Climate Insights for Popayán

The climate in Popayán is cool. The average annual temperature is 5°C and approximately 251mm of precipitation falls per year. June is the wettest month, receiving around 33mm of rainfall. Popayán sits near the equator, so seasonal temperature differences are minimal throughout the year. Light snow can occur between March and April.

Popayán has relatively stable temperatures year-round, staying within a 8°C range. November is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 8°C with a mean of 7°C. April is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 0°C and an average of 1°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 2°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between May and June, with a 4°C shift in average temperatures.

Popayán is a quite dry location, receiving approximately 251mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 21mm per month. The wettest month is January, averaging 33mm of rainfall. February and April also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is October, with just 1mm. That's 32mm less than January, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic. Light snowfall can occur between March and April, totalling around 17cm annually. April is the snowiest month with approximately 8cm.

Popayán is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 10km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is July, averaging 13km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in October, with average winds dropping to 7km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 6km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently summer in Popayán, which began on June 21, 2026. Popayán sits near the equator, so the traditional four-season cycle is less pronounced — temperatures remain relatively stable year-round. The warmest period peaks in November at around 8°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in April near 0°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 16 days from now.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Popayán based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.