Climate of Chile

The climate of Chile comprises a wide range of weather conditions across a large geographic scale, extending across 38 degrees in latitude, making generalizations difficult. According to the Köppen system, Chile within its borders hosts at least seven major climatic subtypes, ranging from low desert in the north, to alpine tundra and glaciers in the east and southeast, tropical rainforest in Easter Island, Oceanic in the south and Mediterranean climate in central Chile. There are four seasons in most of the country: summer (December to February), autumn (March to May), winter (June to August), and spring (September to November).

Prevailing winds, sea currents and stationary cyclones near Chile
Chile map of Köppen climate classification.
annual average temperatures of Chile
monthly mean temperatures of Chile

On a synoptic scale, the most important factors that control the climate in Chile are the Pacific Anticyclone, the southern circumpolar low pressure area, the cold Humboldt current, the Chilean Coast Range and the Andes Mountains. Despite Chile's narrowness, some interior regions may experience wide temperature oscillations and cities such as San Pedro de Atacama, may even experience a continental climate. In the extreme northeast and southeast the border of Chile extends beyond the Andes into the Altiplano and the Patagonian plains, giving these regions climate patterns similar to those seen in Bolivia and Argentina respectively.

Regions

It [Chile] has four months of winter, no more, and in them, except when there is a quarter moon, when it rains one or two days, all the other days have such a beautiful sunshine...

— Pedro de Valdivia to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
ClimateEcoregionNatural region
Desert (BWh, BWk) Atacama desert Norte Grande
Semi-arid (BWk, BSk)
Chilean matorral Central Chile
Mediterranean (Csa, Csb)
Humid subtropical (Cfa) Fernandezian Region -
Temperate oceanic (Cfb)Valdivian temperate rainforestsZona Sur, Zona Austral
Subpolar oceanic (Cfc) Magellanic subpolar forests
Magellanic moorland		 Zona Austral
Tundra (ET)
Semi-arid (BSk)Patagonian DesertZona Austral
AlpineAndes, Central Andean dry punaall natural regions of Chile
Tundra (ET)Andes, Central Andean dry punaall natural regions of Chile
Ice cap (EF)Northern Patagonian Ice Field, Southern Patagonian Ice FieldZona Austral

Tropical
View toward the interior of Easter Island

The climate of Easter Island is tropical rainforest. The lowest temperatures are registered in July and August (18 °C (64 °F)) and the highest in February (maximum temperature 28 °C (82 °F)[1]), the summer season in the southern hemisphere. Winters are relatively mild. The rainiest month is April, though the island experiences year-round rainfall.[2] As an isolated island, Easter Island is constantly exposed to winds which help to keep the temperature fairly cool. Precipitation averages 1,118 mm per year. Occasionally, heavy rainfall and rainstorms strike the island. These occur mostly in the winter months (June–August). Since it is close to the Pacific High and outside the range of the ITCZ, cyclones and hurricanes do not occur around Easter island.[3]

Dry arid
Pan de Azúcar National Park in Atacama Desert
See also: Atacama Desert and Arid Diagonal

The Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth, and is virtually sterile because it is blocked from moisture on both sides by the Andes mountains and by the Chilean Coast Range. The cold Humboldt Current and the Pacific Anticyclone are essential to keep the dry climate of Atacama Desert. The average rainfall in the Chilean region of Antofagasta is just 1 mm per year. Some weather stations in the Atacama have never received rain. Evidence suggests that the Atacama may not have had any significant rainfall from 1570 to 1971.[4] It is so arid that mountains that reach as high as 6,885 metres (22,590 feet) are completely free of glaciers and, in the southern part from 25°S to 27°S, may have been glacier-free throughout the Quaternary — though permafrost extends down to an altitude of 4,400 metres and is continuous above 5,600 metres. Studies by a group of British scientists have suggested that some river beds have been dry for 120,000 years.




Some locations in the Atacama do receive a marine fog known locally as the Camanchaca (garúa in Peru), providing sufficient moisture for hypolithic algae, lichens and even some cacti. But in the region that is in the "fog shadow" of the high coastal crest-line, which averages 3,000 m height for about 100 km south of Antofagasta, the soil has been compared to that of Mars.

