Weather and climate in Neuquen (Argentina)

Neuquén has a temperate arid climate (according to the Köppen classification, cold desert climate - BWk), with quite mild winters and hot summers, but with significant differences in temperature between night and day, as well as temperature changes from one day to the next. The wind blows frequently.
The city is located in Argentina, in northern Patagonia, at almost 40 degrees south latitude and 270 meters (885 feet) above sea level, and is the capital of the province of the same name. On the other side of the Neuquén River, which joins the Limay River to form the Río Negro, is the city of Cipolletti. Still nearby, but further west, is the city of Plottier.



Winter, from mid-May to mid-August, is quite mild, dry and sunny. However, it gets often cold at night, with minimum temperatures around 0 °C (32 °F).
Since precipitation is scarce, snowfall is quite rare, and generally not abundant. Furthermore, snow tends to melt quickly, since during the day the temperature exceeds freezing even in the coldest periods.
During the most intense cold spells, however, at night the temperature can drop to around -10 °C (14 °F). In June 1961, it dropped to -12.8 °C.
In summer, from December to February, it can sometimes get quite cold at night, while in other circumstances there can be heat waves, in which the temperature can reach 40 °C (104 °F). In January 2024, the temperature reached 41.6 °C (107.9 °F), in addition, the average maximum was 35.5 °C (96 °F). At the moment, the record remains that of January 1980, 42.3 °C (108.1 °F).
Fortunately, however, the air is dry, in addition, the wind blows frequently even in this season, indeed, even more than in winter.

Best Time

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It is difficult to find the best time to visit Neuquén, since at night, it can get cold all year round (but especially in winter), while during the day, it can get very hot all year round except in winter. However, you can choose the months of April and October.

Neuquen - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 6.8 °C (44.2 °F), that of the warmest month (January) is of 24 °C (75.2 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 210 millimeters (8.3 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 10 mm (0.4 in) in the driest months (August, December) to 33 mm (1.3 in) in the wettest one (October). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2685 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Neuquen - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 24 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 15.9 °C (60.6 °F) and a maximum of 32.1 °C (89.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.4 °C (41.7 °F) in January 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C (101.5 °F). However, it reached 41.7 °C (107.1 °F) in January 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 14 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 35%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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February is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 22.5 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 14.4 °C (57.9 °F) and a maximum of 30.6 °C (87.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.4 °C (39.9 °F) in February 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in February 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 13 mm (0.5 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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March is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.6 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 11.8 °C (53.2 °F) and a maximum of 27.4 °C (81.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.7 °C (33.3 °F) in March 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (95.5 °F). However, it reached 40.5 °C (104.9 °F) in March 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.5 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 7.2 °C (45 °F) and a maximum of 21.8 °C (71.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -4.8 °C (23.4 °F) in April 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 33.1 °C (91.6 °F) in April 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 22 mm (0.9 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.3 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 4 °C (39.2 °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 -4 °C (25 °F). However, it dropped to -10.5 °C (13.1 °F) in May 2007.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 29.1 °C (84.4 °F) in May 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 26 mm (1 in), distributed over 4 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 66%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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June is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.5 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 1.7 °C (35.1 °F) and a maximum of 13.3 °C (55.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (23 °F). However, it dropped to -8.4 °C (16.9 °F) in June 2003.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in June 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 18 mm (0.7 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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July, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 6.8 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of 0.5 °C (32.9 °F) and a maximum of 13.1 °C (55.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -11.8 °C (10.8 °F) in July 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) in July 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 18 mm (0.7 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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August is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 9.0 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 2 °C (35.6 °F) and a maximum of 16.1 °C (61 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (22.5 °F). However, it dropped to -9.7 °C (14.5 °F) in August 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 30.7 °C (87.3 °F) in August 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 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 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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September is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 12.0 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 4.8 °C (40.6 °F) and a maximum of 19.3 °C (66.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -5.5 °C (22.1 °F) in September 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in September 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 16 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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October is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 15.6 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 8.4 °C (47.1 °F) and a maximum of 22.9 °C (73.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -2.6 °C (27.3 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 35 °C (95 °F) in October 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 33 mm (1.3 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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November is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.5 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 11.9 °C (53.4 °F) and a maximum of 27.1 °C (80.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to -0.6 °C (30.9 °F) in November 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (93.5 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in November 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 18 mm (0.7 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 37%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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December is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 22.4 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 14.6 °C (58.3 °F) and a maximum of 30.3 °C (86.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47 °F). However, it dropped to 5 °C (41 °F) in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (98.5 °F). However, it reached 40.5 °C (104.9 °F) in December 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 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 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 34%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).