Chile - weather in May

May in Chile is the last autumn month.

North

In the northern part of the coast, where we find the Atacama desert (see Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta), the temperatures are very mild, with a daily average ranging from 16 to 19 °C (61 to 66 °F), and although it never rains, mists and low clouds can form, especially in the morning. Even in the northernmost part, the ocean is very cool for swimming.
In the inland areas of the north, occupied by a plateau and the Andes (see Calama, San Pedro de Atacama), it's always sunny. The diurnal temperature range is very wide, it gets cold at night, and at the temperature can drop below freezing.

Center

In the central part of the coast (see Valparaiso, Viña del Mar), the average daily temperature is around 14 °C (57 °F). In Santiago, in the inland areas of the center, the daily average is 12.5 °C (54.5 °F), moreover, the temperature range is high, so it gets cold at night. The rains are still rare, but they begin to occur, while south of Santiago they gradually increase, and are frequent and abundant already in Concepción.

South

In the south, the temperature is progressively colder: the daily average ranges from 10.5 °C (51 °F) in Valdivia to 4.5 °C (40 °F) in Punta Arenas. Sometimes, cold air from the south can produce rapid decreases in temperature, which can drop below freezing, especially in the second half of the month. The rains are generally frequent and abundant, except in the more sheltered areas, located to the east of the mountains (see Balmaceda, Punta Arenas), where they are moderate.
In the southern part of the Andes, it often snows at relatively low altitudes.




See also: Chile, the weather in April - June
The climate of Chile