Mediterranean
Mediterranean climate distribution in the Americas. Note that the map of Chile is turned upsidedown

The climate of Central Chile is of temperate Mediterranean type, with the amount of rainfall increasing considerably and progressively from north to south. In the Santiago area, the average monthly temperatures are about 19.5 °C in the summer months of January and February and 7.5 °C in the winter months of June and July. The average monthly precipitation is no more than a trace in January and February and 69.7 millimeters in June and July. By contrast, in Concepción the average monthly temperatures are somewhat lower in the summer at 17.6 °C but higher in the winter at 9.3 °C, and the amount of rain is much greater. In the summer, Concepción receives an average of twenty millimeters of rain per month; in June and July, the city is pounded by an average of 253 millimeters per month. The numerous rivers greatly increase their flow as a result of the winter rains and the spring melting of the Andean snows, and they contract considerably in the summer. The combination of abundant snow in the Andes and relatively moderate winter temperatures creates excellent conditions for Alpine skiing. Areas around the Bío-Bío River, historically called La Frontera corresponds to southern limit of the mediterranean climate, with typical mediterranean fruits such as avocado, citrus, olives and grapes being cultivated north of it and oat, wheat, apples and potatoes to the south. This more or less drastic transition is caused by the split of the westerlies at these latitudes (~37° S) into one branch going to the southeast and another to the northeast, to this it is necessary to add the north-south lowering of the Chilean Coast Range which reduced the rain shadow effect.[5]

Temperate oceanic
Maritime influence makes some southern Andean valleys prone to snowfalls in winter such as in Curarrehue in the picture.

In Zona Sur and the northern part of Zona Austral the climate is Temperate oceanic. Here the Andean Cordillera intercepts moist westerly winds along the Pacific coast during winter and summer months; these winds cool as they ascend the mountains, creating heavy rainfall on the mountains' west-facing slopes. The northward-flowing oceanic Humboldt Current creates humid and foggy conditions near the coast. The tree line is at about 2,400 m in the northern part of the ecoregion (35° S), and descends to 1,000 m in the south of the Valdivian region. In the summer average temperature can climb to 16.5 °C (62 °F), while during winter the temperature can drop below 7 °C (45 °F).[6]

Subpolar oceanic

The seasonal temperature in Zona Austral is greatly moderated by its proximity to the ocean and is known for stable constant temperatures, only small variability with season. The heaviest rainfalls goes between April and May and snow season goes all through Chilean winter (June till September), although the average temperature does not descend below 1 °C in coastal areas. This is the coldest region of South America.

Climate charts for different locations of Chile from north to south
Iquique
Climate chart (explanation)
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0
 
 
25
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0
 
 
25
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24
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0
 
 
22
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0.2
 
 
20
14
 
 
0.1
 
 
19
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0
 
 
18
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0
 
 
18
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0
 
 
19
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0
 
 
20
15
 
 
0
 
 
22
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0.2
 
 
24
17
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Antofagasta
Climate chart (explanation)
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0
 
 
24
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0
 
 
24
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23
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0
 
 
21
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0
 
 
19
13
 
 
0.1
 
 
18
11
 
 
0.3
 
 
17
11
 
 
0.6
 
 
17
11
 
 
0.5
 
 
18
12
 
 
0.1
 
 
19
13
 
 
0.1
 
 
20
14
 
 
0
 
 
22
16
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Arica
Climate chart (explanation)
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0
 
 
26
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0.1
 
 
27
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0
 
 
26
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0
 
 
24
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0
 
 
22
15
 
 
0.2
 
 
20
14
 
 
0.1
 
 
19
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0.1
 
 
19
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0
 
 
19
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0
 
 
21
15
 
 
0
 
 
23
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0
 
 
25
18
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Easter Island
Climate chart (explanation)
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F
M
A
M
J
J
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73
 
 
27
20
 
 
85
 
 
27
20
 
 
96
 
 
27
20
 
 
121
 
 
25
19
 
 
153
 
 
23
18
 
 
106
 
 
22
17
 
 
105
 
 
21
16
 
 
94
 
 
21
15
 
 
87
 
 
22
16
 
 
68
 
 
23
16
 
 
74
 
 
24
17
 
 
85
 
 
25
18
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Copiapó
Climate chart (explanation)
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0
 
 
28
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0
 
 
28
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1.1
 
 
27
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0.2
 
 
24
10
 
 
0.4
 
 
22
8
 
 
1.1
 
 
20
6
 
 
6.5
 
 
20
6
 
 
2
 
 
21
6
 
 
0.2
 
 
22
7
 
 
0.5
 
 
24
9
 
 
0
 
 
25
10
 
 
0
 
 
27
12
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
La Serena
Climate chart (explanation)
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0
 
 
22
14
 
 
0
 
 
22
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0.2
 
 
20
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1.1
 
 
18
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6.1
 
 
17
9
 
 
15
 
 
16
8
 
 
31
 
 
15
8
 
 
17
 
 
16
8
 
 
5.8
 
 
16
9
 
 
2.7
 
 
18
10
 
 
0.2
 
 
19
11
 
 
0
 
 
20
12
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Santiago
Climate chart (explanation)
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0.4
 
