Trinidad & Tobago: Firmly Tropical, Not Temperate

Direct Answer

No. Trinidad and Tobago lies between **10°–11° N latitude** — squarely in the **tropical zone** (between Tropic of Cancer 23.5°N and Equator).

Climate Classification

• Köppen: **Aw** (Tropical Wet & Dry / Savanna) — Trinidad; **Am** (Tropical Monsoon) — parts of Tobago.
• Temperatures: 23–31°C (73–88°F) year-round; minimal seasonal variation.
• Seasons: Dry (Jan–May) / Wet (Jun–Dec) — not summer/winter.
• Rainfall: 1,500–3,800 mm/yr.

Why Not Temperate?

Temperate zones begin at **~23.5°** (subtropical transition) and extend to **~66.5°** (Arctic Circle). T&T is **1,400 km (870 mi) south** of the Tropic of Cancer — too close to the equator for temperate seasons, frost, or deciduous forests.

Regional Context

Southernmost Caribbean nation; 11 km from Venezuela. Shares biogeography with **Orinoco Delta / Guiana Shield** — tropical rainforest, mangroves, coral reefs.