Climate Insights for El Calafate

The climate in El Calafate is cool. The average annual temperature is 4°C and approximately 773mm of precipitation falls per year. El Calafate receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. El Calafate is in the Southern Hemisphere. The seasons are reversed — summer runs from December to February, while winter falls between June and August. The summer months are: February, January, December. The coldest months are July, June, August, when temperatures can drop to -4°C. El Calafate experiences heavy snowfall, typically from January through December.

El Calafate sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from -4°C to 15°C. February is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 15°C with a mean of 10°C. The coldest month is July, when overnight lows fall to -4°C and the daily average is -2°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 8°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between March and April, with a 4°C shift in average temperatures.

El Calafate is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 773mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 64mm per month. The wettest month is February, averaging 81mm of rainfall. December and April also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is July, with just 48mm. That's 34mm less than February, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around. El Calafate receives heavy snowfall, accumulating around 237cm annually from January through December. The snowiest month is August, with approximately 46cm. Winter travel should account for significant snow cover.

El Calafate is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 2km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is January, averaging 4km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in May, with average winds dropping to 1km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind speeds vary significantly across the year, with a 3km/h difference between the calmest and windiest months. This level of variation is worth factoring into travel plans.

It is currently winter in El Calafate, which began on June 21, 2026. El Calafate is in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed — spring starts in September, summer in December, autumn in March, and winter in June. The warmest period peaks in February at around 15°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in July near -4°C. Spring is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 84 days from now.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for El Calafate based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.