Climate - Salta (Argentina)

The climate of Salta is subtropical, affected by altitude, with dry, mild winters (but during which it can get cold at night), and warm, rainy summers. In summer, the rains often occur in the form of thunderstorms. January is the wettest month.
The city is located in the north of Argentina, just south of the Tropic of Capricorn, in a valley at the foot of the Andes, at 1,150 meters (3,770 feet) above sea level.
In winter, the difference in temperature between night and day is often noticeable.
Snow in Salta is very rare, both because the winter is dry and because the tropical sun generally warms the ground and raises the temperature a lot during the day. However, between 16 and 18 July 2010, there was a historic snowfall, in fact, a few centimeters of snow fell and the maximum temperature was only 1 °C (34 °F).
Instead, from May to September, the temperature drops drops quite often to the freezing point or even below. In August 1966, the temperature dropped to -9.4 °C (15 °F), though with a maximum of 17 ° C, while in July 2009, it dropped to -8 °C (17.5 °F).
During the day it can get hot all year round, in fact, the heat records exceed 30 °C (86 °F) even in winter. However, the hottest days of the year are generally recorded in spring, because in summer the rains lower the temperature a bit. In late November 1972, the temperature reached 39.9 °C (103.8 °F), while in October 2019, it reached 39.3 °C (102.7 °F).
Not far from Salta there are very high mountains. About 85 km (52 mi) to the north-west we find the Nevado de Chañi, 5,930 meters (19,455 ft) high, while just 53 km (33 mi) to the south-west we find the Cerro Malcante, 5,100 meters (16,732 ft) high.

Best Time

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To visit Salta you can choose autumn, from the end of March to mid-May, since it is a mild and fairly dry period (although it can get quite cold at night, especially in May). In winter it can get cold at night, although the air usually gets mild during the day. In spring, starting from mid-August, it can be very hot.

Salta - Climate data

In Salta, the average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 11.6 °C (52.9 °F), that of the warmest month (December) is of 22.6 °C (72.7 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Salta, precipitation amounts to 755 millimeters (29.7 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 3 mm (0.1 in) in the driest month (June) to 180 mm (7.1 in) in the wettest one (January). Here is the average precipitation.
In Salta, there are on average around 2260 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Salta - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Salta is usually warm. The average temperature is of 22.5 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 16.6 °C (61.9 °F) and a maximum of 28.4 °C (83 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it dropped to 9.4 °C (48.9 °F) in January 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 36.4 °C (97.5 °F) in January 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 180 mm (7.1 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In February, the weather in Salta is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.7 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 16.1 °C (60.9 °F) and a maximum of 27.3 °C (81.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it dropped to 6 °C (42.8 °F) in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 35.1 °C (95.2 °F) in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 165 mm (6.5 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In March, the weather in Salta is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.4 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 15.1 °C (59.2 °F) and a maximum of 25.8 °C (78.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (50.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) in March 2012.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 35 °C (95 °F) in March 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In April, the weather in Salta is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.9 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 11.9 °C (53.5 °F) and a maximum of 23.8 °C (74.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.2 °C (32.4 °F) in April 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 33 °C (91.4 °F) in April 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In May, the weather in Salta is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.5 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 7.8 °C (46 °F) and a maximum of 21.2 °C (70.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -3.3 °C (26.1 °F) in May 2008.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 31.6 °C (88.9 °F) in May 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only 9 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In June, the weather in Salta is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 12.3 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 4 °C (39.3 °F) and a maximum of 20.6 °C (69 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.9 °C (21.4 °F) in June 1994.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in June 2007.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 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 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In July, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Salta is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 11.6 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 2.5 °C (36.6 °F) and a maximum of 20.7 °C (69.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (25 °F). However, it dropped to -8 °C (17.6 °F) in July 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in July 2005.
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In August, the weather in Salta is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.0 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 4.6 °C (40.3 °F) and a maximum of 23.4 °C (74.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.8 °C (21.6 °F) in August 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 37 °C (98.6 °F) in August 2015.
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In September, the weather in Salta is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 16.6 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 7.8 °C (46 °F) and a maximum of 25.4 °C (77.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.5 °C (23.9 °F) in September 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 37.5 °C (99.5 °F) in September 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only 7 mm (0.3 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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In October, the weather in Salta is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20.0 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 12.1 °C (53.7 °F) and a maximum of 28 °C (82.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.3 °C (29.7 °F) in October 2009.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (97 °F). However, it reached 39.3 °C (102.7 °F) in October 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 26 mm (1 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In November, the weather in Salta is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.3 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 14.1 °C (57.4 °F) and a maximum of 28.6 °C (83.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 2.6 °C (36.7 °F) in November 2016.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95 °F). However, it reached 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) in November 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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In December, the weather in Salta is usually warm to hot and muggy. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 22.6 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 16 °C (60.7 °F) and a maximum of 29.3 °C (84.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (51 °F). However, it dropped to 6.4 °C (43.5 °F) in December 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 140 mm (5.5 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).