Climate - Argentina

The climate in detail

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• Subtropical climate - Rivadavia, Iguazu
• Humid temperate climate - Buenos Aires
• Arid climate - Mendoza, Patagonia, Puerto Madryn
• 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, definitely hot in summer and pleasantly warm in winter. In the western part, the Gran Chaco receives moderate rainfall, from 500 to 1,000 millimeters (20 to 40 inches) per year, with a pronounced dry period in winter.

Rivadavia

In Rivadavia, in the northwest, 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 the entire South American continent: the highest recorded temperature is as high as 48 °C (118.5 °F)! In winter, from May to mid-August, the daytime temperatures drop to around 23/25 °C (73/77 °F). However, the daily temperature range can be remarkable, so it can get hot even in winter, but it can sometimes get cold at night, especially when the Pampero blows, i.e. the cold wind coming from the southern lands.
Here are the average temperatures of Rivadavia.

In summer, the rains occur in the form of short showers, and are moderate from December to March, while in winter it almost never rains. Although the winter is dry, the sun in Rivadavia is so frequent, while in summer, it shines quite often, despite the fact that it is the rainy season. Here is the average precipitation.

Further east, in Formosa, the daytime temperatures are slightly lower, but the climate is much more humid and rainy. In fact, 1,250 millimeters (49 inches) of rain fall per year, 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 fall per year, while in Oberá, the rains reach 2,300 mm (90.5 in). In this north-eastern portion, there is no dry season, and the rains (which occur mainly in the form of downpours or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening, and therefore do not affect much the amount of sunshine) are abundant throughout the year.
Here is the average precipitation at the airport of Puerto Iguazu.

In this north-eastern area, the summer temperatures are a bit lower than in the north-west. Here are the average temperatures.



The highest flow of the waterfalls is recorded in the wettest period in the Iguazú River basin, that is, from November to March, while the lowest flow is recorded from August to October.

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 the Rio de la Plata River, the climate is temperate, with mild winters and hot summers. Here the rainfall ranges from 500 to 1,200 mm (20 and 47 in) per year. Summer is moderately rainy everywhere because of afternoon showers and thunderstorms, while winter is rainy in the eastern part and drier in the western one. It follows that the rainiest part, the one with no dry season, is the eastern one, towards the sea and the border with Uruguay.

Buenos Aires

In Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, the temperatures are reminiscent of the Mediterranean climate, the daily average ranging from 11 °C (52 °F) in July, with highs around 15 °C (59 °F), to 25 °C (77 °F) in January, with highs around 30 °C (87 °F). But in contrast with the Mediterranean climate, here it rains in summer as well, although 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 to both 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). Here are the average temperatures.

Rainfall is well distributed throughout the year: there are 9/10 days with rainfall per month from October to April (when as mentioned, the rains mainly occur in the form of showers or thunderstorms) and 7 days per month from May to September. In the capital, it almost never snows: snow accumulation occurs a couple of times per century.
Here is the average precipitation.

The sea in much of Argentina is cool to swim in. In fact, on the eastern side of South America, a cold current, known as the 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 better in Buenos Aires, where the sea is warm enough for swimming in January and February, as you can see in the following table.



In Rosario, 270 kilometers (168 miles) north-west of Buenos Aires, the weather is similar to that of the capital, although with greater temperature variations between night and day.
In Córdoba too, the average temperatures are quite similar to those of Buenos Aires, since the city is located north of the capital but also farther from the sea and at 470 meters (1,500 feet) above sea level. However, the diurnal temperature range in Cordoba are higher than in the capital, and the winter is definitely drier. The average temperature ranges from 10 °C (50 °F) in July to 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 Patagonia (south of the dashed line), the climate is arid, semi-arid or desert. This happens both because of the distance from the sea and because of the Andean chain, which blocks humid winds coming from the Pacific (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 it's also capable of causing dust storms; temperature variations can be considerable. The sun frequently shines in summer, while in the coldest period, from May to September, the sky can be cloudy.

Mendoza

In Mendoza, located at 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level, at the foot of the Andes and not far from Mount Aconcagua, the daily average temperature ranges from a low of 9 °C (48 °F) in July to a high of 26.5 °C (79.5 °F) in January. During the day, the temperature may reach or exceed 30 °C (86 °F) even in winter, while at night, it can slightly drop below freezing from April to September. Here are the average temperatures.

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

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 the arid climate zone we are dealing with here, but at this latitude the weather is more cool and windy. The winds are often strong and are able to increase the feeling of cold.

Puerto Madryn

In Puerto Madryn, on the Atlantic coast, at a latitude of 42° S, the daily average temperature ranges from 7.5 °C (45.5 °F) in July to 20.5 °C (69 °F) in January. 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.
In Puerto Madryn, the sea is cold: the water temperature peakes in February with 17 °C (63 °F) (so it is not recommended for swimming), and hits a low of 9 °C (48 °F) in July and August.
A little further south, in Trelew, and even further south, still on the coast, in Comodoro Rivadavia, the climate is similar.

