Climate
of Honduras
Most
of central
Honduras
, at altitudes of 2000 to 6000 feet (
Tegucigalpa
is at 3000 feet), is called tierra
templada, or temperate land, with pleasantly warm days, and cool
nights. Average highs range
from 75-85 degrees, and the lows from 60-68 degrees.
All but one of the Honduran United Methodist churches are
located in this type of mountainous region, and thus have more temperate
climates. The exception is La
Ceibita, where because of its location in the coastal lowlands,
teams should expect more humid and hot conditions.
Temperatures
change slightly from season to season, depending on the time of year.
December, January, February are the
coolest months, and March and
April
are the hottest and most dry.
The
rainy season begins in late-May or early-June, and brings a refreshing
break to the heat that precedes it.
The typical pattern of the rainy season is to have clear, sunny
weather in the mornings, and clouds and rain in the afternoon/evenings.
Occasionally, the rain may continue for several days at a time.
The rainy season lasts through July, then
occurs again September through October, although there are dry periods
during that time.
How
UMVIM teams can be prepared for the Honduran climate:
November
through February
Even
during these cool months, the heaviest clothes needed is
one sweater or sweatshirt. Some
throw in a long-underwear shirt for protection against any unusual cold
because it is not too bulky. Another reason to bring a long-sleeve shirt
is for sun or mosquito protection.
Mid-May
through July, and September through October
A
very light nylon jacket is appropriate for the rainy season.
The rain does not usually bring cold temperatures.
Bring footwear for work that can get muddy and another pair of
shoes for relaxing. Prepare
to be wet occasionally. Road
conditions, particularly off the main highways, often deteriorate
markedly during the rainy season.
Although
Honduras is out of the usual Caribbean hurricane path, major storms
appear every decade or so and severe flooding can occur.
September through November is hurricane season.
Sun
Protect
yourself from the intense,
tropical sun. Yes, the
sun is DIFFERENT in
Honduras
.
It burns skin more quickly closer to the equator, especially
winter-white skin from the north! Some
work sites are in the sun, so bring a wide, all-around-brim hat (a
baseball cap leaves your ears and neck exposed); good, powerful sun
block that you reapply often; and a light-weight shirt for sun
protection. Don’t count
on buying a hat in
Honduras
.
They are not available everywhere and there is not always time
and personnel to make the necessary shopping trip.
Be
prepared for a period of a couple of days to adjust to heat and to
altitude change. Drink
water often, take breaks, and give your body time to adjust.
Wear 100% natural fibers (like cotton), and avoid synthetic
fabrics like lyrca, polyester, and spandex.
Contact
the UMVIM coordinators for more info.
Updated
Nov 2004
