Weather and climate in Potosi (Bolivia)

In Potosí, there is a temperate semi-arid highland climate, with mild and fairly stable daytime temperatures throughout the year, but with strong cold nights, especially during the austral winter, from May to August, when they normally drop below freezing.
The city is located in the southwest of Bolivia, on the Andean plateau. After El Alto, the upper part of La Paz, it is the Bolivian city located at the highest altitude, 3,950 meters (12,960 feet) in the center, although the altitude varies in the different districts from 3,600 to 4,200 meters (11,800 to 13,800 ft).
Just south of the city is the Cerro de Potosí (or Cerro Rico), a mountain, 4,782 meters (15,689 feet) high.
Winter is dry and sunny, while during the austral summer, from December to February, the rains are frequent.
The difference in temperature between night and day is considerable, especially in winter. During the day, the tropical mountain sun warms the ground strongly, but after sunset the temperature plunges by many degrees.
Although the winter is dry, and during the day the temperature usually rises a lot, sometimes it can even snow.

Best Time

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The best time to visit Potosí is from April to October, as it is the dry season. The winter, from May to August or September, is dry and sunny, but nights are very cold. In April and October, the rains are a little more frequent, but nights are a little milder.

Potosi - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 5.8 °C (42.4 °F), that of the warmest month (November) is of 10.9 °C (51.6 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 395 millimeters (15.6 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 1 mm (0 in) in the driest months (June, July) to 90 mm (3.5 in) in the wettest one (January). Here is the average precipitation.

Potosi - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.0 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 4.6 °C (40.3 °F) and a maximum of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6.3 °C (20.7 °F) in January 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (68.5 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 17 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.6 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 3.9 °C (39.1 °F) and a maximum of 15.3 °C (59.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3.7 °C (25.3 °F) in February 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it reached 23 °C (73.4 °F) in February 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.7 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 3.6 °C (38.5 °F) and a maximum of 15.9 °C (60.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.8 °C (21.6 °F) in March 2003.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (68.5 °F). However, it reached 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) in March 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 65%.
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 9.3 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 1.8 °C (35.2 °F) and a maximum of 16.7 °C (62.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -10.4 °C (13.3 °F) in April 1993.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (69.5 °F). However, it reached 26.9 °C (80.4 °F) in April 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 13 mm (0.5 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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May is generally a quite mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 7.3 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of -0.9 °C (30.4 °F) and a maximum of 15.5 °C (59.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (22.5 °F). However, it dropped to -9.5 °C (14.9 °F) in May 2001.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it reached 24.9 °C (76.8 °F) in May 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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June is generally a quite cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 6.4 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of -2 °C (28.4 °F) and a maximum of 14.7 °C (58.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21 °F). However, it dropped to -11.8 °C (10.8 °F) in June 2003.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66.5 °F). However, it reached 23 °C (73.4 °F) in June 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 37%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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July, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 5.8 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of -2.7 °C (27.1 °F) and a maximum of 14.2 °C (57.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19.5 °F). However, it dropped to -12.9 °C (8.8 °F) in July 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65 °F). However, it reached 24 °C (75.2 °F) in July 2004.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
The average humidity is 36%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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August is generally a quite mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 6.9 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of -1.6 °C (29.2 °F) and a maximum of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22 °F). However, it dropped to -11.4 °C (11.5 °F) in August 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it reached 26 °C (78.8 °F) in August 1995.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 36%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 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 8.7 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 0.7 °C (33.3 °F) and a maximum of 16.6 °C (61.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (24.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8.9 °C (16 °F) in September 2003.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) in September 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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October is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 10.4 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 2.8 °C (37.1 °F) and a maximum of 18 °C (64.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29 °F). However, it dropped to -5.7 °C (21.7 °F) in October 2003.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 28.9 °C (84 °F) in October 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
The average humidity is 44%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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November, the warmest month of the year, is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 10.9 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 3.9 °C (38.9 °F) and a maximum of 17.9 °C (64.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.2 °C (22.6 °F) in November 2003.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (72 °F). However, it reached 31.2 °C (88.2 °F) in November 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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December, the warmest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.5 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 4.1 °C (39.4 °F) and a maximum of 16.8 °C (62.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.6 °C (23.7 °F) in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 30.1 °C (86.2 °F) in December 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).