Climate - Balmaceda (Chile)

The climate of Balmaceda is cold oceanic, with cold winters (June to August) and cool summers (December to February).
The village is located in southern Chile, at almost 46 degrees south latitude, near the border with Argentina, 500 meters (1,650 feet) above sea level and southeast of Coyhaique. To the southwest is the Cerro Castillo National Park, occupied by mountains and lakes, while further south is Lake General Carrera, the largest in Chile, which in the Argentine part is called Lake Buenos Aires.
The wind blows moderate or strong all year round, but especially in summer.
Precipitation is not abundant because we are east of the Andes, which protect this area from the wet currents coming from the Pacific. However, precipitation is quite frequent in summer, and very frequent in winter, when it can occur in the form of snow. In addition, polar cold waves can occur in winter, in which the temperature can drop to -15 °C (5 °F) or even below.
Sometimes, at night it can get cold even in summer.
The city of Balmaceda should not be confused with Mount Balmaceda, which is located much further south, in the Magallanes region.

Best Time

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The best time to visit Balmaceda is the summer, from December to February, as it is the mildest and sunniest of the year. However, at night it can get cold even in this season.

Balmaceda - Climate data

In Balmaceda, the average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 1.0 °C (33.9 °F), that of the warmest month (February) is of 13.2 °C (55.7 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Balmaceda, precipitation amounts to 540 millimeters (21.3 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 20 mm (0.8 in) in the driest month (February) to 85 mm (3.3 in) in the wettest one (June). Here is the average precipitation.
In Balmaceda, there are on average around 2545 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Balmaceda - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Balmaceda is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.9 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 7 °C (44.6 °F) and a maximum of 18.8 °C (65.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -3.3 °C (26.1 °F) in January 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 33.2 °C (91.8 °F) in January 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 34 kph (21 mph).

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In February, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Balmaceda is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.2 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) and a maximum of 19.6 °C (67.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.2 °C (19 °F) in February 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 35.2 °C (95.4 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 30 kph (18 mph).

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In March, the weather in Balmaceda is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.7 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 4.8 °C (40.6 °F) and a maximum of 16.7 °C (62.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (22.5 °F). However, it dropped to -10.3 °C (13.5 °F) in March 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 29 °C (84.2 °F) in March 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 28 kph (17 mph).

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In April, the weather in Balmaceda is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.8 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) and a maximum of 13.1 °C (55.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19 °F). However, it dropped to -12.6 °C (9.3 °F) in April 2012.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 23.2 °C (73.8 °F) in April 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 25 kph (15 mph).

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In May, the weather in Balmaceda is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.6 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of 0.4 °C (32.7 °F) and a maximum of 8.9 °C (48 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (15 °F). However, it dropped to -15.9 °C (3.4 °F) in May 2008.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it reached 19.7 °C (67.5 °F) in May 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).

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In June, the weather in Balmaceda is usually cold. The average temperature is of 1.7 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -2 °C (28.4 °F) and a maximum of 5.3 °C (41.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -12.5 °C (9.5 °F). However, it dropped to -25.8 °C (-14.4 °F) in June 2002.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 10.5 °C (51 °F). However, it reached 18.9 °C (66 °F) in June 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 40 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).

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In July, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Balmaceda is usually cold. The average temperature is of 1.0 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -2.6 °C (27.2 °F) and a maximum of 4.7 °C (40.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -15 °C (5.5 °F). However, it dropped to -25.2 °C (-13.4 °F) in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10 °C (50.5 °F). However, it reached 13.1 °C (55.6 °F) in July 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).

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In August, the weather in Balmaceda is usually cold. The average temperature is of 3.1 °C (37 °F), with a minimum of -1.1 °C (30.1 °F) and a maximum of 7.2 °C (44.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (15 °F). However, it dropped to -18.7 °C (-1.7 °F) in August 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (54 °F). However, it reached 15.1 °C (59.2 °F) in August 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 21 kph (13 mph).

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In September, the weather in Balmaceda is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.6 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 0.6 °C (33.2 °F) and a maximum of 10.5 °C (50.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19 °F). However, it dropped to -15.8 °C (3.6 °F) in September 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it reached 22.4 °C (72.3 °F) in September 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 25 kph (15 mph).

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In October, the weather in Balmaceda is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.6 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 2.1 °C (35.8 °F) and a maximum of 13.2 °C (55.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22 °F). However, it dropped to -9.5 °C (14.9 °F) in October 2009.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in October 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 29 kph (18 mph).

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In November, the weather in Balmaceda is usually mild. The average temperature is of 9.8 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 4.2 °C (39.5 °F) and a maximum of 15.5 °C (59.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (26.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.7 °C (18.1 °F) in November 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 November 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 32 kph (20 mph).

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In December, the weather in Balmaceda is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.7 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) and a maximum of 17.2 °C (63 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -5 °C (23 °F) in December 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 31.4 °C (88.5 °F) in December 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long. 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 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 35 kph (22 mph).