Stretched over 3,700 kilometres (2,300 miles) from north to south, Argentina has very diverse climates, ranging from the almost tropical climate of the north, to the temperate climate of Buenos Aires and the Pampas, to the cold and windy climate of Patagonia, and finally to the subpolar climate of Tierra del Fuego. Moreover, there is the cold mountainous climate of the Andes, arid in the northern and central part, and cold and snowy in the south.
The rains are abundant in the north-east, while in the extreme south, snowfalls are frequent. In the south-central, in the Pampas and in Patagonia, there is a vast arid area.
Being located in the southern hemisphere, in Argentina the seasons are reversed in comparison with North America or Europe.

Index

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• Subtropical climate - Rivadavia, Iguazu
• Humid temperate climate - Buenos Aires, Rosario, Cordoba
• Arid climate - Mendoza, Puerto Madryn, Patagonia
• Tierra del Fuego - Ushuaia
• Andes - Salta, Bariloche
• When to go
• What to pack

Subtropical climate

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In the northernmost part of Argentina, the climate is subtropical, characterized by intense heat in the summer months, and pleasantly warm temperatures in the winter months. In the western part, the Gran Chaco receives moderate rainfall, from 500 to 1,000 millimetres (20 to 40 inches) per year, with a pronounced dry period in winter.

Rivadavia

In Rivadavia, in the province of Salta, the heat is intense from November to February, with average highs generally around 34/36 degrees Celsius (93/97 °F), and also with the highest peaks of all the South American continent: the highest recorded temperature is as high as 48 °C (118.5 °F)! In winter, the daytime temperatures drop to around 25 °C (77 °F). However, the daily temperature range can be remarkable, so while it can get hot even in winter, sometimes it can get cold at night, especially when the Pampero, the cold wind coming from the southern lands, arrives here.
Here are the average temperatures of Rivadavia.

In summer, the rains occur in the form of brief showers, and are moderate from December to March, while in winter from May to August it almost never rains. Here is the average precipitation.

Although winter is dry, in Rivadavia the sun is not very present, while in summer it shines quite often, despite the fact that it is the rainy season.

Further east, in Formosa, the daytime temperatures are slightly lower, but the climate is much more humid and rainy: here 1,250 millimetres (49 inches) of rain per year fall, and it can rain even in winter, albeit less than in summer: in July and August, respectively 40 and 30 mm (1.6 and 1.2 in) of rain fall on average. In the province of Misiones, east of Paraguay and of the Paraná River, the rains are even more abundant, so much so that this area is covered by forests.

Iguazu

At the Iguazu falls, nearly 2,000 mm (78.5 in) of rain per year fall, while in Oberá the rains reach 2,300 mm (90.5 in). In this eastern portion there is no dry season, and the rains (which occur mainly in the form of downpour or thunderstorm in the afternoon or evening, and therefore do not affect much the sunshine amount, which remains good) are abundant throughout the year.
Here is the average precipitation at the Iguazu falls.

And here we can see the average temperatures.

At the Iguazu Falls the sun does not shine too often, since clouds and rains are possible all year round, however, in the hot period, from November to March, there are about 7/8 hours of sunshine a day.



The Iguazu waterfalls are more spectacular in the January-May period, when the river that feeds them reaches its highest level.
To visit this northern subtropical area, since the main purpose should be to avoid the heat, either the torrid one of the west or the sultry one of the east, you can choose winter, from May to August, keeping in mind that sometimes it can get cold at night, that in the east sometimes it can rain, and that the sky may be cloudy.

Humid temperate climate

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In this area, which is located to the south of the Gran Chaco, and includes the estuary of Rio de la Plata, the climate is temperate, with mild winters and hot summers. Here the rainfall varies between 500 and 1,200 mm (20 and 47 in) per year, summer is everywhere moderately rainy, because of afternoon showers and thunderstorms, while winter is rainy in the east, and drier in the west. It follows that the rainiest part, the one with no dry season, is the east, towards the sea and the border with Uruguay.

