Why do north- and east-facing slopes in Guatemala receive rain throughout the year?

North- and east-facing slopes in Guatemala receive rainfall throughout the year because they are exposed to moisture-laden trade winds blowing from the Caribbean.1

As these winds encounter the country's mountain ranges, the air is forced upward, cools, and releases its moisture as orographic precipitation. This process ensures that these specific slopes receive consistent rain, even during the general dry season that prevails across the rest of the country between November and April.12