Climate - Punta Arenas (Chile)

The climate of Punta Arenas is cold oceanic, with cold winters (June to August) and very cool summers (December to February).
The city is windy: wind gusts can reach or exceed 100 kph (62 mph) all year round, but especially in summer.
The rains are frequent all year round, although they are not abundant.
Snowfalls generally occur from June to September, however, if we exclude some very cold periods from June to August, the temperature generally exceeds freezing during the day, so the snow, even if it had accumulated, melts quite early.
However, at night it can get cold even in summer.



Punta Arenas is located in southern Chile, at 53 degrees south latitude, and is the capital of the region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica.
The city overlooks the Strait of Magellan, which connects the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean without passing through Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of the American continent. We are in an area of islands, bays and inlets, where the coasts have been modeled by glaciers like in Norway.
To the west are mountains such as Gran Campo Nevado, 1,640 meters (5,380 feet) high, and Cerro Ladrillero, 1,705 meters (5,594 ft). Perennial snows cover the mountains above 600 meters (2,000 ft), but some tongues of ice enter directly into the sea.

Best Time

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The best time to visit Punta Arenas 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.

Punta Arenas - Climate data

In Punta Arenas, the average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 2.0 °C (35.6 °F), that of the warmest month (January) is of 11.3 °C (52.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Punta Arenas, precipitation amounts to 410 millimeters (16.1 inches) per year: it is therefore quite scarce. It ranges from 25 mm (1 in) in the driest month (September) to 45 mm (1.8 in) in the wettest one (April). Here is the average precipitation.
At Punta Arenas, the sea temperature ranges from 5.5 °C (42 °F) in September to 10 °C (50 °F) in February. Here are the average sea temperatures.
In Punta Arenas, there are on average around 1780 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Punta Arenas - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Punta Arenas is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.3 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 6.8 °C (44.3 °F) and a maximum of 15.8 °C (60.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.4 °C (32.7 °F) in January 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in January 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 27 kph (17 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 9.5 °C (49 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In February, the weather in Punta Arenas is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.1 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 6.6 °C (43.8 °F) and a maximum of 15.7 °C (60.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -2.4 °C (27.7 °F) in February 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 25 kph (16 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 10 °C (50 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Punta Arenas is usually mild. The average temperature is of 9.6 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 5.4 °C (41.7 °F) and a maximum of 13.8 °C (56.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.7 °C (27.1 °F) in March 1995.
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 March 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 23 kph (15 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In April, the weather in Punta Arenas is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.1 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 3.4 °C (38 °F) and a maximum of 10.9 °C (51.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.6 °C (23.7 °F) in April 2012.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in April 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 22 kph (14 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 9 °C (48 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In May, the weather in Punta Arenas is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.6 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of 1.4 °C (34.6 °F) and a maximum of 7.7 °C (45.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -8.9 °C (16 °F) in May 2012.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (54 °F). However, it reached 16 °C (60.8 °F) in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 8.5 °C (47 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In June, the weather in Punta Arenas is usually cold. The average temperature is of 2.2 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -0.7 °C (30.7 °F) and a maximum of 5 °C (41.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19.5 °F). However, it dropped to -12.2 °C (10 °F) in June 2002.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 9 °C (48.5 °F). However, it reached 13 °C (55.4 °F) in June 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are short. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 26% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 7.5 °C (45 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In July, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Punta Arenas is usually cold. The average temperature is of 2.0 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -0.9 °C (30.3 °F) and a maximum of 4.9 °C (40.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7.5 °C (18 °F). However, it dropped to -14.2 °C (6.4 °F) in July 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it reached 12 °C (53.6 °F) in July 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In August, the weather in Punta Arenas is usually cold. The average temperature is of 3.2 °C (38 °F), with a minimum of 0 °C (32 °F) and a maximum of 6.4 °C (43.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22 °F). However, it dropped to -11 °C (12.2 °F) in August 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 10.5 °C (50.5 °F). However, it reached 14 °C (57.2 °F) in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 22 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 6 °C (42.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In September, the weather in Punta Arenas is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.1 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 1.4 °C (34.5 °F) and a maximum of 8.8 °C (47.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (25.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.4 °C (18.7 °F) in September 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57 °F). However, it reached 19 °C (66.2 °F) in September 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 23 kph (14 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 5.5 °C (42 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In October, the weather in Punta Arenas is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.1 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 2.7 °C (36.9 °F) and a maximum of 11.4 °C (52.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.2 °C (19 °F) in October 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 23.5 °C (74.3 °F) in October 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 26 kph (16 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 6 °C (43 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In November, the weather in Punta Arenas is usually mild. The average temperature is of 8.9 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 4.4 °C (39.9 °F) and a maximum of 13.4 °C (56.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3 °C (26.6 °F) in November 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). However, it reached 24.9 °C (76.8 °F) in November 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 28 kph (17 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 7 °C (45 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In December, the weather in Punta Arenas is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.3 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 5.8 °C (42.4 °F) and a maximum of 14.8 °C (58.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -0.4 °C (31.3 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67.5 °F). However, it reached 25.7 °C (78.3 °F) in December 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 55 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 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 27 kph (17 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 8.5 °C (47 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.