When to go Paraguay ?

Climate Paraguay

In the heart of South America, very far from the oceans, Paraguay has a fairly uniform continental climate throughout its territory, with only a few differences in temperature and rainfall between the south and north of the country. The Tropic of Capricorn crosses Paraguay roughly in the middle of the country, at the city of Belén (Department of Concepción), dividing the country between a tropical climate in the north and a subtropical climate in the south. However, there are three types of climates in Paraguay: a humid subtropical climate in the south of the eastern region, a tropical savannah climate in the north of the eastern region and in the south and northeast of the western region, and finally a warm semi-arid climate in the western Chaco. The most pleasant season to visit the country is between May and September, with milder temperatures and less rain.

Seasons

Paraguay is in the southern hemisphere. The seasons are therefore reversed in relation to the northern hemisphere. All four seasons are found in Paraguay, but spring and autumn are short, transitional seasons, between a long summer, which lasts from mid-October to mid-April, and a short winter, which lasts from June to mid-August.

Temperatures

Temperature differences between winter and summer average only 8 to 10°C. The Paraguayan summer is a furnace, especially in January, with temperatures around 35-40 °C during the day and rarely dropping below 22 °C at night. In addition to the heat, there is also high humidity which accentuates the thermal sensations. The winter is mild, with pleasant temperatures, usually between 15 and 25 °C during the day, but can sometimes exceed 35 °C! The nights are cool and the mercury can drop below 5°C in Asunción. There are 2 or 3 frosts(heladas) a year in some areas, especially in the south, between May and September, when the pampero, an icy wind blows from Antarctica across the Argentinean pampas. So it can be cold for a few days, but it never snows, or else it is melted snow. In winter, but especially in spring and autumn, the country is exposed to sudden changes in temperature, and it is not uncommon to lose 15°C in a few hours.

Precipitation

Humidity is important, whatever the season in Paraguay. Rainfall is frequent throughout the year, which can make it difficult to reach some sites, which are accessible by dirt roads. The wettest periods are spring and autumn, especially during the months of October, November, April and May. The months of June, July and August, corresponding to the Paraguayan winter, are drier in much of the country, with the exception of the south, which remains relatively wet. In the eastern region and in the Lower Chaco, between 1,300 and 2,000 mm of rain falls annually. The wettest region is in the vicinity of the Paraná River in the south-east of the country, in the departments of Itapúa and Alto Paraná. The western part of the Chaco is much drier, with less than 400 mm of rain recorded in some years. Thunderstorms and tropical showers are impressive in Paraguay, especially between September and April, where they cause severe flooding every year. Between May and August, the rains are lighter, of the drizzle type, but floods can also be significant at this time, when river levels rise. In May 2019, more than 70,000 families had to be evacuated from Asunción due to a major flood in the Paraguayan river.

Winds and tornadoes

A light breeze blows throughout the year. The main winds come from the four cardinal points. Those from the north, from Brazil, are warm and moist. Those from the south, coming from Argentina, are cold and last for several days. The west winds bring heavy rain, while the east winds from the eastern cordilleras are milder. Paraguay is sheltered from cyclones, but severe tornadoes can occur (although rare). On 20 September 1926, a large part of the town of Encarnación was devastated by a tornado of F4-5 intensity, which originated in the Río Paraná. It caused extensive damage and more than 300 people died.

Earthquakes

Seismic activity is low in Paraguay, not exceeding 3 to 5 degrees on the Richter scale. The most serious earthquake occurred in 1989 in the Chaco (magnitude 5.6). It did not cause any major damage.