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Weather & Climate in Chaitén, Chile
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Chaitén experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 57°F in January while summers reach 42°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 174 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 89.3 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 56 feet.
Temperature
57°F Jan (14°C)
42°F Jul (6°C)
| Annual Average | 49.9°F |
| 8% below US avg | |
| January Average | 57°F (14°C) |
| July Average | 42°F (6°C) |
| Sunny Days | 174 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 56 ft (17 m) |
| Area | 0.7 sq mi (1.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 4,585/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -42.9160°N, 72.7063°W |
| Timezone | America/Santiago |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
95 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.5.
| Feb 10, 2007 | 14 km NNW of Trevelin, Argentina | M5.5 | 94 km | 157 km |
| Mar 17, 2010 | 19 km NW of La Junta, Chile | M5.4 | 104 km | 10 km |
| May 24, 2008 | 49 km WNW of Lago Puelo, Argentina | M5.4 | 115 km | 9 km |
| Mar 11, 1996 | 26 km WSW of Lago Puelo, Argentina | M5.4 | 105 km | 126 km |
| Dec 18, 1997 | 9 km ESE of Calbuco, Chile | M5.2 | 125 km | 48 km |
| May 2, 2008 | 39 km ENE of Chaitén, Chile | M5.2 | 40 km | 10 km |
| Aug 14, 1996 | 17 km ESE of Castro, Chile | M5.2 | 83 km | 33 km |
| Mar 18, 2010 | 41 km WSW of La Junta, Chile | M5.2 | 141 km | 4 km |
| Mar 29, 2008 | 39 km W of Quellón, Chile | M5.1 | 115 km | 27 km |
| Aug 24, 2019 | Near the coast of Los Lagos, Chile | M5.1 | 133 km | 20 km |
| May 24, 2008 | 50 km W of Lago Puelo, Argentina | M5.0 | 107 km | 10 km |
| Jul 18, 2010 | 8 km SSW of Ancud, Chile | M5.0 | 142 km | 45 km |
| Jan 30, 2008 | 23 km WSW of Chonchi, Chile | M5.0 | 113 km | 28 km |
| Jul 6, 2012 | 19 km W of Chonchi, Chile | M5.0 | 111 km | 32 km |
| May 3, 2008 | 40 km ENE of Chaitén, Chile | M5.0 | 40 km | 10 km |
| Aug 28, 2023 | 68 km WNW of La Junta, Chile | M5.0 | 107 km | 77 km |
| May 24, 2008 | 33 km W of Lago Puelo, Argentina | M4.9 | 112 km | 10 km |
| Jun 25, 2017 | 61 km WSW of Lago Puelo, Argentina | M4.9 | 77 km | 12 km |
| May 2, 2008 | 34 km NE of Chaitén, Chile | M4.9 | 34 km | 10 km |
| Feb 26, 2006 | 51 km W of Chonchi, Chile | M4.9 | 142 km | 32 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
3 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 60.0 m (197 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1965 | SOUTHERN CHILE | Explosion | 60.0 m | 27 | 132 km |
| 1837 | SOUTHERN CHILE | Earthquake | 6.0 m | 16 | 115 km |
| 2016 | SOUTHERN CHILE | Earthquake | 0.4 m | - | 114 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
5 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Michinmahuida (25 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Michinmahuida | Stratovolcano | 2,452 m (8,045 ft) | 1835 | 25 km |
| Huequi | Lava dome(s) | 1,318 m (4,324 ft) | 1920 | 61 km |
| Apagado | Pyroclastic cone | 1,210 m (3,970 ft) | -590 | 116 km |
| Calbuco | Stratovolcano | 1,974 m (6,476 ft) | 2015 | 177 km |
| Cayutue-La Vigueria | Pyroclastic cone(s) | 506 m (1,660 ft) | -190 | 189 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57°F (14°C) | 4.3 in | Warmest, Driest |
| February | 57°F (14°C) | 4.3 in | |
| March | 55°F (13°C) | 5.3 in | |
| April | 50°F (10°C) | 7.6 in | |
| May | 47°F (8°C) | 11.7 in | |
| June | 44°F (7°C) | 11.7 in | |
| July | 42°F (6°C) | 11.8 in | Coldest, Wettest |
| August | 44°F (7°C) | 9.9 in | |
| September | 46°F (8°C) | 6.9 in | |
| October | 49°F (10°C) | 4.9 in | |
| November | 52°F (11°C) | 5.3 in | |
| December | 55°F (13°C) | 5.7 in |
Chaitén has a seasonal temperature swing of 15°F / from 42°F in July to 57°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 89.2 inches, with July being the wettest month (11.8") and January the driest (4.3").