The extension of Chile for more than 4600 km from north to south makes the country affected by various types of climate, in the north is the desertic and semi-arid climate characterizing the Atacama desert and the north coast, then there is the Mediterranean-type climate of central Chile, the tundra and alpine climate in the east and south-east, the oceanic climate in the south, and the wet sub-tropical climate on Easter island. The seasons are reversed from those in Europe, the summer is between December and February, the autumn between March and May, the winter between June and August and spring between September and November.
Chile’s climate is greatly influenced by the cold Humboldt ocean current, the presence of the chain of the Andes and from the Pacific. There are four main climatic zones of the country:
Northern Chile
This is the most arid region of the country, because of the cold Humboltd current, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean are formed constantly mists (Camanchaca), but the rains are rare, the interior is formed from the Atacama Desert, one of the most arid regions of the planet Earth. The average rainfall in the region of Antofagasta of Chile is only 1 mm of rain a year. Antofagasta presents summer temperatures (December to February) with average maximum 24°C and average minimum 17°C, while in winter (June to August) the average maximum 17°C and average minimum 11°C.
Central Chile
The climate of central Chile is temperate Mediterranean, with well-differentiated seasons: winters are full of clouds, cold and wet. In spring the good weather prevails and the temperatures begin to rise, although sometimes the rains are possible. In summer the temperatures reach the maximum, rains are rare with clear and warm skies. In autumn good weather prevails. The rains grow as you proceed toward the south, the rainy season in this area of the country are the months between May and August. The area of Santiago has an average summer temperatures (December-February) of 19°C with average maximum 29°C and average minimum of 12°C, while in winter (June to August) the average is 7°C, with average maximum of 14°C and average minimum of 3°C.
Southern Chile
This region is characterized mainly by rigid, windy and wet oceanic climate, with low temperatures. In the region of Valdivia is temperate oceanic climate, summer temperatures (December to February) with average maximum 23°C and average minimum 11°C, while in winter (June to August) the average maximum 11°C and average minimum 4°C. Intense rain falls especially from April to September, the rainest month most of all is June with 550 mm of rain, while the annual average is 2700 mm.
Austral Chile
In most of northern south Chile abundant rain fall throughout the year, for example Puerto Aisen has an average annual rainfall of nearly 3000 mm well distributed in each month of the year, in fact, the monthly average in summer is approximately 200 mm a month, while during the winter months is about 300 mm a month. Average temperatures in summer are around 14°C while in winter around 4°C. The extreme south of the country is more arid and cold. In the region of Punta Arenas summer temperatures (December to February) varies between average maximum 14°C and average minimum 5°C, while in winter (June to August) varies between average maximum 3°C and average minimum -1°C. Scarce are the rainfall however distributed in each month of the year with an annual average of 440 mm, very cold are the winds that blow from the Pacific Ocean.