Andes · Pichincha · EcuadorSummit weather, forecast and climate

Cotopaxi volcano

Stratovolcano · last major eruption 18775,897 mUltra-prominent peakSnow likely Jan–Dec

Elevation5,897 mabove sea level

Prominence2,404 mindependent height

Isolation97 kmto a higher summit

Summit, Jul2°average high

0.69° S, 78.43° WElevation 5,897 mUTC−5 · Ecuador Time

From the valley to the top

Summit5,897 m
Mid-mountain4,400 m
Valley · Machachi2,905 m

Freezing level in October: 5,850 m

iThe mountain

Cotopaxi volcano in brief

Cotopaxi volcano rises to 5,897 m in the Andes, Pichincha, Ecuador. Its topographic prominence — the height it stands above the lowest contour enclosing a higher summit — is 2,404 m, which makes it an ultra-prominent peak.

At the summit, November is the mildest month with average highs of 4°, while nights stay below freezing all year.

The nearest town in the atlas is Machachi, 25 km to the NW at 2,905 m.

Facts

Elevation: 5,897 m · 19,347 ft
Prominence: 2,404 m
Range: Andes
Region: Pichincha
Country: Ecuador
Coordinates: -0.6892, -78.4289
Nearest airport: Cotopaxi International Airport (LTX) · 32 km

iiForecast

Weather at three heights

Temperatures are adjusted to each height; summits are usually colder and windier than the valley forecast suggests.

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iiiSummit climate

The top of Cotopaxi volcano by month

Summit temperatures and precipitation

Climate normals for the summit area (~1 km grid), station-adjusted

Climate normals for Cotopaxi volcano by month
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average high	4°	4°	4°	4°	4°	3°	2°	3°	3°	4°	4°	4°
Average low	-4°	-3°	-3°	-3°	-4°	-5°	-6°	-5°	-5°	-4°	-4°	-4°
Precipitation	218 mm	259 mm	324 mm	333 mm	251 mm	170 mm	115 mm	99 mm	164 mm	250 mm	260 mm	248 mm
Cloud cover	62%	69%	78%	76%	68%	63%	57%	55%	62%	67%	68%	61%
Daylight	12h 09	12h 08	12h 07	12h 06	12h 05	12h 05	12h 05	12h 05	12h 06	12h 08	12h 09	12h 10
Month score	12	9	5	6	9	11	15	20	12	10	9	12

Snow and freezing level

Average height of the 0 °C level from the summit normals (6.5 °C per km); snow months have a summit mean at or below +1 °C

Snow likely Jan–Dec

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Freezing level	5,900 m	5,900 m	5,900 m	5,950 m	5,900 m	5,750 m	5,600 m	5,650 m	5,800 m	5,850 m	5,900 m	5,900 m
Summit	❄ snow	❄ snow	❄ snow	❄ snow	❄ snow	❄ snow	❄ snow	❄ snow	❄ snow	❄ snow	❄ snow	❄ snow