ExperienceArgentina.net

The Argentine Climate

Hot & Cold

The country's territory offers a wide variety of climates: subtropical in the North, sub-Antarctic in southern Patagonia, and mild and humid in the Pampas plains. The average temperature from November to March is 23�C, whilst from June to September a more modest 12�C.

The main types of climate in Argentina are four: warm, moderate, arid and cold. The extension of the territory and the features of its relief determine the existence of varieties in each of the mentioned types.

Among the areas with warm climates is the subtropical zone, with no dry season, which comprises the provinces of Misiones and Corrientes, the northern area of Entre R�os and the eastern section of the Chaco region. Its main features are high temperatures and abundant rainfall the whole year round. The tropical area has a dry season, and it comprises part of Salta, the west of Formosa and Chaco, the eastern plains of Tucum�n, nearly the whole of Santiago del Estero and the NW Santa Fe. It has similar features to the subtropical area, with the difference that there is a dry season in the first half of the year. Up NW, the mountainous area that includes the sub�Andean hills, its valleys and gullies, is considered to have tropical highland climate.

The area of moderate climates includes the province of Buenos Aires, a large area of Entre Rios, centre and south of Santa Fe, the eastern strip of Cordoba and a part to the NE of La Pampa. Among these climates is the area of the moderate pampeano climate, especially along the banks of the Paran� and La Plata rivers. Along the edge bordering the subtropical climate is a moderate variety with no winter season, characterised by the lack of a definite cold period. The moderate climate, with an ocean influence, is located in the Buenos Aires Province littoral, in Mar del Plata and Necochea area, where the influence of the sea results in the moderate temperatures. A mild climate is found in the Cordoba hills and their valleys. Finally, there is a transition belt towards the west, where the area of moderate climate devolves into a region of arid climate.

The arid climates are in the high plateau called La Puna, Catamarca's Andes, La Rioja and San Juan, the neighbouring pre-andean area and the part of Patagonia excluding the Andes. Among the main varieties of sub-climate is the arid mountain climate, in the high plateau and the Andes, from Catamarca down to Mendoza. To the east of the arid Andes there is the arid climate of the hills and fields, which roughly covers the area of the Pampas hills. The arid steppe climate stretches down to the south of the region of hills and plains; to the west it ends at the foot of the mountain chain and loses its aridity in the south of Mendoza; to the east it borders the transition belt and to the south, between the 40� and 42� south parallels, the thermal system transforms into another type of climate: the patagonian cold arid climate.

Among the cold climates is the humid strip of the Patagonian Andes, characterised by a progression of rains that occur N to S - from 34� S - in this cordilleran sector. The arid-windy climate in Patagonia is characterised by its low temperatures, with scanty rainfall and, in winter, strong snow storms. The humid-austral climate includes a strip of Santa Cruz province, at the south of the previous zone, and the province of Tierra del Fuego, except for the snowy climate of the high mountains; rainfall is heavier and there is no summer period of moderate temperatures, common in the Patagonian plateau.

The snowy climate is the glacial type and includes the strip of austral cordillera, in the zone of continental ice of Santa Cruz and in glaciers spots in the high Patagonian mountain chain.

With regard to the austral islands climate, Isla de los Estados has an oceanic cold climate. The weather is misty and cold most of the year and storms are frequent. Snowy rainfall abounds. On the Malvinas Islands the oceanic type is more defined. There are no temperature peaks; summer is scarcely moderate and winter is not very cold. In Islas Orcadas there is a snowy climate; almost the whole surface of the islands is covered by glaciers, and the sea ice only yields access for a few weeks in January.