Climate in Catamarca (Argentina)

The climate of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca is subtropical semi-arid (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.
However, the wind blows often, especially in spring and summer.
In winter, 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.
Snow 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.
Summer, 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.
Especially in spring and summer, there can be heat waves, 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 Nevado Ojos del Salado, 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 Monte Pissis, 6,792 meters (22,283 ft) high.
This area can be reached by the Ruta Nacional 60, which passes through Tinogasta.
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).

Best Time

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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 from mid-April to mid-May, in autumn, when the temperature is halfway between winter and summer. In spring it can get very hot.

Catamarca - Climate data

In Catamarca, the average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 12.4 °C (54.3 °F), that of the warmest month (January) is of 28.2 °C (82.8 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 410 millimeters (16.1 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 2.9 mm (0.1 in) in the driest month (August) to 80.9 mm (3.2 in) in the wettest one (January). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2380 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Catamarca - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 28.2 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 21.9 °C (71.4 °F) and a maximum of 34.5 °C (94.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15.5 °C (60 °F). However, it dropped to 11.6 °C (52.9 °F) in January 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 40.5 °C (105 °F). However, it reached 44 °C (111.2 °F) in January 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 80.9 mm (3.2 in), 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 22 kph (13 mph).

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February is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 26.9 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 20.8 °C (69.4 °F) and a maximum of 33 °C (91.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9.7 °C (49.5 °F) in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39.5 °C (102.5 °F). However, it reached 42.5 °C (108.5 °F) in February 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 73.8 mm (2.9 in), 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 20 kph (13 mph).

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March is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 25.2 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 19.2 °C (66.6 °F) and a maximum of 31.3 °C (88.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it dropped to 9.1 °C (48.4 °F) in March 1998.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99.5 °F). However, it reached 41 °C (105.8 °F) in March 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 50.1 mm (2 in), 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 19 kph (12 mph).

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April is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.3 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 15 °C (59 °F) and a maximum of 27.6 °C (81.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45 °F). However, it dropped to 0.9 °C (33.6 °F) in April 2011.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93.5 °F). However, it reached 39.5 °C (103.1 °F) in April 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 31.1 mm (1.2 in), 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 16 kph (10 mph).

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May is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 16.8 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 10.3 °C (50.5 °F) and a maximum of 23.4 °C (74.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36 °F). However, it dropped to -2.2 °C (28 °F) in May 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87 °F). However, it reached 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) in May 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 12.7 mm (0.5 in), 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 13 kph (8 mph).

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June is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 12.9 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 5.6 °C (42.1 °F) and a maximum of 20.2 °C (68.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7 °C (19.4 °F) in June 2000.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (80 °F). However, it reached 31.3 °C (88.3 °F) in June 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only 7 mm (0.3 in), 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 11 kph (7 mph).

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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 (54 °F), with a minimum of 4.5 °C (40.1 °F) and a maximum of 20.3 °C (68.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.4 °C (18.7 °F) in July 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 34.3 °C (93.7 °F) in July 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only 4.1 mm (0.2 in), 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 12 kph (8 mph).

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August is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 7.7 °C (45.9 °F) and a maximum of 24.3 °C (75.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3.8 °C (25.2 °F) in August 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 40.5 °C (104.9 °F) in August 1996.
Precipitation amounts to only 2.9 mm (0.1 in), 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 16 kph (10 mph).

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September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 12.2 °C (54 °F) and a maximum of 27.7 °C (81.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.9 °C (21.4 °F) in September 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99.5 °F). However, it reached 43.5 °C (110.3 °F) in September 2004.
Precipitation amounts to only 5.6 mm (0.2 in), 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 20 kph (12 mph).

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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 (75 °F), with a minimum of 16.9 °C (62.4 °F) and a maximum of 30.8 °C (87.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 2.3 °C (36.1 °F) in October 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39.5 °C (103 °F). However, it reached 47 °C (116.6 °F) in October 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 24.4 mm (1 in), 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 22 kph (14 mph).

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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 (79 °F), with a minimum of 19.6 °C (67.3 °F) and a maximum of 32.8 °C (91 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.8 °C (42.4 °F) in November 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 40 °C (104.5 °F). However, it reached 44 °C (111.2 °F) in November 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 45.1 mm (1.8 in), 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 24 kph (15 mph).

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December is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 28 °C (82 °F), with a minimum of 21.3 °C (70.3 °F) and a maximum of 34.6 °C (94.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it dropped to 8.9 °C (48 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 41 °C (106 °F). However, it reached 45 °C (113 °F) in December 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 73.4 mm (2.9 in), 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 23 kph (15 mph).