Buenos Aires

In Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, the average temperatures are reminiscent of the Mediterranean climate: the average in July is 11 °C (52 °F), with highs around 15 °C (59 °F), while the average in January is 25 °C (77 °F), with highs around 30 °C (87 °F). But in contrast with the Mediterranean climate, here it rains even in summer, in the form of afternoon showers and thunderstorms, which do not decrease too much the sunshine duration. Moreover, the changes in temperature are bigger than in the Mediterranean, because there are no obstacles both to cold air masses from the south (which may cause light frosts at night from May to September), and to warm air masses from the north, so much so that some days can be warm even in winter, with peaks of around 25/30 °C (77/86 °F). In the capital, it almost never snows: snow accumulation occurs a couple of times per century. Rainfall is well distributed throughout the year: there are 9/10 days with rain per month from October to April (when as mentioned they occur mainly in the form of showers or thunderstorms), and 6/8 days per month from May to September.
Here is the average precipitation.

Regarding the temperature, the best times to visit Buenos Aires are spring and autumn (October-November and March-April), though sometimes they can be very rainy: historically, the rainfall records have occurred in March, April and October. All in all, the best time is usually spring, from late September to early December. Here are the average temperatures.

In Buenos Aires the sun shines regularly in summer, while in winter there is an alternation of sunny periods and periods with clouds and rain.

For swimming, the sea in much of Argentina is cool, because on the eastern side of South America, a cold current, known as Falkland Current, flows up to the latitude of Mar del Plata, where the sea temperature reaches 20 °C (68 °F) in February and 19 °C (66 °F) in January and March. It goes much better in Buenos Aires, where the sea is warm enough for swimming in January and February.



In Rosario, 270 kilometres (168 miles) north-west of Buenos Aires, the weather is pretty much the same as in the capital.
In Cordoba, the average temperatures are not so different from those of Buenos Aires, because the city is located north of the capital, but farther from the sea, and at 470 metres (1,500 feet) above sea level. Compared with the capital, here the diurnal temperature ranges are higher, and winter is definitely drier. The average temperature is 10 °C (50 °F) in July and 24 °C (75 °F) in January.

Arid climate

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In this vast area, encompassing the western and arid part of the Pampa (above the dashed line), and most of the Patagonia (south of the dashed line), the climate is arid, semi-arid or desert, both because of the distance from the sea and the Andean chain, which blocks humid winds coming from the Pacific (in the southern part the Atlantic coast is arid as well, because at these latitudes the westerlies prevail, and also because in the sea a cold current flows, which reduces evaporation). Clearly the temperatures vary with latitude, but some features remain similar: the temperature range between night and day is usually considerable (particularly in areas distant from the sea); the wind, either cold or hot, can sweep the vast plains, and is also capable of causing dust storms; the temperature variations can be considerable; the amount of sunshine is good in summer, while in the coldest period, from May to September, the sky can be cloudy.

Mendoza

In Mendoza, located at 700 metres (2,300 feet) above sea level, at the foot of the Andes and not far from Mount Aconcagua, the average temperature goes from 8 °C (46.5 °F) in June and July, to 25 °C (77 °F) in December and January. During the day the temperature may reach or exceed 30 °C (86 °F) even in winter, and at night the temperature can slightly drop below freezing from April to September. Here are the average temperatures.

In Mendoza, only 225 mm (9 in) of rain per year fall, with a relative maximum in summer, between December and March. Here is the average precipitation.

In Mendoza the sunshine amount is good in summer, and decent even even in winter, as is normal in a dry climate.

Patagonia

Patagonia, the southern region of Argentina (as well as of Chile), begins approximately at the 40th parallel, and most of it is located in this arid climate zone, but at this latitude the weather becomes cool and windy, with strong winds that often increase the feeling of cold.

Puerto Madryn

In Puerto Madryn, on the Atlantic coast, at a latitude of 42° S, the average temperature goes from 20 °C (68 °F) in January, to 7 °C (45 °F) in June and July. In summer, there can be short heat waves, with peaks above 35 °C (95 °F). The sun often shines from November to March.

