Climate and Average Weather in Chile

Chile is an elongated country in the southwestern part of the continent of South America. With four and a half thousand kilometers (2796 miles) long, Chile is the longest country in the world. That this South American country has a wide variety of climate types should come as little surprise. There are significant differences in temperatures, rainfall and hours of sunshine.

In the north of Chile you will find a desert climate, which means there is little rainfall. In some places there is even no rain like for example the northern city of Iquique, which is one of the driest cities in the world.

A Mediterranean climate prevails in central Chile, making it an ideal climate for grapes. There is a maritime climate in southern Chile, here it rains a lot and it gets very cold in winter. In summer the southern part of Chile has mild temperatures and the wind blows throughout the year.

In Chile the seasons are reversed from that in the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, Chilean Ski Resorts should be visited during the months of June to August. Other than that you can say that December to February is a great travel time for a holiday to Chile. It is pleasantly warm in much of the country, without getting too hot. The Capital Santiago is one of the warmest places with an average maximum temperature of about 28 to 30 degrees Celsius (82-86° Fahrenheit) during the local summer. If you prefer a bit cooler weather we suggest to visit Santiago and the middle of Chile from September to November.

Interested in more detailed Weather and Climate information?
Please select the city below you wish to travel to, or the one closest to your destination. Each selected city will show you the following graphs:
1. Average minimum and maximum temperatures over the year
2. Average monthly precipitation over the year (rainfall, snow etc)
3. Average monthly hours of sunshine over the year
On certain pages we also offer other historical weather data like humidity, wind speed and water temperature.

Popular places in Chile

Select a city to see its average temperature, precipitation and hours of sunshine over the year.

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Islands of Chile

Regions in Chile