Weather and climate in Antofagasta (Chile)

The climate of Antofagasta is subtropical desert, 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 Atacama 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.
The cause of the aridity is a cold sea current, the Humboldt Current, 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 El Niño, 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).

Best Time

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The best time 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.

Antofagasta - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 14.2 °C (57.6 °F), that of the warmest month (January) is of 20.6 °C (69.0 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 0 millimeters (0 inches) per year: it is therefore at a desert level. In practice, it never rains.
The sea temperature ranges from 16 °C (61 °F) in July, August, September to 22.5 °C (72 °F) in February. Here are the average sea temperatures.
There are on average around 3035 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Antofagasta - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.6 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 17.4 °C (63.3 °F) and a maximum of 23.7 °C (74.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it dropped to 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) in January 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 31.8 °C (89.2 °F) in January 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), 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 14 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (71.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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February is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.5 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 17.2 °C (62.9 °F) and a maximum of 23.8 °C (74.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it dropped to 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) in February 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (78 °F). However, it reached 29.1 °C (84.4 °F) in February 2015.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), 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 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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March is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.5 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 16.2 °C (61.1 °F) and a maximum of 22.8 °C (73.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57 °F). However, it dropped to 13 °C (55.4 °F) in March 2003.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 30.6 °C (87.1 °F) in March 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), 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 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.7 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 14.5 °C (58.2 °F) and a maximum of 20.8 °C (69.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9.8 °C (49.6 °F) in April 2001.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (74.5 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in April 2000.
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 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 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20 °C (68 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.1 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 13.2 °C (55.8 °F) and a maximum of 19 °C (66.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (50.5 °F). However, it dropped to 7.9 °C (46.2 °F) in May 2007.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in May 2017.
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 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 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.9 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 12.2 °C (54 °F) and a maximum of 17.6 °C (63.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.1 °C (43 °F) in June 2010.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (68.5 °F). However, it reached 24 °C (75.2 °F) in June 2016.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), 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 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17.5 °C (63 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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July, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 14.2 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 11.6 °C (53 °F) and a maximum of 16.8 °C (62.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 5.9 °C (42.6 °F) in July 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it reached 22.6 °C (72.7 °F) in July 1997.
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 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 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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August is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.6 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 12.2 °C (53.9 °F) and a maximum of 17 °C (62.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 6.4 °C (43.5 °F) in August 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68.5 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in August 1997.
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 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 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (60.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.2 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) and a maximum of 17.6 °C (63.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 7.1 °C (44.8 °F) in September 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in September 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
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 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.2 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 13.8 °C (56.9 °F) and a maximum of 18.6 °C (65.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9.3 °C (48.7 °F) in October 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 26 °C (78.8 °F) in October 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), 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 15 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17 °C (62.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.5 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 15 °C (59 °F) and a maximum of 20.1 °C (68.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it dropped to 10.8 °C (51.4 °F) in November 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (72 °F). However, it reached 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) in November 1992.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
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 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18.5 °C (65 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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December is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.0 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 16.1 °C (61.1 °F) and a maximum of 21.8 °C (71.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F). However, it dropped to 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) in December 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75.5 °F). However, it reached 27.8 °C (82 °F) in December 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
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 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20 °C (68 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.