Climate - Santa Cruz (Bolivia)

The climate of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the most populous city in Bolivia, is tropical, with a pleasantly warm, quite dry period from May to mid-August and a hot, rainy period from November to March.
The city is located in the center of Bolivia, on the banks of the Piraí River, at 17 degrees south latitude and at an altitude of 400 meters (1,300 feet). To the west are the Andes, while to the east is the tropical plain of Bolivia.
The wind often blows, especially in winter and spring, from June to October.
The temperature can drop considerably when the "surazos" blow, the cold winds coming from the Argentine Pampas. The phenomenon is more evident in winter. For example, in July 2007 (when it snowed in Buenos Aires), there were two days with rain and a maximum of 8 °C (46.5 °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, from September to March there can be heat waves, in which the temperature reaches or exceeds 35 °C (95 °F).

Best Time

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The best time to visit Santa Cruz de la Sierra is winter, from May to mid-August, as it is the driest and coolest time of the year. It must be said that in this season there can be sudden changes in temperature and some cold days. August is the driest month, but from the middle of the month the temperature rises and it can sometimes get very hot.

Santa Cruz - Climate data

In Santa Cruz, the average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 20.8 °C (69.4 °F), that of the warmest month (January) is of 26.9 °C (80.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Santa Cruz, precipitation amounts to 1280 millimeters (50.4 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 40 mm (1.6 in) in the driest month (August) to 200 mm (7.9 in) in the wettest one (January). Here is the average precipitation.
In Santa Cruz, there are on average around 2740 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Santa Cruz - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 26.9 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 22.6 °C (72.6 °F) and a maximum of 31.3 °C (88.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 19 °C (66 °F). However, it dropped to 14 °C (57.2 °F) in January 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (96 °F). However, it reached 38.8 °C (101.8 °F) in January 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 200 mm (7.9 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).

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In February, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 26.4 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 22.2 °C (72 °F) and a maximum of 30.7 °C (87.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18.5 °C (65 °F). However, it dropped to 13 °C (55.4 °F) in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 39 °C (102.2 °F) in February 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 9 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 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).

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In March, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 26.2 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 21.9 °C (71.4 °F) and a maximum of 30.6 °C (87 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 17 °C (63 °F). However, it dropped to 11.4 °C (52.5 °F) in March 1997.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93.5 °F). However, it reached 37.2 °C (99 °F) in March 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).

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In April, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 24.8 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 20.4 °C (68.6 °F) and a maximum of 29.2 °C (84.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57 °F). However, it dropped to 9 °C (48.2 °F) in April 1999.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) in April 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).

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In May, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm. The average temperature is of 22.1 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 18 °C (64.5 °F) and a maximum of 26.3 °C (79.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (51 °F). However, it dropped to 8 °C (46.4 °F) in May 1993.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 33.8 °C (92.8 °F) in May 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 7 days.
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 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).

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In June, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.9 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 16.8 °C (62.2 °F) and a maximum of 24.9 °C (76.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it dropped to 3.5 °C (38.3 °F) in June 1996.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (86.5 °F). However, it reached 32 °C (89.6 °F) in June 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 22 kph (14 mph).

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In July, the coolest month of the year, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.8 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 16.1 °C (61 °F) and a maximum of 25.5 °C (77.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4 °C (39.2 °F) in July 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (88.5 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in July 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 23 kph (14 mph).

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In August, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 23.0 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 17.7 °C (63.9 °F) and a maximum of 28.4 °C (83.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.6 °C (42.1 °F) in August 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (93.5 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in August 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 24 kph (15 mph).

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In September, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 25.1 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 19.7 °C (67.4 °F) and a maximum of 30.4 °C (86.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (54 °F). However, it dropped to 8.2 °C (46.8 °F) in September 1993.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (96.5 °F). However, it reached 39.5 °C (103.1 °F) in September 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 23 kph (14 mph).

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In October, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 26.4 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 21.5 °C (70.6 °F) and a maximum of 31.3 °C (88.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it dropped to 14 °C (57.2 °F) in October 1992.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (97 °F). However, it reached 38.4 °C (101.1 °F) in October 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 22 kph (14 mph).

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In November, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 26.6 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 21.8 °C (71.2 °F) and a maximum of 31.5 °C (88.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it dropped to 10.6 °C (51.1 °F) in November 1999.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (96.5 °F). However, it reached 39 °C (102.2 °F) in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 7 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 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 21 kph (13 mph).

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In December, the weather in Santa Cruz is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 26.6 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F) and a maximum of 31 °C (87.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18 °C (64 °F). However, it dropped to 14.8 °C (58.6 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95 °F). However, it reached 38.9 °C (102 °F) in December 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 170 mm (6.7 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 21 kph (13 mph).