Climate Insights for Arica

The climate in Arica is warm and mild. The average annual temperature is 19°C and approximately 179mm of precipitation falls per year. June is the wettest month, receiving around 32mm of rainfall. Arica 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, March, January. The coldest months are August, July, September, when temperatures can drop to 14°C.

Arica sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 14°C to 27°C. The warmest month is February, when average highs reach 27°C and the mean temperature sits around 23°C. August is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 14°C and an average of 16°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 6°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between April and May, with a 2°C shift in average temperatures.

Arica is a quite dry location, receiving approximately 179mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 15mm per month. The wettest month is June, averaging 32mm of rainfall. July and May also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is March, with just 4mm. That's 28mm less than June, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic.

Arica is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 14km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is December, averaging 16km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in June, with average winds dropping to 12km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 4km/h between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to pick up during the summer months. The seasonal averages are 12km/h in winter, 14km/h in spring, 15km/h in summer, 14km/h in autumn.

It is currently autumn in Arica, which began on March 20, 2026. Arica 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 27°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in August near 14°C. Winter is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 89 days from now.

The best time to visit Arica is during January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 19°C with modest rainfall averaging 15mm per month. With minimal rainfall expected, you can pack light and plan outdoor activities with confidence.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Arica 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. 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.