Under Köppen’s climate classification, Cali features a dry-summer tropical savanna climate . The Western Mountain Range rises from an average of 2,000 m (6,562 ft) above sea level in the northern part of the city to approximately 4,000 m (13,123 ft) to the south. Because of this variation in altitude, the weather in the northwest portion of the city is drier than in the southwest. The average annual precipitation varies between 900 to 1,800 mm (35 to 71 in) depending on the metropolitan zone for a citywide average of approximately 1,000 mm (39 in). Cali’s average temperature is 25 °C (77 °F) with an average low temperature of 18.5 °C (65 °F) and a high of 31 °C (88 °F).
Owing to its proximity to the equator, there are no major seasonal variations in Cali like winter, spring, summer and fall. However, locals refer to the dry season as the city’s “summer”, in which temperatures can rise to 34 to 36 °C (93 to 97 °F) and go down to 18 to 19 °C (64 to 66 °F) at night. During the rainy season (or “winter”) temperatures can rise to 28 to 29 °C (82 to 84 °F) and go down to 16 to 17 °C (61 to 63 °F) at night. There are typically two rainy seasons: from March to May and from October to November. However, rain can be expected to fall at any point during the year, nourishing the city’s permanent green and lush vegetation. The highest temperature ever recorded was 36.6 °C (98 °F) in July 1997, and the lowest temperature ever recorded was 13.4 °C (56 °F) in August 1978.