AI-generatedPunta Arenas at a glance
- Best time
- Sep – Feb
- Warmest month
- Feb · 13°
- Warmest sea
- Feb · 9.5°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,860 h
- Rain a year
- 666 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC−3
- Elevation
- 0 m
Climate in Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. February is the warmest month with average highs of 13 °C, while July is the coolest at 4 °C. With around 1,860 hours of sunshine a year, Punta Arenas is moderately sunny; December is the sunniest month with 7.5 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: September – February
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 5°
- Midday, 13:00: about 9°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 9°
- Evening, 20:00: about 7°
- Night, 23:00: about 6°
06:3920:19
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:17–07:25 · evening 19:33–20:42
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:03–06:17 · evening 20:42–20:56
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Punta Arenas in October?
In October, Punta Arenas is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 6.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 55 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 34 km/h. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Punta Arenas.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 13 h 40 min06:39 – 20:19
- UV index
- 4 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 34 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 67 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−3America/Punta_Arenas
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
- Seaweight 25 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %58 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %29 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Warm jacket
- Rain jacket or umbrella
- Windproof jacket
Sea temperature in Punta Arenas
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 6.0 – 6.9 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Punta Arenas ranges from 5.8 °C in August to 9.5 °C in February. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
From May to August the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in February, eight out of ten years were between 9.0 and 10.1 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 9.1° | 8.7° | 9.7° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 9.5° | 9.0° | 10.1° | cold |
| MarchMar | 9.1° | 8.7° | 9.5° | cold |
| AprilApr | 8.2° | 7.8° | 8.7° | cold |
| MayMay | 7.4° | 7.0° | 7.9° | cold |
| JuneJun | 6.6° | 6.2° | 7.1° | cold |
| JulyJul | 6.1° | 5.7° | 6.5° | cold |
| AugustAug | 5.8° | 5.3° | 6.2° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 5.9° | 5.5° | 6.3° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 6.4° | 6.0° | 6.9° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 7.3° | 6.7° | 8.0° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 8.3° | 7.7° | 8.9° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Punta Arenas
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 6.5 of 13.7 hours of daylight in Punta Arenas, 47 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 19 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Punta Arenas
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 4 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in December (UV 7).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 30 min
- Fair skin
- about 40 min
- Light brown skin
- about 55 min
- Olive skin
- about 70 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Punta Arenas: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Punta Arenas has about 14 rainy days with 55 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Punta Arenas
How breezy and how cloudy Punta Arenas is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Punta Arenas typically peaks at 34 km/h during the day: Beaufort 5, fresh breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it gets there all year.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 67 % of the sky over Punta Arenas: mostly cloudy, with about 6.5 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Snow in Punta Arenas
Snow is possible in Punta Arenas, but no month makes it likely: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, it hardly ever snows in Punta Arenas.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Punta Arenas
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
ColdOctober: nights around 4°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in July (1°), the warmest in January (8°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from March to December, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 16 | 13° | 8° | 9.1° | 7.3 h | 17 | 64 |
| FebruaryFeb | 19 | 13° | 8° | 9.5° | 6.6 h | 13 | 55 |
| MarchMar | 13 | 12° | 7° | 9.1° | 5.1 h | 14 | 64 |
| AprilApr | 9 | 9° | 5° | 8.2° | 4.0 h | 14 | 71 |
| MayMay | 11 | 7° | 3° | 7.4° | 3.1 h | 11 | 50 |
| JuneJun | 10 | 5° | 1° | 6.6° | 2.4 h | 11 | 45 |
| JulyJul | 9 | 4° | 1° | 6.1° | 2.8 h | 12 | 48 |
| AugustAug | 11 | 6° | 1° | 5.8° | 3.8 h | 12 | 51 |
| SeptemberSep | 17 | 8° | 2° | 5.9° | 4.9 h | 11 | 41 |
| OctoberOct | 17 | 9° | 4° | 6.4° | 6.5 h | 14 | 55 |
| NovemberNov | 18 | 11° | 5° | 7.3° | 7.2 h | 15 | 59 |
| DecemberDec | 17 | 12° | 7° | 8.3° | 7.5 h | 17 | 64 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
53.16° S, 70.91° W · 0 m · America/Punta_Arenas
Best time to visit Punta Arenas
The best time to visit Punta Arenas is from September to February. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in February it only reaches 9.5 °C. Rain is most frequent in August and from October to April; the wettest month is April with 71 mm.
Punta Arenas through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Punta Arenas in spring
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 8–11 °C by day
- Sea 7 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 40 rainy days in all
Punta Arenas in summer
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 12–13 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 46 rainy days in all
Punta Arenas in autumn
Mar – May
Poor
- 7–12 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 4 h of sun a day
- 39 rainy days in all
Punta Arenas in winter
Jun – Aug
Poor
- 4–6 °C by day
- Sea 6 °C
- 3 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Punta Arenas for you.
