, with winters (June to September) characterized by cool temperatures, cloudy skies, fogs and mists, and summers (December to March) quite warm and sunny.
The city is located in the north of Chile, just south of the Tropic of Capricorn, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.
In the vicinity of the city there is a chain of low mountains, the Coastal Range, beyond which lies the
Desert, the driest place in the world. Antofagasta is also very dry, in fact it almost never rains. However, very rarely, such as in April 1991 or March 2015, there was abundant rainfall.
, which inhibits the formation of upward air currents that could generate rain clouds.
The sea current also makes the climate particularly mild, in fact the temperature almost never reaches 30 °C (86 °F).
Compared to Arica and Iquique, which are located further to the north, the climate in Antofagasta is a little cooler. However, in the years of
, when the temperature of the sea increases, it get a little warmer. In February 1983, the average maximum was 26.8 °C (80.2 °F), while in January 1998 the temperature reached 32 °C (89.5 °F).
to visit Antofagasta is summer, from December to March, as it is the warmest and sunniest season. The sea is quite cool, but in January and February it reaches the highest temperatures of the year.
Considering that it never rains and the temperatures are mild, you can also go in winter, from June to September, but the sun doesn't shine very often and the air is humid.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.6 °C, with a minimum of
17.4 °C and a maximum of
23.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16 °C. However, it dropped to
13.3 °C in January 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26.5 °C. However, it reached
31.8 °C in January 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
February is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.5 °C, with a minimum of
17.2 °C and a maximum of
23.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16.5 °C. However, it dropped to
12.9 °C in February 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
29.1 °C in February 2015.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 81% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.4 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
March is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.5 °C, with a minimum of
16.2 °C and a maximum of
22.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
13 °C in March 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
30.6 °C in March 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.7 °C, with a minimum of
14.5 °C and a maximum of
20.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C. However, it dropped to
9.8 °C in April 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24 °C. However, it reached
28 °C in April 2000.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.1 °C, with a minimum of
13.2 °C and a maximum of
19 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10.5 °C. However, it dropped to
7.9 °C in May 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
28 °C in May 2017.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.3 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
14.9 °C, with a minimum of
12.2 °C and a maximum of
17.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
6.1 °C in June 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20.5 °C. However, it reached
24 °C in June 2016.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.8 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
July, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14.2 °C, with a minimum of
11.6 °C and a maximum of
16.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
5.9 °C in July 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
22.6 °C in July 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.4 mm, distributed over 0 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 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
August is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
14.6 °C, with a minimum of
12.2 °C and a maximum of
17 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
6.4 °C in August 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C. However, it reached
27 °C in August 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.4 mm, distributed over 0 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 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.2 °C, with a minimum of
12.9 °C and a maximum of
17.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
7.1 °C in September 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C. However, it reached
25 °C in September 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.3 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.2 °C, with a minimum of
13.8 °C and a maximum of
18.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9.3 °C in October 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
26 °C in October 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only
0 mm, so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.5 °C, with a minimum of
15 °C and a maximum of
20.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
10.8 °C in November 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22 °C. However, it reached
24.5 °C in November 1992.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
December is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19 °C, with a minimum of
16.1 °C and a maximum of
21.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
12.5 °C in December 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24 °C. However, it reached
27.8 °C in December 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only
0.1 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.