Weather and climate in Tarija (Bolivia)

In Tarija (or San Bernardo de la Frontera de Tarixa), there is a subtropical mountain climate, with quite stable daytime temperatures throughout the year, while during the austral winter, from May to August, it gets cold at night.
The city is located in southern Bolivia, on the Andean plateau, at 1,850 meters (6,070 feet) above sea level.
The rains are frequent from November to March, while the winter is dry and sunny.
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.
During the day it can get hot all year round, in fact the heat records exceed 30 °C (86 °F) even in winter.
Sometimes, cold air masses of Antarctic origin can lower the temperature by several degrees, especially in winter, when the maximum temperature can remain below 10 °C (50 °F). Occasionally it can even snow. In July 2019, the city was covered in white, as it hadn't happened for several years.
Therefore, especially in winter, the temperature changes are considerable, and you can go from hot to cold in a few days, and vice versa.

Best Time

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The best time to visit Tarija 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 cold. In April and October, the rains are a little more frequent, but nights are a little milder.

Tarija - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 13.8 °C (56.8 °F), that of the warmest month (December) is of 21.5 °C (70.7 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 585 millimeters (23 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest months (June, July) to 130 mm (5.1 in) in the wettest one (January). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 3120 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Tarija - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.3 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 15.3 °C (59.5 °F) and a maximum of 27.4 °C (81.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it dropped to 7 °C (44.6 °F) in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in January 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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February is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.7 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 14.8 °C (58.7 °F) and a maximum of 26.6 °C (79.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5 °C (41 °F) in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 36.8 °C (98.2 °F) in February 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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March is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.4 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 14.4 °C (57.9 °F) and a maximum of 26.3 °C (79.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 7 °C (44.6 °F) in March 2000.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90.5 °F). However, it reached 37.5 °C (99.5 °F) in March 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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April is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 12 °C (53.5 °F) and a maximum of 26 °C (78.9 °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 -1 °C (30.2 °F) in April 2016.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 37 °C (98.6 °F) in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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May is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 16.0 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 7.4 °C (45.3 °F) and a maximum of 24.7 °C (76.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.8 °C (27 °F) in May 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 35.2 °C (95.4 °F) in May 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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June is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.2 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 3.9 °C (39 °F) and a maximum of 24.5 °C (76 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -7.7 °C (18.1 °F) in June 1996.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (89.5 °F). However, it reached 34.6 °C (94.3 °F) in June 2010.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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July, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 13.8 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 3.2 °C (37.8 °F) and a maximum of 24.3 °C (75.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (26 °F). However, it dropped to -8 °C (17.6 °F) in July 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) in July 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 80% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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August is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 15.9 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 5.8 °C (42.4 °F) and a maximum of 26.1 °C (78.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.8 °C (23.4 °F) in August 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 37.4 °C (99.3 °F) in August 2015.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 84% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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September is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.9 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 8.8 °C (47.8 °F) and a maximum of 27 °C (80.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -2.4 °C (27.7 °F) in September 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (96.5 °F). However, it reached 39.5 °C (103.1 °F) in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to only 7 mm (0.3 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 49%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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October is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20.4 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 12.7 °C (54.8 °F) and a maximum of 28.2 °C (82.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.8 °C (37 °F) in October 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 39.7 °C (103.5 °F) in October 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 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 20.6 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 13.7 °C (56.6 °F) and a maximum of 27.6 °C (81.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 4.2 °C (39.6 °F) in November 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95 °F). However, it reached 39 °C (102.2 °F) in November 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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December is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.5 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 15.1 °C (59.1 °F) and a maximum of 28 °C (82.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C (51.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6 °C (42.8 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 125 mm (4.9 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes. 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 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).