 
30
13
 
 
0.8
 
 
29
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3.2
 
 
27
11
 
 
10
 
 
23
8
 
 
42
 
 
19
6
 
 
70
 
 
15
4
 
 
87
 
 
15
4
 
 
52
 
 
17
5
 
 
22
 
 
19
6
 
 
13
 
 
22
8
 
 
9.2
 
 
25
10
 
 
2.1
 
 
28
12
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: WMO
Linares
Climate chart (explanation)
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13
 
 
30
12
 
 
10
 
 
29
11
 
 
20
 
 
25
9
 
 
62
 
 
21
6
 
 
171
 
 
16
7
 
 
208
 
 
12
5
 
 
180
 
 
12
4
 
 
129
 
 
14
4
 
 
77
 
 
17
5
 
 
44
 
 
20
8
 
 
30
 
 
24
9
 
 
20
 
 
28
12
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Concepción
Climate chart (explanation)
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J
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21
 
 
23
11
 
 
15
 
 
22
10
 
 
25
 
 
21
9
 
 
56
 
 
18
8
 
 
178
 
 
16
7
 
 
218
 
 
13
6
 
 
222
 
 
13
6
 
 
153
 
 
14
6
 
 
88
 
 
15
6
 
 
65
 
 
17
7
 
 
41
 
 
19
8
 
 
28
 
 
22
10
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Valdivia
Climate chart (explanation)
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M
A
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J
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54
 
 
23
9
 
 
55
 
 
23
9
 
 
71
 
 
21
7
 
 
133
 
 
17
6
 
 
295
 
 
14
6
 
 
297
 
 
11
5
 
 
312
 
 
11
4
 
 
247
 
 
12
4
 
 
162
 
 
15
4
 
 
109
 
 
17
5
 
 
73
 
 
19
7
 
 
63
 
 
21
8
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Puerto Montt
Climate chart (explanation)
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J
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90
 
 
20
9
 
 
93
 
 
19
9
 
 
99
 
 
18
8
 
 
143
 
 
15
7
 
 
234
 
 
13
6
 
 
224
 
 
11
4
 
 
229
 
 
10
4
 
 
209
 
 
11
4
 
 
146
 
 
13
4
 
 
121
 
 
14
6
 
 
112
 
 
17
7
 
 
103
 
 
19
9
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Aisén
Climate chart (explanation)
J
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M
J
J
A
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O
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196
 
 
18
10
 
 
159
 
 
18
10
 
 
166
 
 
16
8
 
 
239
 
 
13
7
 
 
320
 
 
10
5
 
 
283
 
 
7
2
 
 
280
 
 
7
2
 
 
258
 
 
9
3
 
 
209
 
 
11
4
 
 
163
 
 
14
6
 
 
168
 
 
15
8
 
 
208
 
 
17
9
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Balmaceda
Climate chart (explanation)
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F
M
A
M
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J
A
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28
 
 
18
7
 
 
20
 
 
18
6
 
 
38
 
 
16
5
 
 
54
 
 
12
3
 
 
93
 
 
8
1
 
 
85
 
 
4
−2
 
 
84
 
 
4
−3
 
 
72
 
 
6
−1
 
 
49
 
 
9
0
 
 
30
 
 
12
2
 
 
28
 
 
15
4
 
 
32
 
 
16
6
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
Punta Arenas
Climate chart (explanation)
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J
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O
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39
 
 
15
7
 
 
28
 
 
14
6
 
 
30
 
 
13
5
 
 
36
 
 
10
3
 
 
42
 
 
6
1
 
 
29
 
 
4
−1
 
 
30
 
 
4
−1
 
 
30
 
 
5
−1
 
 
24
 
 
8
1
 
 
29
 
 
11
3
 
 
32
 
 
13
4
 
 
29
 
 
14
6
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source:
gollark: We have 550 or so.
gollark: It is not "dead", we used very safe\* apiothaumaturgic resurrection things.
gollark: I will have to consult our heavconsultant linguists.
gollark: Still, this is moderately troubling.
gollark: Hmm. Perhaps they're exempting participles.

See also

References
  1. "Enjoy Chile - climate". Archived from the original on 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
  2. Easter Island Article Archived 2017-06-03 at the Wayback Machine in Letsgochile.com
  3. Weather Archived October 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Easter Island Foundation
  4. Wright, John W., ed. (2006). The New York Times Almanac (2007 ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books. pp. 456. ISBN 0-14-303820-6.
  5. Schwedtfeger, Werner. 1976. The Climate of Chile. World Survey of Climatology. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company.
  6. Di Castri F di & E. Hajek 1976. "Bioclimatología de Chile" 163 pages with english summary Archived 2008-04-11 at the Wayback Machine
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