What is the climate of the Atacama Desert?

Old, hot and dry In other deserts around the world, like the Sahara, the mercury can soar above 130 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius). But temperatures in the Atacama are comparatively mild throughout the year. The average temperature in the desert is about 63 degrees F (18 degrees C).

Does the Atacama Desert freeze in the winter?

Winter is the low season with below freezing temperatures recorded at night. However, winter sometimes brings afternoon rains and the desert landscape blooms with 200 different species of endemic flowers. Highlights: Low night temperatures are perhaps the biggest downfall for a visit to the Atacama during this season.

How cold is the Atacama Desert at night?

Whilst during the summer months the average temperatures are around 27°C (81°F) during the day and 16°C (61°F) at night.

When was the last time it rained in Atacama Desert?

Published: Tuesday 12 March 2019. Last week, it rained so much in Atacama Desert — the driest place on the planet — that a waterfall that remained dry for 10 years has come to life.

How hot does the Atacama get?

The temperature in the Atacama Desert can reach highs of around 104°F (40°C) during the dayime, whilst falling to temperatures of 41°F (5°C) or below at night. The Atacama Desert is 50 times drier than Death Valley.

What is the weather like in Chile in December?

December Weather in Santiago Chile. Daily high temperatures increase by 4°F, from 82°F to 85°F, rarely falling below 73°F or exceeding 91°F. Daily low temperatures increase by 3°F, from 53°F to 56°F, rarely falling below 48°F or exceeding 60°F.

What months are winter in Chile?

There are four seasons in most of the country: summer (December to February), autumn (March to May), winter (June to August), and spring (September to November).

Is the Gobi Desert Hot or cold?

The Gobi Desert is cold. SO cold that in winter it snows, and frost sometimes covers the dunes. This is due to its northern proximity and that it lies at around 910–1,520 metres (2,990–4,990 ft) above sea level.

What is the average rainfall in Atacama?

Take, for example, Chile’s Atacama Desert. Widely considered the driest place in the world, it has an average rainfall of as little as 0.04 inches per year and meaningful rainfall of about 1.5 inches (enough to leave short-lived shallow lagoons) only once per century on average.

How many years did the Atacama Desert go without rain?

Arica, Chile, in the northern Atacama holds the world record for the longest dry streak, having gone 173 months without a drop of rain in the early 20th century.