Here the rains are very scarce (just 170 mm or 6.5 inches per year), and in fact the landscape is semi-desert, with no trees, and only some xerophile shrubs. In winter, however, it can snow and freeze. Here is the average precipitation.

In Puerto Madryn too, the sunshine amount is good in summer and decent in winter, when, however, cloudy days are a little more frequent.

In Puerto Madryn, the sea is cold: it reaches a peak of 17 °C (63 °F) in February (so here it is not recommended to take a sea bath...), and drops to 9 °C (48 °F) in July and August.

Tierra del Fuego

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In the southernmost part of Patagonia and in Tierra del Fuego, the climate is cold oceanic, ie, with average temperatures close to freezing in winter, and around 10 °C (50 °F) in summer. Precipitation, which at this latitude occurs often in the form of snow, is higher than in the arid zone, both because at this latitude the Andes in the west are definitely low (therefore the humid currents from the Pacific Ocean can penetrate inland), and because this region can be affected by cold and wet winds of Antarctic origin. Winter is not so cold, because these cold winds, which can at times lower the temperatures to several degrees below freezing, are replaced after a short time by the westerlies, which are less cold. However, the wind blows almost constantly, and it is able to increase the feeling of cold. Summer, from November to March, is the best time to visit this southern part of Argentina: temperatures are cool, even cold at night, but tolerable, at least when the wind doesn't blow.

Ushuaia

In Ushuaia, located in a fjord at a latitude of 54 degrees South, the average in June and July is just 1.5 °C (35 °F), while in summer, the average reaches 10.5 °C (51 °F) in January. The night temperature can drop below freezing throughout the year, down to -1/-2 °C (28/30 °F) between December and March, and even to -10/-15 °C (5/15 °F) from May to August. Here are the average temperatures.

Rainfall is frequent in summer, as well as snowfall in winter, although the amount is not high, around 500 mm (20 in) per year. The sky is often cloudy. Here is the average precipitation.

In Ushuaia, the sun is seen quite rarely all year round.

In Tierra del Fuego the sea is cold all year round, as we can see in the following table.

Andes

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In the long Andean strip, the climate is progressively colder with increasing altitude, but also with latitude: the more you go south, the lower the temperature is at a given altitude, and the lower the height in which eternal snows begin.
The Andean zone can be divided into two distinct areas, separated by the dotted line on the map: north of the 40th parallel the climate is arid, while south of that line it becomes alpine, with snowfalls even abundant.

In the central and northern provinces, the Andes are desert even at high altitudes, in fact they are desert also in the western Chilean side, so there is no moisture which might pass over the ridges. In the north, above 3,000 metres (10,000 feet), frosts can be intense from April to October, but during the day, when the sun shines, the temperature goes above freezing: the daily temperature range is remarkable, because at high altitudes, at subtropical or tropical latitudes, the sun is very strong. You have to climb the rare peaks above 6,000 metres (19,700 feet), like Nevado Queva, to find some snowfields, where the rare snowfalls remain on the ground because of the cold.

At lower altitudes, the rains increase, because here the moisture comes from the eastern plain.

Salta

In Salta, which is located almost at the Tropic, at 1,200 metres (4,000 feet) of altitude, 750 mm (29.5 inches) of rain per year fall, but it almost never rains from May to September, although at this time the sky is often overcast; rainfall occurs from December to March, usually in the form of downpour or thunderstorm, which doesn't shield too much the summer sunshine. Here is the average precipitation.

The average temperature goes from 22 °C (72 °F) in January, to 11.5 °C (52.5 °F) in June: so at this latitude, the climate is mild even at a low-mountain altitude, although at night there may be slight frosts from May to September.

In Salta, the sunniest season (compared to the length of the days) is even winter, while in summer the sky is often cloudy.



