Climate - Santiago (Chile)

The climate of Santiago de Chile can be considered almost Mediterranean, since winters (June to August) are mild and relatively rainy, and summers (December to February) are warm and sunny. However, the rainy period is short, so the climate is arid. Also, summer nights are cool, and sometimes even cold, due to the altitude.
The city is the capital of Chile and is located in the center of the country, at 33 degrees south latitude, about 85 kilometers (52 miles) away from the Pacific coast and 550 meters (1,800 feet) above sea level, although in the easternmost districts the altitude reaches almost 1,000 meters (3,300 feet).
The eastern districts of the city, in addition to being a little colder due to the altitude, are a little more rainy, in fact rainfall exceeds 350 mm (13.5 inches) per year.
We are in a valley where pollutants tend to accumulate.



In winter, the temperature range is often considerable, and at night the temperature can drop below freezing. In addition, fog can form in periods of stable weather.
Snow in Santiago is very rare, however, occasionally, as happened in July 2007 and July 2017, a snowfall can occur, especially in the eastern districts of the city.
In summer, nights are cool, but it can be very hot during the day. In January 2019, the temperature reached 39 °C (102.7 °F).
In the vicinity of the city there is a chain of mountains, the Sierra San Ramón, whose highest peak is the Cerro de Ramón, 3,253 meters (10,673 ft) high. About 50 km (31 mi) northeast of Santiago are three ski resorts, La Parva, El Colorado and Valle Nevado. Further east, on the border with Argentina, are the Andes, and in particular, Mount Tupungato, 6,570 meters (21,555 ft) high.

Best Time

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To visit Santiago de Chile, you can choose the months of April and October.
In summer, from December to February, the sun shines more often, but it can get very hot during the day. On the other hand, temperatures are milder in the Andes.
In Valparaiso and Viña del Mar the sea is cold, but reaches 17/18 °C (63/64 °F) from January to March.

Santiago - Climate data

In Santiago, the average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 9.4 °C (49.0 °F), that of the warmest month (January) is of 21.9 °C (71.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Santiago, precipitation amounts to 275 millimeters (10.8 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 0 mm (0 in) in the driest month (January) to 70 mm (2.8 in) in the wettest one (June). Here is the average precipitation.
In Santiago, there are on average around 2750 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Santiago - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Santiago is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.9 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) and a maximum of 30.9 °C (87.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.4 °C (41.7 °F) in January 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 39.3 °C (102.7 °F) in January 2019.
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 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 84% of the time.
The average humidity is 48%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).

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In February, the weather in Santiago is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.4 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 12.3 °C (54.2 °F) and a maximum of 30.4 °C (86.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5 °C (41 °F) in February 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93.5 °F). However, it reached 37.2 °C (99 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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In March, the weather in Santiago is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.8 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 10.6 °C (51.1 °F) and a maximum of 28.9 °C (84.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44 °F). However, it dropped to 3.8 °C (38.8 °F) in March 2000.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 36.8 °C (98.2 °F) in March 2015.
Precipitation amounts to only 6 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (7 mph).

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In April, the weather in Santiago is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 16.1 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 7.7 °C (45.8 °F) and a maximum of 24.6 °C (76.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1 °C (30.2 °F) in April 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87 °F). However, it reached 34.5 °C (94.1 °F) in April 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 12 mm (0.5 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In May, the weather in Santiago is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 12.7 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 5.1 °C (41.2 °F) and a maximum of 20.2 °C (68.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.9 °C (21.4 °F) in May 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 31 °C (87.8 °F) in May 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In June, the weather in Santiago is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 10.1 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 3.4 °C (38.2 °F) and a maximum of 16.7 °C (62 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -6.2 °C (20.8 °F) in June 2001.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 26 °C (78.8 °F) in June 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In July, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Santiago is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 9.4 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 2.6 °C (36.7 °F) and a maximum of 16.3 °C (61.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -4.9 °C (23.2 °F) in July 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73 °F). However, it reached 26 °C (78.8 °F) in July 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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In August, the weather in Santiago is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 10.8 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 3.6 °C (38.5 °F) and a maximum of 18.1 °C (64.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6.2 °C (20.8 °F) in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (79 °F). However, it reached 29.3 °C (84.7 °F) in August 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In September, the weather in Santiago is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 13.2 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 5.7 °C (42.3 °F) and a maximum of 20.6 °C (69.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -2.3 °C (27.9 °F) in September 1996.
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 32 °C (89.6 °F) in September 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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In October, the weather in Santiago is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 15.7 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 7.6 °C (45.7 °F) and a maximum of 23.8 °C (74.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36 °F). However, it dropped to -3 °C (26.6 °F) in October 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 33.3 °C (91.9 °F) in October 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In November, the weather in Santiago is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 18.4 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 9.6 °C (49.3 °F) and a maximum of 27.2 °C (80.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1.6 °C (34.9 °F) in November 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 35.2 °C (95.4 °F) in November 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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In December, the weather in Santiago is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20.5 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 11.6 °C (52.8 °F) and a maximum of 29.5 °C (85 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 3.3 °C (37.9 °F) in December 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 37.1 °C (98.8 °F) in December 2019.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 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 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 49%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).