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Weather & Climate in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
San Pedro de Atacama enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 56°F (14°C). Winters average 63°F in January while summers reach 48°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 334 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 1.3 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 8,018 feet.
Temperature
63°F Jan (17°C)
48°F Jul (9°C)
| Annual Average | 56.3°F |
| 4% above US avg | |
| January Average | 63°F (17°C) |
| July Average | 48°F (9°C) |
| Sunny Days | 334 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 8,018 ft (2,444 m) |
| Area | 0.9 sq mi (2.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 12,315/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -22.9111°N, 68.2011°W |
| Timezone | America/Santiago |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
1,711 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.4.
| Jul 19, 2024 | 41 km ESE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile | M7.4 | 41 km | 127 km |
| Jun 3, 2020 | 48 km SW of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile | M6.8 | 49 km | 112 km |
| Mar 28, 2002 | 107 km NE of Calama, Chile | M6.5 | 139 km | 125 km |
| Jun 20, 2011 | 110 km NE of Calama, Chile | M6.4 | 135 km | 128 km |
| Mar 4, 2010 | 66 km ENE of Calama, Chile | M6.3 | 77 km | 114 km |
| Jul 12, 2010 | 80 km ENE of Calama, Chile | M6.3 | 85 km | 115 km |
| Apr 15, 2017 | 62 km SE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile | M6.3 | 63 km | 155 km |
| Jul 27, 2022 | Antofagasta, Chile | M6.2 | 89 km | 112 km |
| Jun 19, 2001 | 38 km ENE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile | M6.0 | 38 km | 147 km |
| Mar 6, 2025 | 98 km S of Calama, Chile | M6.0 | 100 km | 96 km |
| Feb 14, 1995 | 72 km SE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile | M6.0 | 73 km | 147 km |
| Jun 10, 2015 | 50 km E of Calama, Chile | M6.0 | 62 km | 124 km |
| Mar 2, 1999 | 37 km NW of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile | M5.9 | 38 km | 111 km |
| Nov 21, 1999 | 79 km N of Calama, Chile | M5.9 | 142 km | 101 km |
| Mar 30, 1993 | 128 km NE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile | M5.8 | 128 km | 184 km |
| Aug 23, 2013 | 39 km ENE of Calama, Chile | M5.8 | 81 km | 111 km |
| Nov 14, 1993 | 38 km ESE of Calama, Chile | M5.8 | 54 km | 112 km |
| Jan 6, 2017 | 77 km NNE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile | M5.8 | 78 km | 172 km |
| Jul 6, 2023 | 108 km SSE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile | M5.8 | 109 km | 135 km |
| Oct 8, 2012 | 112 km NE of Calama, Chile | M5.7 | 132 km | 122 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1948 | NORTHERN CHILE | Earthquake | — | — | 94 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
12 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Licancabur (34 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Licancabur | Stratovolcano | 5,916 m (19,409 ft) | Unknown | 34 km |
| Sairecabur | Stratovolcano(es) | 5,971 m (19,590 ft) | Unknown | 38 km |
| Purico Complex | Pyroclastic shield | 5,703 m (18,711 ft) | Unknown | 47 km |
| Guayaques | Lava dome(s) | 5,598 m (18,366 ft) | Unknown | 65 km |
| Lascar | Stratovolcano(es) | 5,592 m (18,346 ft) | 2017 | 70 km |
| Acamarachi | Stratovolcano | 6,023 m (19,760 ft) | Unknown | 73 km |
| Cordon de Puntas Negras | Stratovolcano(es) | 5,852 m (19,199 ft) | Unknown | 115 km |
| San Pedro-San Pablo | Stratovolcano(es) | 6,142 m (20,151 ft) | 1960 | 115 km |
| Tilocalar | Lava cone(es) | 3,109 m (10,200 ft) | Unknown | 118 km |
| Azufre, Cerro del | Stratovolcano | 5,846 m (19,180 ft) | Unknown | 125 km |
| Pular | Stratovolcano(es) | 6,233 m (20,449 ft) | Unknown | 143 km |
| Aracar | Stratovolcano | 6,095 m (19,997 ft) | Unknown | 159 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 63°F (17°C) | 0.5 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| February | 62°F (17°C) | 0.5 in | |
| March | 61°F (16°C) | 0.1 in | |
| April | 57°F (14°C) | 0.0 in | Driest |
| May | 52°F (11°C) | 0.0 in | |
| June | 47°F (9°C) | 0.0 in | Coldest |
| July | 48°F (9°C) | 0.0 in | |
| August | 50°F (10°C) | 0.0 in | |
| September | 55°F (13°C) | 0.0 in | |
| October | 58°F (14°C) | 0.0 in | |
| November | 60°F (16°C) | 0.0 in | |
| December | 62°F (17°C) | 0.2 in |
San Pedro de Atacama has a seasonal temperature swing of 16°F / from 47°F in June to 63°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 1.3 inches, with January being the wettest month (0.5") and April the driest (0.0").