(according to the Köppen classification, hot semi-arid climate - BSh), with dry, mild winters (but during which it can get cold at night), and very hot, quite rainy summers. In summer, the rains often occur in the form of thunderstorms.
The city, capital of the province of Catamarca, is located in northern Argentina, at 28 degrees south latitude, and 500 meters (1,650 feet) above sea level.
Due to its location at the foot of the Andes, from which a wind that heat up by compression can arrive, and in a valley (to the east of the city there is a smaller mountain range), the city is particularly hot in summer, and exposed to heat waves.
, from mid-May to mid-August, the difference in temperature between night and day is often significant. Also, although the winter is mild, there can sometimes be outbreaks of cold air from the south, during which the temperature can drop below freezing at night. This usually happens from late May to early September. The absolute record is -9 °C (16 °F), while after 1991, the temperature dropped to -7.4 °C (18.7 °F) in July 1994 and to -7.3 °C (18.9 °F) in July 2024.
in Catamarca is rare, both because the winter is dry and because the sun warms the ground and raises the temperature significantly during the day. In fact, you have to wait several years to see snow. For example, a snowfall occurred at the end of June 1996 and in July 2007.
, from December to February, is very hot, in fact the daily average in January is close to 28 °C (82.5 °F). Although it is the rainiest season, in no month does it exceed 100 millimeters (4 inches) on average.
, during which the temperature can reach and exceed 40 °C (104 °F). In these cases it can also get very hot at night, in fact the minimum can remain around 30 °C (86 °F). In the worst moments the temperature can reach 45 °C (113 °F). The record is 47 °C (116.5 °F), set at the end of October 2009.
In the Andes to the west of Catamarca there are very high peaks. About 300 km (185 mi) to the northwest, on the border with Chile, is the
, which at 6,893 meters (22,615 ft) is the second highest peak in South America (after Aconcagua) and the highest volcano in the world, while a little further south is
In this part of the Andes, the climate is semi-arid, however, in summer there can be some rain (and snow in the high mountains).
It is difficult to find the best time to visit Catamarca, since the summer is very hot, while in winter there can be sudden changes in temperature, and at night there can be quite intense frosts. You can then choose the period
, in autumn, when the temperature is halfway between winter and summer. In spring it can get very hot.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of
28.2 °C, with a minimum of
21.9 °C and a maximum of
34.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
11.6 °C in January 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
40.5 °C. However, it reached
44 °C in January 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
80.9 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is of
21.6 kph.
February is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
26.9 °C, with a minimum of
20.8 °C and a maximum of
33 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
9.7 °C in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
39.5 °C. However, it reached
42.5 °C in February 2014.
Precipitation amounts to
73.8 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is of
20.3 kph.
March is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
25.2 °C, with a minimum of
19.2 °C and a maximum of
31.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C. However, it dropped to
9.1 °C in March 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37.5 °C. However, it reached
41 °C in March 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
50.1 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is of
19 kph.
April is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.3 °C, with a minimum of
15 °C and a maximum of
27.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
0.9 °C in April 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C. However, it reached
39.5 °C in April 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
31.1 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is of
15.9 kph.
May is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
16.8 °C, with a minimum of
10.3 °C and a maximum of
23.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.2 °C in May 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
36.6 °C in May 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
12.7 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is of
13.2 kph.
June is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
12.9 °C, with a minimum of
5.6 °C and a maximum of
20.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2 °C. However, it dropped to
-7 °C in June 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26.5 °C. However, it reached
31.3 °C in June 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only
7 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is of
10.9 kph.
July, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
12.4 °C, with a minimum of
4.5 °C and a maximum of
20.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.4 °C in July 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28 °C. However, it reached
34.3 °C in July 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
4.1 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is of
12.4 kph.
August is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
16 °C, with a minimum of
7.7 °C and a maximum of
24.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.8 °C in August 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
40.5 °C in August 1996.
Precipitation amounts to only
2.9 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is of
16.1 kph.
September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
20 °C, with a minimum of
12.2 °C and a maximum of
27.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.9 °C in September 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37.5 °C. However, it reached
43.5 °C in September 2004.
Precipitation amounts to only
5.6 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 38%.
The average wind speed is of
19.9 kph.
October is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
23.8 °C, with a minimum of
16.9 °C and a maximum of
30.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
2.3 °C in October 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
39.5 °C. However, it reached
47 °C in October 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
24.4 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is of
22.4 kph.
November is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
26.2 °C, with a minimum of
19.6 °C and a maximum of
32.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
5.8 °C in November 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
40 °C. However, it reached
44 °C in November 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
45.1 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is of
24.4 kph.
December is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
28 °C, with a minimum of
21.3 °C and a maximum of
34.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
8.9 °C in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
41 °C. However, it reached
45 °C in December 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
73.4 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is of
23.4 kph.