Sucre, Bolivia: A Winter Wonderland?

Bolivia has three distinct climates, and while it does snow in the country, it is confined to a specific region. Sucre, located in the hilly temperate centre of the country, rarely sees snow. In the last 50 years, there has been only one report of snowfall in the city. Instead, Sucre experiences hailstorms during the summer months, which can cause flooding.

Sucre's climate

Sucre, Bolivia, has a temperate climate. It experiences a rainy season from December to March, with January being the wettest month, seeing 206 mm of precipitation on average. The city then has dry periods in June and July, with June being the driest month, seeing only 17 mm of precipitation on average. Throughout the year, Sucre receives an average of 1086 mm of precipitation.

Although it rarely snows in Sucre, there has been at least one reported instance of snow in the last 50 years. In August 2018, the city experienced a very light snowfall.

Sucre's winter temperatures range from daily highs of around 70°F to daily lows of around 40°F. The coldest day of the year is typically July 19, with average temperatures ranging from 38°F to 69°F. The winter in Sucre sees a gradual decrease in cloud cover, with the chance of overcast or mostly cloudy conditions dropping from 38% to 33%. The clearest day of winter usually falls on July 21, with clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy conditions 72% of the time.

Snow in the hilly temperate centre of Bolivia

Bolivia has three distinct climates, and only in one of these does it snow. The hilly temperate centre of Bolivia rarely sees snow. In the 21st century, there have been a handful of reports of snow in cities such as Sucre, but these are infrequent occurrences. For example, there was one report of snow in Sucre in the last 50 years, which took place in August 2018.

The hilly temperate centre of Bolivia, where Sucre is located, has a different climate from the Altiplanic cold west of the country. The Altiplanic region is at a high elevation of over 13,000 feet, and it snows there quite often, especially in the winter and at the end of autumn. In contrast, the hilly temperate centre of Bolivia has a milder climate, with snow rarely falling even once a decade.

While snow is uncommon in the hilly temperate centre of Bolivia, hail storms are more frequent. These typically occur in the spring and summer months, between December and March. Hail storms in this region can be intense and sometimes trigger flooding, turning the streets into rivers. They can also pose risks to people's safety, as demonstrated by a hailstorm in Sucre that resulted in four fatalities.

The absence of frequent snow in the hilly temperate centre of Bolivia is due to its climatic characteristics. Sucre, for instance, has a wet season from January to March and dry periods in June and July. The city experiences gradually decreasing cloud cover during the winter, with the lowest chance of overcast or mostly cloudy conditions occurring in July. The temperatures in Sucre also vary, with daily highs around 70°F and daily lows around 40°F.

Hail in Sucre

Sucre, Bolivia, is located in the hilly temperate centre of the country, where snow is very rare. Hail, however, is a common occurrence in the region, with hailstorms taking place between December and March. These hailstorms can be intense, triggering floods and turning the city's principal streets into rivers. They can also be life-threatening to residents, as demonstrated by a hailstorm in Sucre that killed four people.

Hail forms inside thunderstorm updrafts when raindrops are carried upwards into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere and freeze. Hailstones then grow by colliding with liquid water drops that freeze onto their surfaces. The hail falls when the updraft can no longer support the weight of the hailstone, either because the stone has become too large or the updraft has weakened.

Hailstorms can be extremely dangerous, causing damage to aircraft, homes, and cars, and posing a deadly threat to people and livestock. The speed at which hail falls depends on various factors, including the size of the hailstone, friction with the surrounding air, local wind conditions, and the degree of melting. Hailstones can fall at an angle or even sideways if the winds near the surface are strong enough.

To protect yourself during a hailstorm in Sucre, it is recommended to seek an elevated location. While hail can be a concern, snow is extremely rare in the city, with only one snow event reported in the last 50 years.

Snow in other Bolivian cities

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America with three distinct climates. Although temperatures can drop below freezing, snow is uncommon except at the highest elevations. The Altiplanic west region of the country, including cities such as La Paz, Oruro, and Potosí, experiences the most snowfall, with between 3 and 20 snow days per year, all occurring in winter. This region is at a high elevation of more than 13,000 feet, and snow can also be found in the Los Andes Mountains, which reach 20,000 feet.

In the hilly temperate center region of Bolivia, snow is very rare, with only a few reports of snow in cities like Cochabamba, Sucre, and Tarija in the last century. Hail is much more common in this region and can sometimes trigger flooding.

In the Amazonian tropical east region of Bolivia, snow does not occur. Cities such as Santa Cruz, Trinidad, and Cobija have never reported snowfall. This region is hot and humid, and while hail can occur, it is not as common as in other regions.

While snow is rare in most of Bolivia, the country is home to ski resorts, including the world's highest ski area, Chacaltaya, which sits at an elevation of 17,100 feet. However, due to melting glaciers, skiing in Chacaltaya is now restricted to a small area.

The Altiplanic cold West

The cities of La Paz, Oruro, Potosí, and El Alto are situated in this region and regularly receive snowfall during the winter. La Paz, however, experiences less snowfall compared to the other cities due to its lower altitude. The Los Andes Mountains, which are also located in this region, experience snowfall year-round, even during the summer and spring months.

The Altiplanic region's average annual temperatures range from 37°F near the western mountain range to 54°F near Lake Titicaca. The diurnal temperature variation is significant, with maximum temperatures reaching 54°F to 75°F and minimum temperatures dropping as low as -4°F to 50°F. The coldest temperatures are typically recorded during the winter months of June and July in the southwestern portion of the Altiplano.

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