Climate and Geography
Port of Spain measures about 10.4 km2 (ca. 4 sq. mi) in area and is located in the northwest section of the island of Trinidad, between the Gulf of Paria, Northern Range and the Caroni Swamp.
The Northern Range is the range of tall hills across the northern portion of Trinidad and is considered an extension of the Andes mountains of South America, although that is geologically incorrect. The Northern Range runs from the Chaguaramas Peninsula in the west to Toco in the east and consists mainly of steeply dipping metasedimentary rocks and lush rainforest containing a wide variety of plants and animal species. Port of Spain lies at the western end and the city climbs into the hills and valleys which are settled and largely deforested. The two tallest peaks are El Cerro del Aripo and El Tucuche which top 900 m.
The 3278 hectare protected Caroni Swamp has long formed a physical barrier to the city's expansion to the south, forcing urban growth relentlessly eastward at the expense of a traffic relieving ring road. This west coast mangrove area is the island's second largest wetland after the east coast Nariva Swamp which is almost twice as large. It has well over 160 species of birds, including the national bird, the Scarlet Ibis. It is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions with visitor facilities and regular guided boat tours.
Some of the city lies on land reclaimed from the Gulf of Paria, the calm sheltered bay separating Trinidad from Venezuela, while other parts climb into the hills above the city. Geographically, the Port of Port of Spain is ideal for maritime traffic, providing a natural harbour on Trinidad’s north-western coasts where adverse weather conditions are extremely rare.
The city has a Tropical Wet and dry climate characterised by high Year round temperature and the last six months of the year being the wettest. Port of Spain is luckily located outside the Hurricane belt. The highest temperature ever recorded was 100.1°F ( 38°C )
| Climate data for Port of Spain,Trinidad and Tobago | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 69 (21) |
72 (22) |
74 (23) |
80 (27) |
85.1 (29.5) |
90 (32) |
92 (33) |
85 (29) |
82 (28) |
79 (26) |
75 (24) |
69 (21) |
92 (33) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 40 (4) |
47.5 (8.6) |
56 (13) |
60 (16) |
69 (21) |
70 (21) |
74 (23) |
75 (24) |
75 (24) |
73 (23) |
69 (21) |
64.3 (17.9) |
40 (4) |
| Rainfall inches (mm) | 2.976 (75.6) |
1.701 (43.2) |
1.22 (31.0) |
2.283 (58.0) |
3.969 (100.8) |
9.201 (233.7) |
12.13 (308.1) |
11.161 (283.5) |
9.374 (238.1) |
6.858 (174.2) |
7.866 (199.8) |
4.72 (119.9) |
73.461 (1,865.9) |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 12 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 253 |
| Source #1: The Weather Channel (records) | |||||||||||||
| Source #2: World Weather Online | |||||||||||||
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