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SunnyDays

ERA5 almanac — 8 years of real data

Cartagena in November

Cartagena in November: 70% of days see measurable rain, 86°F average high, 4% of days historically clear (n=240, ERA5 2018–2025).

Cartagena in November is historically a poor month for sun: only 4% of days clear across 8 years (n=240, avg high 86°F). February is the clearest month for Cartagena historically. Historical average, not a forecast.

What you are reading: 8-year historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis, not a forecast. A month that is historically 90% clear can still be overcast on your specific trip. For this week’s actual forecast, see the live Cartagena page. Both can be true at once: “historically strong in this month; this particular week is not.” We label which is which.

Early vs. Late November

Clear-sky percentage for Cartagena in November, split by half-month. “n” is the number of days sampled across 8 years (2018–2025).
Period % Clear days Sample (n) Avg high
Early November
1st–15th
3% n=120 86°F
Late November
16th–end
5% n=120 86°F
Full month average 4% n=240 86°F

Sunshine & warmth in November

A second measure using actual sunshine hours (ERA5 sunshine_duration), not the daily weather code. A Lowcountry day with 12 hours of sun and a 25-minute afternoon storm is counted below as a warm, sunny day — because it was. How we define this.

Sunshine-based metrics for Cartagena in November. Primary: % of days ≥ 72°F with > 6 h of sunshine.
Period Warm & sunny (≥72°F, >6 h sun) Sample (n)
Early November
1st–15th
85% n=120
Late November
16th–end
93% n=120
Full month average 89% n=240
10.6 h median sunshine per day 79% of days exceed 8 h sunshine 70% of days see ≥ 1 mm rain — rain is not hidden
Comparison (old vs new): WMO-code “clear” bar: 4%. Sunshine-based “warm & sunny”: 89%. The 85-point gap is from brief afternoon convective storms that stamp the whole day as “rain” in the WMO code but leave the bulk of the sunshine untouched.

Bottom line

Cartagena is historically almost never clear in November: only 4% of days meet the clear bar across 8 years (n=240). Come back in February if you want clear skies here. Plan entirely around indoor or overcast-friendly activities.

→ See all destinations in February — historically the best month for sun in Cartagena.

Every month in Cartagena

Compare across all months with data. Numbers are historical clear-sky %.

Historical clear-sky % for Cartagena, all months, ERA5 2018–2025.
Month % Clear Sample (n)
January 51% n=248 All destinations →
February 56% n=226 All destinations →
March 35% n=248 All destinations →
April 10% n=240 All destinations →
May 5% n=248 All destinations →
June 4% n=240 All destinations →
July 4% n=248 All destinations →
August 3% n=248 All destinations →
September 1% n=240 All destinations →
October 1% n=248 All destinations →
November ← this page 4% n=240 All destinations →
December 26% n=248 All destinations →

Frequently asked

Does it rain in Cartagena in November?

Yes, frequently. In Cartagena, 70% of days in November see measurable rain, based on 8 years of ERA5 historical data (n=240 days, 2018–2025). This is a historical average, not a forecast.

Is Cartagena good for sun in November?

Not usually. Cartagena is historically overcast in November: only 4% of days are clear (avg high 86°F, n=240 days, ERA5 2018–2025). February is historically far better for sun here.

All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.