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Weather & Climate in El Calafate, Argentina
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
El Calafate has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 40°F (5°C). Winters average 50°F in January while summers reach 29°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 311 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 13.6 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 5.8 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 673 feet.
Temperature
50°F Jan (10°C)
29°F Jul (-2°C)
| Annual Average | 40.1°F |
| 26% below US avg | |
| January Average | 50°F (10°C) |
| July Average | 29°F (-2°C) |
| Sunny Days | 311 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 673 ft (205 m) |
| Area | 8.8 sq mi (22.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 905/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -50.3408°N, 72.2768°W |
| Timezone | America/Argentina/Rio_Gallegos |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
17 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.5.
| Jul 30, 1992 | 13 km E of El Calafate, Argentina | M5.5 | 13 km | 10 km |
| May 13, 2025 | 35 km NE of 28 de Noviembre, Argentina | M5.2 | 119 km | 10 km |
| Jan 25, 1992 | 12 km SE of El Calafate, Argentina | M5.1 | 12 km | 33 km |
| Aug 30, 2004 | 40 km SSE of El Calafate, Argentina | M5.1 | 41 km | 25 km |
| Sep 7, 2004 | 38 km S of El Calafate, Argentina | M4.9 | 39 km | 26 km |
| Jul 5, 2005 | 39 km SSE of El Calafate, Argentina | M4.9 | 39 km | 22 km |
| Apr 2, 2019 | 41 km NNE of Río Turbio, Argentina | M4.8 | 98 km | 10 km |
| Aug 31, 2004 | 32 km S of El Calafate, Argentina | M4.7 | 32 km | 19 km |
| Jun 28, 2005 | 36 km SSE of El Calafate, Argentina | M4.6 | 36 km | 10 km |
| May 27, 1998 | 22 km ENE of 28 de Noviembre, Argentina | M4.5 | 134 km | 33 km |
| Jun 23, 2020 | 67 km NNE of Río Turbio, Argentina | M4.4 | 68 km | 10 km |
| Jan 19, 2025 | 26 km SE of El Calafate, Argentina | M4.4 | 26 km | 10 km |
| Apr 9, 1999 | 14 km SSE of El Calafate, Argentina | M4.3 | 14 km | 33 km |
| Feb 25, 2020 | 58 km N of Río Turbio, Argentina | M4.2 | 75 km | 18 km |
| Jun 10, 2015 | 31 km S of El Calafate, Argentina | M4.2 | 31 km | 17 km |
| May 13, 2025 | 27 km NNE of 28 de Noviembre, Argentina | M4.1 | 116 km | 16 km |
| May 17, 2025 | 28 km ENE of 28 de Noviembre, Argentina | M4.1 | 129 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 2.0 m (7 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 2013 | LAGO ARGENTINO | Meteorological | 2.0 m | — | 82 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
2 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Aguilera (105 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Aguilera | Stratovolcano | 2,546 m (8,353 ft) | -1250 | 105 km |
| Reclus | Pyroclastic cone | 1,000 m (3,281 ft) | 1908 | 115 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50°F (10°C) | 0.8 in | Warmest, Driest |
| February | 49°F (10°C) | 0.9 in | |
| March | 46°F (8°C) | 1.2 in | |
| April | 41°F (5°C) | 1.4 in | |
| May | 34°F (1°C) | 1.3 in | |
| June | 30°F (-1°C) | 1.6 in | |
| July | 29°F (-2°C) | 1.7 in | Coldest, Wettest |
| August | 31°F (-0°C) | 1.3 in | |
| September | 36°F (2°C) | 0.9 in | |
| October | 42°F (5°C) | 1.0 in | |
| November | 46°F (8°C) | 0.8 in | |
| December | 48°F (9°C) | 0.9 in |
El Calafate has a seasonal temperature swing of 21°F / from 29°F in July to 50°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 13.6 inches, with July being the wettest month (1.7") and January the driest (0.8").