Tierra del Fuego

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In the southernmost part of Patagonia and in Tierra del Fuego, the climate is cold oceanic, that is, with average temperatures close to freezing in winter and around 10 °C (50 °F) in summer (or even subpolar where the average in summer drops below this value, as happens in the Isla de los Estados). Precipitation, which at this latitude often occurs 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 from the nearby Antarctic Ocean.
Winter is not freezing: it is true that there may be cold spells, in which the temperature can drop to -15 °C (5 °F), but they are usually replaced after a few days by the westerlies, which are less cold. However, the wind almost constantly blows, which can increase the feeling of cold.
Anyway, in the coldest locations, such as El Calafate and Río Grande, the average temperature in June and July is very close to the freezing point.

Ushuaia

In Ushuaia, located on the coast and at a latitude of 54 degrees south, the average in June and July is just 2 °C (36 °F), while in summer, the average reaches 10.5 °C (51 °F) in January. At night, the temperature can drop below freezing throughout the year: to -1/-2 °C (28/30 °F) between December and February, and to as low as -10/-12 °C (10/14 °F) from June 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, so the sun is seen quite rarely all year round. Here is the average precipitation.

In Tierra del Fuego, the sea is cold all year round, and reaches a maximum of 9 °C (48 °F) in February and March.

Andes

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In the very long Andean band, which crosses Argentina in the western part from north to south, the climate becomes progressively colder with increasing altitude, but also with latitude: the more you go to the south, the lower the temperature 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 this latitude, it is Alpine, and snowfalls can be abundant.

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

In the northernmost area, where cities such as Salta and Tucumán are located, the rains increase below 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) because moisture comes from the eastern plain.

Salta

In Salta, which is located almost at the Tropic, at 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) of altitude and 250 km (155 mi) from the aforementioned city of Rivadavia, the average temperature ranges from 11.5 °C (52.5 °F) in June to 22 °C (72 °F) in January. So, the climate at this latitude is mild even at 1,200 meters (4,000 feet), although there may be slight frosts at night from May to September. Here are the average temperatures.

In Salta, 750 mm (29.5 inches) of rain fall per year, 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 downpours or thunderstorms, which don't reduce too much the summer sunshine. Here is the average precipitation.



In Argentina, there are several very high peaks, among which Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the entire American continent with its 6,962 meters (22,841 feet). At the latitude of Aconcagua (32 degrees south), we find perennial snows above 4,000 meters (13,000 feet), while in the area of Cerro Torre (around 49 degrees south), they begin at 1,500 meters (5,000 feet), although the Viedma Glacier, which enters in the lake of the same name because of gravity, comes down to just 250 meters (800 feet). In the extreme south, eternal snows are found above a few hundred meters (a thousand feet) of altitude.
At the latitude of Mount 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 mentioned, is indicated by a dotted line on the map) to find some greenery along the Andean slopes of Argentina.
In this area located south of the 40th parallel, where the climate is arid in the plains and humid in the mountains, the cities at the foot of the mountains are quite rainy even where to the east there's a desert. In addition, the wind coming down from the mountains (called zonda and similar to the chinook of the Rocky Mountains or to the föhn of the Alps) can cause rapid increases in temperature.

Bariloche

In San Carlos de Bariloche, located at 41 degrees latitude south and 850 meters (2,800 feet) above sea level, the average temperature ranges from 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) in July to 15.5 °C (60 °F) in January. Here are the average temperatures.

In Bariloche, 800 mm (31.5 in) of rain (or snow) fall per year, while 200 km (125 miles) to the east, in Maquinchao, precipitation drops to 200 mm (8 in). Here is the average precipitation in Bariloche.

On Cerro Catedral, 2,400 meters (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, where you can go skiing when in North America or Europe it's the summer.
In the southern Andes, there are vast glaciers and lakes of glacial origin, whose banks have the same shape as the fjords.

When to go

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It is not easy to find a single period in which the weather is very good throughout the country. However, since in the extreme south the best period is the austral summer, from December to February, you can choose this period for the rest of the country as well, keeping in mind that at this time, in the north it 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.

To visit the north (see Rivadavia, Formosa, Puerto Iguazú), since the main purpose should be to avoid the heat (either the intense but dry heat of the west or the sultry heat of the east), you can choose the winter, from May to August, keeping in mind that it can sometimes get cold at night, that in the east sometimes it can rain, and that the sky may be cloudy.
The best times to visit the north-central (see Buenos Aires, Rosario, Córdoba) are spring and autumn (October-November and March-April), although there may be periods of bad weather and sudden changes in temperature. In Buenos Aires, the best time is usually spring, from late September to early December.
The best time to visit the extreme south (Tierra del Fuego) is summer, from December to February: temperatures are cool, even cold at night, but tolerable, at least when the wind doesn't blow.

What to pack

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

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

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