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Where is the country of El Salvador located? The country of El Salvador is located in the central part of Central America, on the Pacific Ocean. El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America and largely consists of hilly to mountainous area, with volcanic craters and impressive lakes largely determining the landscape. Due to its location southwest of the mountainous area, hurricanes from the Caribbean have virtually no chance of reaching El Salvador, but the country can be confronted with tropical storms that arise over the Pacific Ocean. This can occur in the period from June to December. The climate of El Salvador consists for the most part of two tropical climates according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification: the tropical monsoon climate (type Am) and the tropical savanna climate (type Aw).

Tropical temperatures

Tropical temperatures prevail in large parts of El Salvador almost all year round, with average maximum temperatures ranging from about 27-28 degrees Celsius in the autumn to 32-33 degrees Celsius in the spring. As soon as the rainy season starts in May, the temperatures are somewhat tempered. Because the relative humidity increases during that period, the perceived temperature is generally not lower. Due to the stuffy weather, most travelers experience this period as warmer, while the thermometers prove that this is not the case.

Snow

The higher elevations of El Salvador have a climate that is considerably cooler. For example, the highest place in El Salvador, on the mountain Cerro El Pital, has a cool maritime climate. This highest point in the country (2730 meters above sea level) is also the coolest place in El Salvador and the only place in the country where snowfall occurs during the winter months. The maximum temperature here in the winter months (November to April) is around 8-12 degrees Celsius and in the summer it is about 15 to 20 degrees during the day. During the period November to May night frost can occur, especially in the months of February and March. The lowest temperatures measured are around minus five to minus seven degrees.

Rainy season

El Salvador has a clear distinction between a dry season and a rainy season (monsoon period). The amount of precipitation increases considerably from May, with regular heavy rains until October. In general, rainfall is not uniform. Local peaks of sometimes more than a hundred millimeters can be registered within a few hours, which can lead to landslides and mudslides. Floods and landslides on October 4, 2005, for example, caused more than 50 deaths. In the dry season, another problem can arise: extreme drought. The absence of any significant precipitation for weeks or even months can cause extreme drought, destroying large parts of the agricultural crop,

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Best time to visit El Salvador

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to El Salvador? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America and is located on the Atlantic coast. The relatively small area, El Salvador is about half the size of the Netherlands, does not prevent differences within the country in terms of weather and climate. Based on the climate classification, it seems that El Salvador has the same climate almost everywhere: the tropical savanna climate (type Aw). On the higher mountain peaks there is a temperate China climate (Cwb). Temperatures are somewhat lower at the higher destinations.

Best months

The best time to travel for a holiday in El Salvador is from December to April. This is the period in which there is little precipitation, the sun shows itself a lot and the temperatures during the day are around the tropical values ​​of about thirty degrees.

Two seasons

You can speak of two seasons in El Salvador. The rainy season lasts from May to October. On the low plains it will fall slightly more with the rain, but especially inland there can be considerable amounts of rain. This can lead to flooding and therefore impassable roads. The wet season normally ends in November. Some years you have to wait until December before the rainfall decreases significantly. The relative humidity increases considerably in the rainy season, reaching 85-90 percent around September. The combination with the high temperatures makes it downright stuffy in large parts of El Salvador. The dry season brings more hours of sunshine and lower relative humidity. However, the temperatures are rising slightly. Nevertheless, this is by far the most pleasant time to visit El Salvador. The period from January to March is the driest. In April you see the number of rainy days increasing somewhat as a harbinger of the rainy season that starts a month later.

The hurricane

You can experience hurricanes in El Salvador. The greatest chance that a hurricane will move towards El Salvador is from the Pacific or Pacific Ocean. This sometimes happens in the period from June to December, which is considered hurricane season. There is also a small chance that Atlantic hurricanes will travel to El Salvador via the Caribbean Sea and then over neighboring Honduras. When that happens, such a hurricane over land often loses considerable strength before reaching El Salvador.