All Countries
Weather & Climate in Chañaral, Chile
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Chañaral enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (16°C). Winters average 63°F in January while summers reach 53°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 363 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 0.1 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 82 feet.
Temperature
63°F Jan (17°C)
53°F Jul (12°C)
| Annual Average | 59.9°F |
| 11% above US avg | |
| January Average | 63°F (17°C) |
| July Average | 53°F (12°C) |
| Sunny Days | 363 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Area | 9.4 sq mi (24.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 0/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -26.3430°N, 70.6165°W |
| Timezone | America/Santiago |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
764 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.7.
| Apr 30, 2006 | 78 km WNW of Copiapó, Chile | M6.7 | 85 km | 12 km |
| Apr 18, 2002 | 31 km SW of Copiapó, Chile | M6.7 | 133 km | 62 km |
| Mar 15, 1993 | 93 km NW of Copiapó, Chile | M6.7 | 51 km | 29 km |
| Jul 11, 1993 | 34 km ENE of Taltal, Chile | M6.6 | 124 km | 48 km |
| Apr 30, 2006 | 73 km WNW of Copiapó, Chile | M6.5 | 106 km | 12 km |
| Jun 6, 2025 | 45 km SW of Diego de Almagro, Chile | M6.4 | 39 km | 75 km |
| Jul 25, 2016 | 54 km WNW of Diego de Almagro, Chile | M6.1 | 28 km | 72 km |
| Mar 19, 1993 | 93 km NW of Copiapó, Chile | M6.0 | 56 km | 29 km |
| Apr 4, 2023 | 62 km W of Copiapó, Chile | M5.9 | 126 km | 53 km |
| Apr 30, 2006 | 89 km W of Copiapó, Chile | M5.9 | 115 km | 35 km |
| Jan 8, 2022 | 110 km NW of Copiapó, Chile | M5.9 | 64 km | 13 km |
| Aug 27, 2004 | 47 km W of Copiapó, Chile | M5.9 | 121 km | 30 km |
| Apr 30, 2006 | 86 km W of Copiapó, Chile | M5.8 | 114 km | 37 km |
| May 19, 2012 | 36 km SSW of Taltal, Chile | M5.8 | 69 km | 28 km |
| Jun 21, 1992 | 62 km WSW of Diego de Almagro, Chile | M5.8 | 18 km | 39 km |
| Apr 30, 2006 | 83 km WNW of Copiapó, Chile | M5.8 | 96 km | 34 km |
| Apr 30, 2006 | 89 km W of Copiapó, Chile | M5.7 | 121 km | 20 km |
| Sep 15, 2023 | 122 km W of Copiapó, Chile | M5.7 | 143 km | 8 km |
| Oct 31, 1990 | 52 km SW of Diego de Almagro, Chile | M5.6 | 35 km | 60 km |
| Jan 30, 2019 | 57 km SSW of Taltal, Chile | M5.6 | 50 km | 51 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 6.0 m (20 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1859 | NORTHERN CHILE | Earthquake | 6.0 m | 10 | 115 km |
| 1918 | NORTHERN CHILE | Earthquake | 5.0 m | — | 54 km |
| 1819 | NORTHERN CHILE | Earthquake | 4.0 m | — | 114 km |
| 1966 | NORTHERN CHILE | Earthquake | 0.4 m | 3 | 94 km |
| 1983 | NORTHERN CHILE | Earthquake | 0.2 m | 5 | 22 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 63°F (17°C) | 0.0 in | Driest |
| February | 67°F (19°C) | 0.0 in | Warmest |
| March | 64°F (18°C) | 0.0 in | |
| April | 61°F (16°C) | 0.0 in | |
| May | 57°F (14°C) | 0.0 in | |
| June | 54°F (12°C) | 0.1 in | |
| July | 53°F (12°C) | 0.2 in | Coldest, Wettest |
| August | 55°F (13°C) | 0.1 in | |
| September | 57°F (14°C) | 0.0 in | |
| October | 59°F (15°C) | 0.0 in | |
| November | 62°F (17°C) | 0.0 in | |
| December | 65°F (18°C) | 0.0 in |
Chañaral has a seasonal temperature swing of 14°F / from 53°F in July to 67°F in February. Total annual precipitation is 0.4 inches, with July being the wettest month (0.2") and January the driest (0.0").