Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Even though temperatures began to drop and the sky got grayer several months ago, winter had not begun. The cold season officially begins today at 7 p.m.

With misty days, dense fog and decreasing temperatures, people in Lima have already gotten a taste of this year's winter.

The situation has been much worse in Peru's highlands, where residents have experienced hailstorms and temperatures as low as -15°C (5°F). 

Over one dozen people and 5,000 alpacas have died because of low temperatures and freezing weather before this year's winter even began.

SENAHMI, Peru's national weather service affirmed that this year's fall season had had temperatures that were lower than what was normal for that time of year.

Forecasts for this winter season in Lima include temperatures below 13.5°C (56.3°F) and less than twelve hours of sunlight a day.

According to weather reports, humidity is to increase between July and September as more drizzle and fog are seen more frequently throughout the capital.

Furthermore, it was reported that the capital would experience much more drizzle in August and September.