the weather app. The weather here is constantly changing, making it a bit tough to predict.
The good news is that there are a few reliable averages to be aware of. Global warming and a construction boom have done their bit to push the city towards the city of eternal summer, with an average temperature that’s 4.32°F hotter than it was in 1974.
Medellin’s average temperature floats between the average low of 63°F (17°C) and 83°F (28.5°C) with very little variation throughout the year. Every day in Medellin is pretty much the sort of day your average Londoner (too cold), or New Yorker (too hot) would kill for.
Medellin sits at 4,905 ft (1,495 m above sea level), so temperatures don’t ever fall to the lows of a cold night in Bogota (8,660 ft or 2,640 m above sea level), nor is it as hot as some of Colombia’s coastal cities – Cartagena and Santa Marta.
Medellin’s idyllic climate certainly explains why so many digital nomads end up extending their stay in this mountain metropolis. You’ll rarely need heating or air conditioning, although most al fresco bars cater for the former and Medellin luxury vacation rentals have the latter.
The easiest way to break down the weather in Medellin is by month. Although the temperature doesn’t vary a whole lot throughout the year, there are still some slight fluctuations to be aware of.
Let’s get a bit in-depth on the weather in Medellin.
Although May through August are the wettest months, January can experience temperatures ranging from 52°F (11.1°C) to 73°F (22.7°C).
So, while it’s true that most of the month there will be sunny days, you better not go out without an umbrella in your backpack! In fact, anywhere from 15 to 22 days of this month can have drizzle.
On top of that, there are a lot of cloudy days in January, making it a little more difficult to guess what the weather will be that day. To give you a bit more context, approximately 81% of the month of January in Medellin is cloudy.
In February, things don’t change much. The temperatures vary from 53°F (11.6°C) to 77°F (25°C).
Cloudy and rainy days are also pretty, although there are more sunny days than in January. So, take the opportunity to get out a little more for walks or exercise.
Medellin is incredibly wet in March. Although temperatures this month are in the same range as February, more than 22 days of this month will be rainy.
Since there are very few dry days in March, tourists, foreigners, and locals prefer to enjoy indoor activities. This might just be the perfect time to check out Medellin’s coffee culture!
Despite the amount of wet weather, the rains last less time and stop after a while. So, you can usually walk around for a couple of hours before the next drizzle starts.
April is when Medellin’s “rainy season” starts.
Most days are also cloudy, but at any time, you’ll be able to see the sun peeking out from behind the clouds as if nothing had happened (and a rainbow If it’s your lucky day).
In May, rainfall peaks, and temperatures remain between 64°F (17.7°C) and 78.8°F (25.5°C). Heavy rains are constant, and it remains cloudy 96% of the days during this month.
But this doesn’t mean that it rains all day. Usually, the day starts sunny and in the afternoon is when the rain starts to come down.
In June, it’s time to take a break from the cold weather, rain, and umbrellas.
June marks the beginning of the hottest season in Medellin. Temperatures can reach 83°F (28.5°C), with sunny days that may turn to a quick drizzle in the afternoon.
Take advantage of this time of the year to go hiking and practice your favorite water sports!
July is the perfect time of year to plan any type of outdoor activity, as temperatures can reach up to 83°F (28.5°C) on sunny days. U
Usually, after 6:00 pm, there may be a bit of a drizzle. Then, the temperature will drop a bit, and the evening will be cooler. Still, temperatures hover in a pleasant range so that you’re not too cold or too hot.
On top of that, during this month there’s not much rain during the day. That makes it the perfect time to go for a day’s getaway to Guatape!
The weather is pleasant and cool in August. This is also the time when adults and children go out to fly kites as strong winds begin to blow through the mountainous province of Antioquia.
The temperature remains around 75º, and midday is sunny enough to go for a walk and have lunch outdoors at some of the incredible restaurants around town.
In September, temperatures are about the same as they were in August. The weather can fluctuate quite a bit, varying from drizzly to sunny.
The wind chill is pleasant and cool in the morning hours, but temperatures rise in the middle of the day and afternoon.
My advice for this time of year is to dress in layers and have an umbrella handy for sudden sprinkles.
