, 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.
"), capital of the province of La Rioja, is located in northern Argentina, at 29 degrees south latitude, at 500 meters above sea level, and at the foot of the Andes.
, in turn belonging to the Sierras Pampeanas, separates the city of La Rioja from the Chilecito Valley. Even further west, about 100 km away, is the closest very high peak, the
(or Cerro General Belgrano), 6,115 meters (20,062 feet) high.
, at an altitude of about 1,500 meters (5,000 ft), which has an arid landscape although rich in biodiversity.
In the Andes to the west of La Rioja the climate is semi-arid, however, in summer there can be some rain (and snow in the high mountains).
, from mid-May to mid-August, the difference in temperature between night and day is often significant. In addition, 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 -7.2 °C (19 °F), recorded in August 1966, while after 1991, the temperature dropped to -6.5 °C (20.3 °F) in July 2000.
in La Rioja is very rare, both because the winter is dry and because the sun usually warms the ground and raises the temperature a lot during the day. However, on July 16 and 17, 2010, there was a snowfall that produced a light layer, and on the second day the maximum temperature was only 3 °C (37.5 °F).
, from December to February, is very hot, in fact La Rioja is one of the few Argentine cities where the average maximum in December and January exceeds 35 °C (95 °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 the worst moments the temperature can reach 45 °C (113 °F). The record is 46.4 °C, set in late December 1971. In December 1995, the temperature reached 46 °C, while in December 2013 the average maximum was 39 °C.
It is difficult to find the best time to visit La Rioja, 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. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
28.4 °C, with a minimum of
21.5 °C and a maximum of
35.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
11.8 °C in January 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
42 °C. However, it reached
45.5 °C in January 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
90.3 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is of
8.6 kph.
February is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
26.6 °C, with a minimum of
20.1 °C and a maximum of
33.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
9.5 °C in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
40 °C. However, it reached
44.1 °C in February 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
78.8 mm, distributed over 7 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 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is of
7.8 kph.
March is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24.7 °C, with a minimum of
18.6 °C and a maximum of
30.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9 °C in March 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37.5 °C. However, it reached
42 °C in March 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
63.4 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
7.6 kph.
April is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.7 °C, with a minimum of
14.6 °C and a maximum of
26.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
2 °C in April 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
38.6 °C in April 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
30.8 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
6.7 kph.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.2 °C, with a minimum of
9.9 °C and a maximum of
22.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-3 °C in May 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
37.3 °C in May 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
8.2 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
6.3 kph.
June is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
12.6 °C, with a minimum of
5.6 °C and a maximum of
19.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4 °C in June 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
29.4 °C in June 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only
4 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
6.2 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
11.8 °C, with a minimum of
4.2 °C and a maximum of
19.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2 °C. However, it dropped to
-6.5 °C in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27 °C. However, it reached
34 °C in July 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
4.2 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is of
6.8 kph.
August is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
15.1 °C, with a minimum of
6.9 °C and a maximum of
23.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.9 °C in August 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
40 °C in August 1996.
Precipitation amounts to only
3.3 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is of
7.7 kph.
September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
19.1 °C, with a minimum of
11.3 °C and a maximum of
26.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.5 °C in September 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
42.6 °C in September 2004.
Precipitation amounts to only
8.9 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 44%.
The average wind speed is of
8.7 kph.
October is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
23.4 °C, with a minimum of
15.9 °C and a maximum of
30.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8 °C. However, it dropped to
4.2 °C in October 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
39.5 °C. However, it reached
45.2 °C in October 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
19.5 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is of
9.5 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
18.9 °C and a maximum of
33.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11 °C. However, it dropped to
6.5 °C in November 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
41 °C. However, it reached
44.6 °C in November 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
32 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is of
9.8 kph.
December is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
28.1 °C, with a minimum of
20.8 °C and a maximum of
35.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
11 °C in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
42.5 °C. However, it reached
46 °C in December 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
66.9 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is of
9.4 kph.