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Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
The climate of Río Gallegos is
temperate arid (according to the Köppen classification, cold semi-arid or steppe climate - BSk), with cold winters and cool summers.
The city is located in southern Argentina, at 51 degrees south latitude, in the province of Santa Cruz, on the estuary of the Gallego River, which gives the city its name. We are 60 km (37 mi) away from the southern border with Chile (although further south, there is the eastern part of the island of Tierra del Fuego, which also belongs to Argentina).
The rains are not abundant, but are well distributed throughout the year.
The
wind blows frequently, increasing the feeling of cold. The gusts can exceed 100 kmph (62 mph) even in summer. At night it gets often cold even in summer.
In
winter, from June to August, there may be cold spells, in which the temperature can drop to about -15 °C (5 °F). The coldest record is -20.2 °C (-4.4 °F) and was set in July 1982. Sometimes it can even snow.
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 30 °C (86 °F). However, the highest record is 35.8 °C (96.4 °F), set in February 2019.
Best Time
The best time to visit Río Gallegos is summer, from December to February, as it is the mildest of the year. It must be said 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 0.4 °C (32.7 °F), that of the warmest month (January) is of 13.2 °C (55.7 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
El Calafate - Average temperatures (1991-2020) |
| Month | Min | Max | Mean |
|---|
| January | 7.2 | 19.1 | 13.2 |
|---|
| February | 6.8 | 19.2 | 13 |
|---|
| March | 4.7 | 16.6 | 10.6 |
|---|
| April | 1.1 | 12.9 | 7 |
|---|
| May | -1.7 | 8.7 | 3.5 |
|---|
| June | -3.7 | 5.5 | 0.9 |
|---|
| July | -4.4 | 5.2 | 0.4 |
|---|
| August | -2.8 | 6.9 | 2.1 |
|---|
| September | -0.8 | 11.1 | 5.1 |
|---|
| October | 1.3 | 13.5 | 7.4 |
|---|
| November | 4 | 15.8 | 9.9 |
|---|
| December | 6.2 | 17.9 | 12 |
|---|
| Year | 1.5 | 12.7 | 7.05 |
|---|
amounts to 160 millimeters (6.3 inches) per year: it is therefore at a desert level. It ranges from 6.9 mm (0.3 in) in the driest months (January, November) to 20.3 mm (0.8 in) in the wettest one (May). Here is the average precipitation.
El Calafate - Average precipitation| Month | Days |
|---|
| January | 7 | 1 |
|---|
| February | 14 | 2 |
|---|
| March | 17 | 3 |
|---|
| April | 20 | 3 |
|---|
| May | 20 | 4 |
|---|
| June | 15 | 4 |
|---|
| July | 14 | 3 |
|---|
| August | 14 | 3 |
|---|
| September | 11 | 2 |
|---|
| October | 14 | 2 |
|---|
| November | 7 | 2 |
|---|
| December | 10 | 2 |
|---|
| Year | 160 | 31 |
|---|
There are on average around 2360
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
El Calafate - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
|---|
| January | 9.5 | 290 |
|---|
| February | 8.5 | 245 |
|---|
| March | 7 | 215 |
|---|
| April | 5.5 | 170 |
|---|
| May | 4 | 120 |
|---|
| June | 3 | 90 |
|---|
| July | 3.5 | 105 |
|---|
| August | 5 | 145 |
|---|
| September | 6.5 | 195 |
|---|
| October | 7.5 | 235 |
|---|
| November | 9 | 275 |
|---|
| December | 9 | 270 |
|---|
| Year | 6.5 | 2360 |
|---|
El Calafate - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
January, the warmest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.2 °C, with a minimum of
7.2 °C and a maximum of
19.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.8 °C in January 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
28.4 °C in January 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only
6.9 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 37%.
The average wind speed is of
18.5 kph.
February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13 °C, with a minimum of 6.8 °C and a maximum of 19.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C. However, it dropped to -3.8 °C in February 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C. However, it reached 28.4 °C in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 13.7 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.
The average wind speed is of 15.6 kph.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.6 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 4.7 °C (40.5 °F) and a maximum of 16.6 °C (61.9 °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 16.7 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 47%.
The average wind speed is of 10.5 kph.
April is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 1.1 °C (34 °F) and a maximum of 12.9 °C (55.2 °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 19.5 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is of 8.7 kph.
May is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 3.5 °C (38 °F), with a minimum of -1.7 °C (28.9 °F) and a maximum of 8.7 °C (47.7 °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 20.3 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of 6.9 kph.
June is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 0.9 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -3.7 °C (25.3 °F) and a maximum of 5.5 °C (41.9 °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 14.6 mm, distributed over 4 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 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 4.7 kph.
July, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 0.4 °C (33 °F), with a minimum of -4.4 °C (24.1 °F) and a maximum of 5.2 °C (41.4 °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 13.6 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 7.8 kph.
August is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.1 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -2.8 °C (27 °F) and a maximum of 6.9 °C (44.4 °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 14.2 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is of 10.5 kph.
September is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.1 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of -0.8 °C (30.6 °F) and a maximum of 11.1 °C (52 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning 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 end 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 11.4 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is of 12.2 kph.
October is generally a quite mild month. 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 beginning 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 end 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 13.5 mm, distributed over 2 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 46%.
The average wind speed is of 16 kph.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.9 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 4 °C (39.2 °F) and a maximum of 15.8 °C (60.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning 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 end 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 6.9 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is of 17.4 kph.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) and a maximum of 17.9 °C (64.2 °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 only 9.5 mm, distributed over 2 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 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is of 18.3 kph.