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Weather & Climate in La Serena, Chile
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
La Serena enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 66°F in January while summers reach 53°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 330 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 3.5 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 98 feet.
Temperature
66°F Jan (19°C)
53°F Jul (11°C)
| Annual Average | 59.0°F |
| 9% above US avg | |
| January Average | 66°F (19°C) |
| July Average | 53°F (11°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 98 ft (30 m) |
| Area | 20.7 sq mi (53.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 7,461/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -29.9059°N, 71.2501°W |
| Timezone | America/Santiago |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
3,402 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.1.
| Oct 15, 1997 | 36 km SW of Monte Patria, Chile | M7.1 | 114 km | 58 km |
| Jul 6, 1997 | 52 km WSW of Coquimbo, Chile | M6.8 | 62 km | 19 km |
| Jun 20, 2003 | 42 km W of Ovalle, Chile | M6.8 | 87 km | 33 km |
| Jan 20, 2019 | 10 km SSW of Coquimbo, Chile | M6.7 | 20 km | 63 km |
| Nov 1, 1995 | 73 km WSW of Vallenar, Chile | M6.7 | 112 km | 20 km |
| Jun 18, 2002 | 20 km SW of Monte Patria, Chile | M6.6 | 101 km | 54 km |
| Sep 3, 1998 | 66 km NNW of Coquimbo, Chile | M6.6 | 68 km | 27 km |
| Jan 12, 1998 | 47 km SSW of Ovalle, Chile | M6.6 | 121 km | 35 km |
| Oct 31, 2013 | 41 km SSW of Coquimbo, Chile | M6.6 | 50 km | 27 km |
| Apr 1, 2002 | 29 km NNW of La Serena, Chile | M6.4 | 29 km | 71 km |
| Sep 17, 2015 | 70 km SW of Ovalle, Chile | M6.4 | 139 km | 42 km |
| Jun 14, 2019 | 72 km W of Coquimbo, Chile | M6.4 | 82 km | 11 km |
| Jul 27, 1997 | 64 km W of Ovalle, Chile | M6.3 | 90 km | 33 km |
| Sep 6, 2023 | 38 km SSW of Coquimbo, Chile | M6.3 | 47 km | 36 km |
| Feb 10, 2016 | 37 km W of Ovalle, Chile | M6.3 | 81 km | 29 km |
| Nov 3, 1997 | 16 km S of Ovalle, Chile | M6.2 | 93 km | 45 km |
| Mar 9, 1997 | 13 km NE of La Serena, Chile | M6.2 | 14 km | 33 km |
| Apr 10, 2018 | 56 km SW of Ovalle, Chile | M6.2 | 127 km | 66 km |
| Jul 25, 1997 | 69 km WNW of Ovalle, Chile | M6.2 | 88 km | 33 km |
| Sep 19, 2015 | 79 km WNW of Coquimbo, Chile | M6.1 | 85 km | 6 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
7 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 5.0 m (16 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1849 | CENTRAL CHILE | Earthquake | 5.0 m | - | 13 km |
| 1869 | CENTRAL CHILE | Earthquake | 3.0 m | - | 18 km |
| 1955 | CENTRAL CHILE | Earthquake | 1.0 m | 1 | 73 km |
| 1943 | CENTRAL CHILE | Earthquake | 1.0 m | 11 | 118 km |
| 2015 | CENTRAL CHILE | Earthquake | 0.6 m | - | 86 km |
| 2019 | CENTRAL CHILE | Earthquake | 0.1 m | - | 82 km |
| 1995 | NORTHERN CHILE | Earthquake | 0.1 m | - | 112 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 66°F (19°C) | 0.0 in | Driest |
| February | 66°F (19°C) | 0.0 in | Warmest |
| March | 63°F (17°C) | 0.0 in | |
| April | 59°F (15°C) | 0.1 in | |
| May | 56°F (13°C) | 0.4 in | |
| June | 54°F (12°C) | 0.9 in | |
| July | 53°F (11°C) | 1.1 in | Coldest, Wettest |
| August | 53°F (12°C) | 0.6 in | |
| September | 55°F (13°C) | 0.2 in | |
| October | 58°F (14°C) | 0.1 in | |
| November | 61°F (16°C) | 0.0 in | |
| December | 64°F (18°C) | 0.0 in |
La Serena has a seasonal temperature swing of 14°F / from 53°F in July to 66°F in February. Total annual precipitation is 3.5 inches, with July being the wettest month (1.1") and January the driest (0.0").