Climate - El Calafate (Argentina)

The climate of El Calafate is temperate arid, with cold winters and cool summers.
The city is located in southern Argentina, in the province of Santa Cruz, at 200 meters (650 feet) above sea level, on the shores of Lake Argentino. The lake, of glacial origin, is protected in the Los Glaciares National Park, together with Lake Viedma and other smaller lakes. The lakes are fed by the South Patagonian Ice Field, an Andean glacier along the border between Chile and Argentina, which is the third largest in the world after those of Antarctica and Greenland.
Some ice tongues, such as that of the Perito Moreno glacier, enter directly into the lake. Among the most famous mountains in the area, we can mention Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.
The rains in El Calafate are scarce, however, they are a little more frequent in autumn and winter, from April to August, while they are very scarce in summer, from December to February.
Compared to the Tierra del Fuego, the mountains partly protect this area from the wind, which however often blows from October to February.
In winter, from June to August, there may be cold spells, in which the temperature can drop to about -15 °C (5 °F).
Snowfalls generally occur from May to September.
Along with Río Gallegos and Río Grande, El Calafate is one of the coldest cities in Argentina.
During polar cold spells, Lake Argentino can freeze.
The summer, from December to February, is mild, with cool nights, and sometimes cold. The lowest records are below freezing even in this season.
Sometimes there may be short warm periodos, although the temperature rarely exceeds 25 °C (77 °F).

Best Time

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The best time to visit El Calafate is summer, from December to February, as it is the mildest of the year. It must be said that the sun does not shine very often, and that it can sometimes get cold even in this season.

El Calafate - Climate data

In El Calafate, the average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 0.8 °C (33.5 °F), that of the warmest month (January) is of 13.6 °C (56.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In El Calafate, precipitation amounts to 210 millimeters (8.3 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 8 mm (0.3 in) in the driest month (February) to 30 mm (1.2 in) in the wettest one (May). Here is the average precipitation.
In El Calafate, there are on average around 2145 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

El Calafate - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the warmest month of the year, the weather in El Calafate is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.6 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 7.4 °C (45.3 °F) and a maximum of 19.8 °C (67.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.8 °C (30.6 °F) in January 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76 °F). However, it reached 28.4 °C (83.1 °F) in January 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 12 mm (0.5 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 37%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).

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In February, the weather in El Calafate is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.2 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) and a maximum of 19.6 °C (67.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3.8 °C (25.2 °F) in February 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (79 °F). However, it reached 28.4 °C (83.1 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only 8 mm (0.3 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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In March, the weather in El Calafate is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.2 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 5 °C (41 °F) and a maximum of 17.3 °C (63.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -6.8 °C (19.8 °F) in March 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74 °F). However, it reached 26.6 °C (79.9 °F) in March 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 14 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 47%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In April, the weather in El Calafate is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.4 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 1.3 °C (34.3 °F) and a maximum of 13.5 °C (56.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (23 °F). However, it dropped to -9.6 °C (14.7 °F) in April 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 24.3 °C (75.7 °F) in April 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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In May, the weather in El Calafate is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.0 °C (39 °F), with a minimum of -1.2 °C (29.8 °F) and a maximum of 9.3 °C (48.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7.5 °C (18.5 °F). However, it dropped to -12.8 °C (9 °F) in May 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it reached 20.8 °C (69.4 °F) in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In June, the weather in El Calafate is usually cold. The average temperature is of 1.0 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -3.6 °C (25.5 °F) and a maximum of 5.7 °C (42.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -10.5 °C (13.5 °F). However, it dropped to -16.6 °C (2.1 °F) in June 2008.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (54 °F). However, it reached 18 °C (64.4 °F) in June 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 5 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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In July, the coldest month of the year, the weather in El Calafate is usually cold. The average temperature is of 0.8 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -4 °C (24.8 °F) and a maximum of 5.7 °C (42.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11.5 °C (11.5 °F). However, it dropped to -17.4 °C (0.7 °F) in July 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it reached 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) in July 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In August, the weather in El Calafate is usually cold. The average temperature is of 2.6 °C (37 °F), with a minimum of -2.6 °C (27.3 °F) and a maximum of 7.7 °C (45.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9 °C (16 °F). However, it dropped to -15.2 °C (4.6 °F) in August 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it reached 17.4 °C (63.3 °F) in August 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In September, the weather in El Calafate is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.2 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of -0.7 °C (30.7 °F) and a maximum of 11 °C (51.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C (20 °F). However, it dropped to -13 °C (8.6 °F) in September 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it reached 21.3 °C (70.3 °F) in September 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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In October, the weather in El Calafate is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 8 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 1.7 °C (35.1 °F) and a maximum of 14.3 °C (57.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22.5 °F). However, it dropped to -9 °C (15.8 °F) in October 2020.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 23.1 °C (73.6 °F) in October 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 12 mm (0.5 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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In November, the weather in El Calafate is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.6 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 4.3 °C (39.7 °F) and a maximum of 16.8 °C (62.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.6 °C (21.9 °F) in November 2014.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 26.3 °C (79.3 °F) in November 1992.
Precipitation amounts to only 9 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).

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In December, the weather in El Calafate is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.4 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 6.4 °C (43.5 °F) and a maximum of 18.4 °C (65.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -5 °C (23 °F) in December 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). However, it reached 28.3 °C (82.9 °F) in December 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 14 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).