, with mild winters (during which it can get cold at night) and hot summers (but with generally cool nights).
The city is located in the center-north of Argentina, in the province of Mendoza, at 34 degrees south latitude, and at 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level. Going west, along the Diamante River, the altitude gradually increases, with the approach of the
, which about 100 km (62 mi) further west exceed 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level. The highest peaks at this latitude reach about 5,000 meters (16,500 ft) in height.
, from late May to mid-August, the difference in temperature between night and day is often noticeable, and, night frosts are quite frequent. During outbreaks cold air from the south, the temperature can drop to -5 °C (23 °F) or below at night and can remain around 8/10 °C (46/50 °F) during the day. In July 2000, it dropped to -9.7 °C (14.5 °F).
Since winter is dry, snow in San Rafael is rare, however, snowfalls can occur from time to time, usually light.
On the other hand, the wind that comes down from the mountains, called Zonda and similar to the Föhn and the Chinook, is able to raise the temperature by several degrees, it is no coincidence that the heat records exceed 25 °C (77 °F) even in winter.
, from December to February, there can be heat waves, in which the temperature can reach or exceed 38/40 °C (100/104 °F). In January 2003, it reached 43.3 °C (109.9 °F).
Even in summer, however, there can be outbursts of cool air from the south, perhaps accompanied by a thunderstorm, which can greatly lower the temperature for two or three days, so much so that at night it can be very cool even in midsummer.
To visit San Rafael you can choose the intermediate seasons, in particular, from mid-April to mid-May (autumn), and from mid-September to mid-October (spring). It must be said that there can be temperature changes, sometimes at night it can get cold, while during the day it can get hot, although rarely.
. Here are the average temperatures.
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
23.8 °C, with a minimum of
15.8 °C and a maximum of
31.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
3.8 °C in January 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
38 °C. However, it reached
42.8 °C in January 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
54.2 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is of
9.8 kph.
February is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
22.4 °C, with a minimum of
14.7 °C and a maximum of
30.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
3.4 °C in February 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37 °C. However, it reached
40.5 °C in February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
50.6 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is of
9.3 kph.
March is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
20.2 °C, with a minimum of
12.9 °C and a maximum of
27.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
0.1 °C in March 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
38 °C in March 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
40.2 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is of
8.5 kph.
April is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
15.6 °C, with a minimum of
8.6 °C and a maximum of
22.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2 °C in April 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
35.4 °C in April 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
26.6 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is of
7.6 kph.
May 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
5.2 °C and a maximum of
18.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-6.4 °C in May 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26.5 °C. However, it reached
33 °C in May 1997.
Precipitation amounts to
21.3 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is of
7.3 kph.
June is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
9 °C, with a minimum of
1.9 °C and a maximum of
16.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-6.2 °C in June 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
29.8 °C in June 2015.
Precipitation amounts to only
7.2 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 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 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is of
7.9 kph.
July, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
8.1 °C, with a minimum of
0.8 °C and a maximum of
15.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5 °C. However, it dropped to
-9.7 °C in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
28 °C in July 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
11.1 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is of
8.6 kph.
August is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
10.2 °C, with a minimum of
2.3 °C and a maximum of
18 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4 °C. However, it dropped to
-8 °C in August 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28 °C. However, it reached
33.4 °C in August 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
14.5 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 49%.
The average wind speed is of
9.6 kph.
September is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
12.7 °C, with a minimum of
4.9 °C and a maximum of
20.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.5 °C in September 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
34.6 °C in September 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
21.5 mm, 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 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is of
9.6 kph.
October is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
16 °C, with a minimum of
8.2 °C and a maximum of
23.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.8 °C in October 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32.5 °C. However, it reached
36.2 °C in October 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
38.3 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is of
10 kph.
November is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
19.5 °C, with a minimum of
11.4 °C and a maximum of
27.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.3 °C in November 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
38.3 °C in November 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
36.2 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is of
10.4 kph.
December is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
22.4 °C, with a minimum of
14.2 °C and a maximum of
30.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
3.5 °C in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37 °C. However, it reached
41.5 °C in December 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
41.2 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 14 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 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 44%.
The average wind speed is of
10.6 kph.