<p>In January the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intertropical_Convergence_Zone" rel="nofollow">Intertropical Convergence Zone</a> shifts to south of the equator. And the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtropical_ridge" rel="nofollow">Subtropical High Pressure Belt</a> moves into areas of Venezuela, which leaves it dry. I am guessing this from a study of principles of world geography and climatology; I don't live in Venezuela though.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-01T12:57:26.563Z
I think Saurabh is right. This has nothing to do with any rain shadow effect. It has everything to to with the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) which is directly over Venezuela in July, but migrates south to the north & central Amazon basin during January. The ITCZ brings strong convective rainfall whereas, when it moves south, it leaves behind bright sunny skies. Also, the low level airflow comes from the mid-Atlantic at the time of year when sea surface temperatures are lowest, and hence evaporation is at an annual minimum.
Gordon Stanger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-29T11:45:29.957Z
2015-09-29T13:20:19.243Z
2015-09-29T13:20:19.243Z
saurabh
<p>I'm trying to understand why the summer (January) precipitations in Venezuela are so low in the central and southern parts of the country as well as in eastern Colombia. The most plausible explanation I could find was a rain-shadow effect but unless I'm wrong, the mountains are on the northern side while the winds are blowing from the ocean, east to west. This should not result in a dry season. </p>

<p>What have I missed?</p>

<p>My references are : </p>

<p><a href="http://research.jisao.washington.edu/data_sets/ud/samerica/" rel="noreferrer">http://research.jisao.washington.edu/data_sets/ud/samerica/</a></p>

<p><a href="http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-166714/The-map-at-left-shows-the-wind-belts-of-the" rel="noreferrer">http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-166714/The-map-at-left-shows-the-wind-belts-of-the</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-16T22:21:39.317Z
Venezuela is entirely in the Northen hemisphere (as is most of Colombia) so January would normally be considered the "winter" (though such a definition is not particularly helpful in the tropics.)
Level River St
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-30T12:48:45.980Z
The dryness in that map doesn't correlate with the drought severity in this map: http://www.indexmundi.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/drought-severity-world.png
naught101
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-19T00:40:26.903Z
Why do you think Venezuela is dry ? I have been to Trinidad which is very close and it is dense jungle unless cleared by people. It seems much of Venezuela would be similar.
blacksmith37
<atmosphere><climate><rainfall><coastal-desert>
Why is Venezuela so dry?
Vincent
# Why is Venezuela so dry?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-16)

I'm trying to understand why the summer (January) precipitations in Venezuela are so low in the central and southern parts of the country as well as in eastern Colombia. The most plausible explanation I could find was a rain-shadow effect but unless I'm wrong, the mountains are on the northern side while the winds are blowing from the ocean, east to west. This should not result in a dry season.

What have I missed?

My references are :

<http://research.jisao.washington.edu/data_sets/ud/samerica/>

<http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-166714/The-map-at-left-shows-the-wind-belts-of-the>

**Tags:** atmosphere, climate, rainfall, coastal-desert

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: The dryness in that map doesn't correlate with the drought severity in this map: http://www.indexmundi.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/drought-severity-world.png  
> **username_1**: Venezuela is entirely in the Northen hemisphere (as is most of Colombia) so January would normally be considered the "winter" (though such a definition is not particularly helpful in the tropics.)  
> **username_3**: Why do you think Venezuela is dry ? I have been to Trinidad which is very close and it is dense jungle unless cleared by people. It seems much of Venezuela would be similar.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-09-29. Score: 1

In January the [Intertropical Convergence Zone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intertropical_Convergence_Zone) shifts to south of the equator. And the [Subtropical High Pressure Belt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtropical_ridge) moves into areas of Venezuela, which leaves it dry. I am guessing this from a study of principles of world geography and climatology; I don't live in Venezuela though.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: I think username_4 is right. This has nothing to do with any rain shadow effect. It has everything to to with the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) which is directly over Venezuela in July, but migrates south to the north & central Amazon basin during January. The ITCZ brings strong convective rainfall whereas, when it moves south, it leaves behind bright sunny skies. Also, the low username_1 airflow comes from the mid-Atlantic at the time of year when sea surface temperatures are lowest, and hence evaporation is at an annual minimum.  

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