Climate
of Chile by geographical zone
|
Climate of the North Zone
Inside Chile's Big North is located the Atacama desert,
where rain is very rare. Despite its proximity to the Pacific
Ocean, there are two main factors that condition its dryness.
In one side, the influence of the Pacific anticyclone that blocks
the front systems, and in the other side, the barrier effect of the
Andes mountain range, that prevents the arrival the humid air masses
from the continental tropical sectors.
This zone is characterized by very low precipitations, very clear
skies and a strong contrast in temperature between day and night.
Climate of the Central Zone
The central zone has a Mediterranean climate, with a rainy season
in winter ( May to August ) and a larger dry season from September
to April. Rain comes mainly from cold fronts coming from the
Pacific Ocean. The rainy season increases in time and rainfall
as you move South to the extent that in Valdivia, there is no dry
season.
Climate of the Lakes District
In this region there is no dry season, although there is a
notorious decrease in rainfall in the summer months ( December to
March ). A mean of 1000 mm of annual rainfall defines an
evergreen landscape with primary rainforests.
Climate of Patagonia
This climate is extraordinary humid where rainfall exceeds 2000
mm annually. The high frequency of cold fronts crossing from the
West determines a high number of overcast days ( between 20-25 days
per month ). The oceanic effect contributes to moderate the
temperatures in the coast, which a significantly higher during
winter than in summer, contrary to that recorded inland at the same
latitude.
|