Climate of Chile

Climate of Chile is characterized by the Mediterranean type. Chile is a country unique in its shape, with 2600 miles stretching from North to South and 200 miles from East to West.

The climatic conditions in Chile are very varied. The eastern Chile is mountainous, with peaks rising up to 16000 feet. The foothills of Santiago Mountains are low and more dissected, but the coastal region of the country is craggy with many small offshore islands. The Chilean people experience a mountainous climate with incessant snowfall and glacier formation. Rainfall is less in the northern mountains with a very heavy snowfall. Once one starts moving towards the plain lands from the mountains, the climate starts getting more desert like.

The majority of Chilean population lives in the lowlands of Central Chile. The south is densely forested region featuring cool wet climate. Northern Chile is among the world's driest areas. There are no rainfalls although the weather is cloudy and cool.

Annual average rainfall in Chile is very low amounting to 14 mm and the average daily temperatures vary from 17 ºC in July to 28 ºC in March. Central Chile experiences a Mediterranean type of climate with warm air blowing during the day time. It has almost no rains in summer, while the winters are temperate and reasonably wet. Frost and snow often occur in the central areas and rarely on the coast.

Chile climate in the southern region is wet all year through. Here annual precipitation is as high as 5000 mm. Thus Climate of Chile is enjoyable if considered area wise due to its varied topography.