Climate in Copiapo (Chile)

The climate of Copiapó is subtropical desert, with very mild, sunny winters (from June to August), and warm summers (from December to March), though without excesses and with cool nights.
Rains are very rare, and occur occasionally from June to August. As mentioned, the winter is generally mild and sunny, although at night it can get cold, and the temperature can drop to around freezing. In other circumstances, the temperature can reach around 30 °C (86 °F), perhaps for just one day, when the wind blows down from the mountains.
The Copiapó River, which runs through the city, is normally dry, and only comes to life once every few years, during particularly intense thunderstorms. In these cases, as happened in June 1997 and March 2015, it can even flood the city.



The city is located in the north of Chile, in the Atacama region, at 27 degrees south latitude, at an altitude of 390 meters (1,279 feet) and 60 kilometers (37 miles) away from the sea. To the east are the Andes, and in particular, about 120 km (75 mi) to the east is the Volcán Copiapó, 6,052 meters (19,856 ft) high. Further east, on the border with Argentina, we find the Nevado Ojos del Salado, which with its 6,893 meters (22,615 ft) is the second highest mountain in South America, and also the highest volcano in the world.
In this arid mountainous area, cold and windy, where glaciers are found at high altitudes, there are also valleys occupied by salt lakes. There is also a national park, the Parque Nacional Nevado Tres Cruces, in whose lowest part, at an altitude of 3,750 metres (12,300 feet), we find the Salar de Maricunga. Further north-east, at an altitude of 4,335 metres (14,220 ft), we find the Laguna Verde.

Best Time

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The best time to visit Copiapó is summer, from December to March, as it is the warmest and sunniest season.
Considering that it never rains and the temperatures are mild, you can also go in winter, but at night it can be cold, moreover, if you go hiking in the Andes you will find lower temperatures.

Copiapo - Climate data

In Copiapo, the average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 13.4 °C (56.1 °F), that of the warmest month (January) is of 21.1 °C (69.9 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 20 millimeters (0.8 inches) per year: it is therefore at a desert level. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest months (January, November, December) to 5.6 mm (0.2 in) in the wettest ones (June, July) Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2925 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Copiapo - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2005

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January, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.1 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 14.1 °C (57.3 °F) and a maximum of 28.1 °C (82.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 32.6 °C (90.7 °F) in January 1993.
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.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).

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February is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 13.9 °C (57.1 °F) and a maximum of 28 °C (82.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (51 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (86.5 °F). However, it reached 31.6 °C (88.9 °F) in February 2000.
Precipitation amounts to only 0.1 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (10 mph).

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March is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 12.8 °C (55.1 °F) and a maximum of 27.2 °C (80.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (46 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 32.6 °C (90.7 °F) in March 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only 1.2 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 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 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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April is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.6 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 10.8 °C (51.4 °F) and a maximum of 24.4 °C (76 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (43 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 30.1 °C (86.2 °F) in April 2004.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 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 15.4 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 8.5 °C (47.2 °F) and a maximum of 22.3 °C (72.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 31.5 °C (88.7 °F) in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only 1.5 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 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 13.8 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) and a maximum of 20.8 °C (69.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 29.8 °C (85.6 °F) in June 1991.
Precipitation amounts to only 5.6 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 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 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 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 13.4 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 6.3 °C (43.4 °F) and a maximum of 20.5 °C (68.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (34.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 32 °C (89.6 °F) in July 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only 5.6 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 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 14.6 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 7.4 °C (45.3 °F) and a maximum of 21.8 °C (71.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (37 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 33.9 °C (93 °F) in August 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only 3.4 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 0 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 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 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 15.6 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 8.1 °C (46.6 °F) and a maximum of 23.2 °C (73.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (80 °F). However, it reached 29.4 °C (84.9 °F) in September 2003.
Precipitation amounts to only 0.3 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 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 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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October is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 16.9 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 9.6 °C (49.2 °F) and a maximum of 24.2 °C (75.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 31.6 °C (88.9 °F) in October 2001.
Precipitation amounts to only 0.1 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (10 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 18.1 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 10.8 °C (51.5 °F) and a maximum of 25.3 °C (77.6 °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).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 29.9 °C (85.8 °F) in November 2002.
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 30 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).

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December is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.7 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 12.5 °C (54.4 °F) and a maximum of 26.9 °C (80.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (45 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 31.5 °C (88.7 °F) in December 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 50 minutes. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).