Your best months: January – February, November
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Punta Arenas
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
October and February bring similar holiday weather to Punta Arenas (score 17 and 19). In February, days are 4 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 3 °C warmer in February. February has one rainy day fewer.
| Month | October | February |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 17 | 19 |
| Day high | 9° | 13° |
| Night low | 4° | 8° |
| Sea | 6.4° | 9.5° |
| Sunshine | 6.5 h | 6.6 h |
| Rainy days | 14 | 13better |
| Rainfall | 55 mm | 55 mm |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Aug, Oct – Apr
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Jul – Aug
Snow on 2 or more days
Punta Arenas month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
16January13° · Sea 9° · 7 h
In January, Punta Arenas is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 9.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 64 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 36 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas in January19February13° · Sea 10° · 7 h
In February, Punta Arenas is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 9.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 55 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 33 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas in February13March12° · Sea 9° · 5 h
In March, Punta Arenas is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 9.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 64 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 33 km/h. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas in March9April9° · Sea 8° · 4 h
In April, Punta Arenas is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 8.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 71 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas in April11May7° · Sea 7° · 3 h
In May, Punta Arenas is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 7.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 50 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas in May10June5° · Sea 7° · 2 h
In June, Punta Arenas is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 6.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 45 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas in June9July4° · Sea 6° · 3 h
In July, Punta Arenas is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 6.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 48 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas in July11August6° · Sea 6° · 4 h
In August, Punta Arenas is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 5.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 51 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas in August17September8° · Sea 6° · 5 h
In September, Punta Arenas is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sea averages 5.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 41 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas in September17October9° · Sea 6° · 7 h
In October, Punta Arenas is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 6.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 55 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 34 km/h. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas in October18November11° · Sea 7° · 7 h
In November, Punta Arenas is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 7.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 59 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 35 km/h. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas in November17December12° · Sea 8° · 8 h
In December, Punta Arenas is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 8.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 64 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 36 km/h. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas in DecemberPunta Arenas compared
Put Punta Arenas side by side with another destination.
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Punta Arenas vs. Ushuaia
In October Punta Arenas has the better holiday weather (score 17 vs. 8). During the day Ushuaia is 2 °C cooler than Punta Arenas. The sea is about equally warm. Ushuaia gets 2 fewer hours of sunshine a day.
| in October | Punta Arenas | Ushuaia |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 17 | 8 |
| Daytime high | 9° | 7° |
| Sea | 6° | 6° |
| Sunshine | 7 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 14 | 17 |
| Best time | Sep – Feb | May – Mar |
Through the year
Chile in October: the best places
In October, Punta Arenas ranks 5 of 5 destinations in this country.
- Antofagasta19°16°100
- 2Valparaíso18°13°96
- 3Santiago de Chile21°90
- 4Hanga Roa20°21°45
- 5Punta ArenasThis page9°6°17
Planning a trip to Punta Arenas
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Punta Arenas in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Punta Arenas has its best school-holiday weather during October half-term (score 17) and its weakest during the Easter holidays (score 10).
- 10
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 10 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 4.3 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 11
May half-term
May – Jun
Poor
- 6 °C by day
- Sea 7 °C
- 3.0 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
- 10
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Poor
- 5 °C by day
- Sea 6 °C
- 3.5 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
- 17
October half-term
Oct
PoorBest holidays
- 9 °C by day
- Sea 6 °C
- 6.5 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 17
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 13 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 7.4 h of sun a day
- 17 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 16 h 35 min
- Distance
- 13,350 km
- Time zone
- UTC−3
- Jet lag
- About 3 days (4 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Punta Arenas
When is the best time to visit Punta Arenas?
The best time to visit Punta Arenas is from September to February. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Punta Arenas?
The sea temperature in Punta Arenas ranges from 5.8 °C in August to 9.5 °C in February. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Punta Arenas in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 6.4 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Punta Arenas?
February is the warmest month, with average highs of 13 °C and nights around 8 °C. July is the coolest month at 4 °C.
When does it rain most in Punta Arenas?
Rain is most frequent in August and from October to April; the wettest month is April with 71 mm. The driest month is September with 41 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Punta Arenas get?
Punta Arenas gets around 1,860 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is December with 7.5 hours a day; in June there are 2.4 hours a day.
What time zone is Punta Arenas in?
Punta Arenas uses the time zone America/Punta_Arenas, at UTC−3 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Punta Arenas?
A nonstop flight from London to Punta Arenas takes about 16 h 35 min, for a straight-line distance of about 13,350 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas has its best school-holiday weather during October half-term (score 17) and its weakest during the Easter holidays (score 10). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 10, May half-term 11, Summer holidays 10, October half-term 17, Christmas holidays 17.
Near Punta Arenas
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Punta Arenas
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Punta Arenas's – good alternatives.