The weather

In Guanajuato there are three types of climate: semi-dry, temperate and semi-warm.

Semi-arid Climate
This is also called steppe climate and is so-called because evaporation exceeds precipitation. It is associated with plant communities of the desert scrub and “crasicaule” type (prickly pear, thistle, etc.). It is found in the north and east of the state, characterising about 40% of the total area. The municipalities of San Felipe, San Diego de la Unión, San Luis de la Paz, part of Dolores Hidalgo and San José de Iturbide, have this type of climate.

Temperate climate
In general this climate is intermediate in terms of temperature (mesothermal). The plant types which commonly grow in it are oak forests, oak-pine forests, pine forests, chaparral and grazing land. It appears in six variants, covering 20% of the total area and unevenly distributed. The least humid climate is found chiefly in the southeast, in the municipalities of Apaseo, Jerécuaro and Yuriria.

Frosts and hailstorms
In terms of the three areas of the state defined by the climate type, frosts and hailstorms occur in the following distribution:

Frosts:: In semi-arid climates the frequency of frosts is 10 to 50 days a year. In the extreme northeast the rate is about 10 days during the months of November and December, while for the rest of the zone it is from 20 to 40 days a year during the period from November to February, with the highest incidence in January. The frequency of frosts in temperate climates is from 10 to 40 days during the months of November, December, January and February, with the highest incidence in January. In the south this frequency varies from 10 to 30 days; for semi-arid climates frosts go down to 10 days and in some areas of the centre and southeast its incidence is negligible.

Hailstorms: With respect to hailstorms, the phenomenon does not show any clear defined pattern, though it is commonly associated with periods of precipitation. There are particular instances, in which hailstorms take place in November, December, January and February.