In Argentina there are several very high peaks, among which Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the entire American continent with its 6,962 metres (22,841 feet). At the latitude of Aconcagua (32° south) we find perennial snows above 4,000 metres (13,000 feet), while in the area of Cerro Torre, around 49 degrees south, they begin at 1,500 metres (5,000 feet), although the Viedma Glacier, which due to gravity enters in the lake of the same name, comes down to just 250 metres (800 feet). In the extreme south, eternal snows are found above a few hundred metres (a thousand feet).
At the latitude of Aconcagua, precipitation (which is more frequent in winter and therefore usually occurs in the form of snow) at high altitudes amounts to about 250/300 mm (10/12 inches) per year, like in semi-desert climates. You have to go to Patagonia, more or less at the 40th parallel south (which as we said is indicated by a dotted line on the map) to find some greenery along the Andean slopes of Argentina.
In this area south of the 40th parallel, the cities located at the foot of the mountains get more rain than those located further east, have a climate that differs from the rest of the plains and hilly areas that are far from the mountains, both because they are more rainy even where to the east a desert is found (as in Patagonia), and because the wind falling from the mountains (called zonda and similar to the chinook of the Rocky Mountains or to the alpine föhn) can cause rapid and abnormal increases in temperature.

Bariloche

In San Carlos de Bariloche at 850 metres (2,800 feet) above sea level, 800 mm (31.5 in) of rain (or snow) per year fall, while 200 km (125 miles) to the east, in Maquinchao, precipitation drops to 200 mm (8 in). Here is the average precipitation in Bariloche.

In addition, at the foot of the mountains a downslope wind (called Zonda, similar to the Chinook of the Rockies or the Alpine Foehn) can cause rapid and abnormal increases in temperature.
The average temperature in Bariloche goes from 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) in July, to 14 °C (57 °F) in January.

In Bariloche the sun shines regularly in summer, while in winter, between one disturbance and the other, there can be some sunny days.

At Cerro Catedral, 2,400 metres (7,800 feet) above sea level and not far from Bariloche, the average temperature drops below freezing from June to September, and reaches 7.5 °C (45.5 °F) in January; the wind is often strong throughout the year. Snowfalls during winter are abundant, but sometimes it can snow even in summer. In this area, the landscape reminds that of the Alps and there are renowned ski resorts, in which it's possible to ski when in North America or Europe it's summer.
In the southern Andes, there are vast glaciers and lakes of glacial origin, whose banks have the shape of fjords.

When to go

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You can not find a single period which is best to visit all of Argentina, however, since to visit the extreme south you have to choose the austral summer, from December to March, you can choose this period for all the country, keeping in mind that at this time the north will be very hot. All in all, November, a spring month, can also be a good compromise for most of the country, although in the far north it can already be a hot month.

What to pack

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In winter (June to August): in the north, Iguazu Falls and Gran Chaco, clothes for spring and autumn, light for the day, a sweatshirt or sweater and a jacket for the evening. In the north and central part and in Buenos Aires, warm clothes, sweater, jacket, umbrella. In Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, very warm clothes, down jacket, warm hat, gloves, scarf, rain jacket, comfortable shoes. For the Andes: in the northern part, clothes for spring and autumn for the day, warm jacket and hat for the evening, sunscreen and sunglasses; in the southern part, warm clothes, down jacket, scarf, gloves, hiking boots.

In summer (December to February): in the north, Iguazu Falls and Gran Chaco, lightweight clothing of natural fibres, a light sweater and a light raincoat for thunderstorms, sun hat. In the north and central part and in Buenos Aires, summer clothes, a sweatshirt for the evening, possibly a light raincoat for thunderstorms. In Patagonia, clothes for spring and autumn, jacket for the evening, sweater, comfortable shoes. In Tierra del Fuego, warm clothes, sweater, raincoat, jacket, boots; be ready to remove the outer layer in mild days. For the Andes: in the northern part, clothes for spring and autumn during the day, warm jacket for the evening, sunscreen and sunglasses; in the southern part, down jacket, scarf, gloves, hiking boots.