Rainy days return and you prefer to spend the day at home sipping a cup of hot chocolate. Temperatures drop a bit and reach 72°F (22.2°C). Despite the fact that October and November are months in which rains buckets, it’s possible to have pleasant sunny days from time to time.
However, rainfalls are less intense and less frequent than in April and May.
In November, the temperature remains the same as in October, and the frequency of rainfall decreases. So, sunny mornings in Medellin become frequent and allow people to go for a walk.
Usually, the mornings will be sunny, but in the distance, you’ll see a large gray cloud approaching. As a result, afternoons can sometimes have rain showers.
November is when people start prepping for the holidays in Colombia. So, you may get to catch twinkling lights around the city!
In December, the rainfall decreases significantly, and the average temperature stays at a comfortable level.
Take some time to go out and enjoy the activities, lights, decorations, and holiday traditions that Medellin has to offer during one of the warmest (and dryest) months of the year!
The Aburrá Valley metropolitan area performs real-time hydrometeorological monitoring. As weather conditions are unpredictable, an update is made every 6 hours, and you can access them through SIATA, the early warning system.
To find out about features such as temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, and so on, you simply need to access the forecast tab (the one with a sun and a cloud on it), then click on the weather tab, then WRF and maps.
Choose any of the options, and it will show you a colorful map of Medellin. You can also download the app on your smartphone to get the latest weather forecast directly from Medellin’s early warning system measurements.
Pro tip: SIATA is one of the only reliable sources of weather information in Medellin. Your iPhone apps will otherwise probably lie to you, so just stick to the local source!
If you’re wondering which months to visit Medellin, December, January, and February are the months with the most sunny days. On the other hand, June, July, and August are statistically the hottest months of the year.
Medellin’s “rainy season” starts in April and May with a break in the summer months – June, July, and August before getting into full swing in October and November, although there’s a misconception that the rainy season means it’s raining all day. Medellin isn’t London.
Rain tends to arrive in a rush, in tropical fashion, with some biblical downpours in the afternoon or at night freshening the city up for the following morning. Mornings in Medellin can be magical.
During the rainy season, you can expect it to rain more regularly, rather than all day, with rain on 3 out of every 4 days compared to 1 in 3 during the drier months of January and February.
With all this info on the weather forecast, you’re probably wondering what to pack! Well, it’s easier than you’d think.
You’re in the tropics so there will be days in Medellin when you’ll want to just hang out in flip-flops, shorts, and a t-shirt but the higher up the mountain you go in Colombia, the more clothing you need to pack.
You do need to pack like a good cub scout, though, and it pays to be prepared for an impromptu evening in Rionegro, which at 7,000 ft above sea level can get chilly after dark. Likewise, if your flight leaves early from the airport in Rionegro, you’ll be grateful for packing a jacket or sweater.
Forget turning up to a meeting or a date suited and booted, most of the locals dress like it’s dress-down Friday every day with a shirt, t-shirt, and trousers or jeans for guys and girls.
If you’re planning on hitting the bars or clubs, leave the flip-flops and shorts at home unless you want to watch your friends head inside while you head home to get changed.
Definitely pack a lightweight, waterproof jacket and umbrella if you’re planning on traveling to Medellin during the rainy months of April, May, October, and November – although you can normally find somewhere suitable to avoid any downpours.
If you take a look at your weather app on your phone, it probably looks something like the above. And, no matter how many times you refresh it, it still seems to say that your entire trip to Medellín will be rainy!
The good news is that this is fake news. Even though the weather app says Medellín is rainy all the time, it isn’t.
A typical day in the city might have a few quick rain showers that last for 30 minutes or less. Other than that, you’ll be enjoying sunny skies. And, just like any other city, there are days when it doesn’t rain at all!
The best thing to do in Medellín is to dress in layers. Wear a light raincoat that will keep you dry but that you can take off once the sun comes back out.
As I said, the weather in Medellin can change at the drop of a hat.
That’s why the most important tip to keep in mind when packing for this city is to always be prepared.
With those tips in mind, you’re ready to pack your bags and board a plane. Just don’t forget the raincoat!
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