Climate - La Serena (Chile)

The climate of La Serena is subtropical desert, with mild winters (June to September) and mild or pleasantly warm summers (December to March).
The city is located in north-central Chile, on the 29th parallel south, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, and is the capital of the Coquimbo region. The city of Coquimbo is located just south and is part of the metropolitan area of ​​La Serena.
The temperatures are very mild due to the cold current that flows on the Pacific coast. The same cold current, however, inhibits the formation of updrafts, and therefore of clouds capable of generating rain.
However, in winter some rain can sometimes fall, brought by oceanic disturbances, which however generally pass further south. Particularly abundant rainfall can occur once every few years, which can cause floods, as happened in June 1997, in June 2011 (when 160 millimeters or 6.3 inches of rain fell in the month) and in May 2017.
Even if it rarely rains, in winter, fogs and mists can form, and sometimes even in the summer, at night and in the early morning.

Best Time

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The best time to visit La Serena is summer, from December to March, as it is the warmest and sunniest season.
The sea is cold even in this season, however, it reaches the highest temperatures of the year from January to March.

La Serena - Climate data

In La Serena, the average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 11.7 °C (53.0 °F), that of the warmest month (January) is of 18.0 °C (64.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In La Serena, precipitation amounts to 85 millimeters (3.3 inches) per year: it is therefore at a desert level. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest months (January, February, November, December) to 30 mm (1.2 in) in the wettest one (July). Here is the average precipitation.
At La Serena, the sea temperature ranges from 14 °C (57 °F) in July, August, September to 19 °C (66 °F) in February. Here are the average sea temperatures.
In La Serena, there are on average around 2275 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

La Serena - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the warmest month of the year, the weather in La Serena is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 18.0 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 14.3 °C (57.8 °F) and a maximum of 21.7 °C (71 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9.2 °C (48.6 °F) in January 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75.5 °F). However, it reached 27.1 °C (80.8 °F) in January 2017.
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.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (65 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In February, the weather in La Serena is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 18.0 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 14.3 °C (57.7 °F) and a maximum of 21.7 °C (71 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9.8 °C (49.6 °F) in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75.5 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in February 2010.
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 5 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19 °C (66 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In March, the weather in La Serena is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.9 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) and a maximum of 20.5 °C (68.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (51 °F). However, it dropped to 8.3 °C (46.9 °F) in March 2007.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74 °F). However, it reached 26.5 °C (79.7 °F) in March 2017.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18.5 °C (65 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In April, the weather in La Serena is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.1 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 11.3 °C (52.4 °F) and a maximum of 18.8 °C (65.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 3.9 °C (39 °F) in April 2001.
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 28.5 °C (83.3 °F) in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17 °C (63 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In May, the weather in La Serena is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.6 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 9.7 °C (49.5 °F) and a maximum of 17.4 °C (63.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.2 °C (39.6 °F) in May 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 26.6 °C (79.9 °F) in May 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 11 mm (0.4 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In June, the weather in La Serena is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.3 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 8.2 °C (46.7 °F) and a maximum of 16.4 °C (61.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.3 °C (36.1 °F) in June 2008.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (69.5 °F). However, it reached 28.4 °C (83.1 °F) in June 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In July, the coldest month of the year, the weather in La Serena is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.7 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 7.4 °C (45.3 °F) and a maximum of 15.9 °C (60.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.8 °C (33.4 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 28.2 °C (82.8 °F) in July 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14 °C (57.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In August, the weather in La Serena is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.2 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 8 °C (46.3 °F) and a maximum of 16.3 °C (61.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1.7 °C (35.1 °F) in August 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 26.6 °C (79.9 °F) in August 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14 °C (57 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In September, the weather in La Serena is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.8 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 8.9 °C (47.9 °F) and a maximum of 16.8 °C (62.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to 3 °C (37.4 °F) in September 2013.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (69 °F). However, it reached 27.1 °C (80.8 °F) in September 2013.
Precipitation amounts to only 3 mm (0.1 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14 °C (57 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In October, the weather in La Serena is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.8 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 9.8 °C (49.7 °F) and a maximum of 17.7 °C (63.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.3 °C (39.7 °F) in October 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (68.5 °F). However, it reached 24 °C (75.2 °F) in October 1997.
Precipitation amounts to only 2 mm (0.1 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14.5 °C (58 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In November, the weather in La Serena is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.0 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 11.3 °C (52.3 °F) and a maximum of 18.8 °C (65.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) in November 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 22.9 °C (73.2 °F) in November 2018.
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 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15.5 °C (59.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In December, the weather in La Serena is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.5 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 12.8 °C (55 °F) and a maximum of 20.2 °C (68.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 8.2 °C (46.8 °F) in December 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in December 1999.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17 °C (62 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.