Weather in La Serena

Planning your day in the city of La Serena? Check out the most up-to-date weather information, including detailed charts and forecasts for the near future, presented below.

La Serena welcomes travellers with a mild semi-arid climate, which is beneficially influenced by the proximity of the Pacific Ocean. An atmosphere of eternal spring reigns here: extreme heat or piercing cold are practically excluded. Thanks to this, the city is a comfortable destination for tourism year-round, offering stable weather conditions for coastal relaxation and sightseeing.

Seasonal temperature fluctuations are weakly expressed. In the summer period (from December to February), the air warms up on average to 19–21°C, creating ideal conditions for a beach holiday without the risk of overheating. Winter, falling on June-August, remains surprisingly mild: the average temperature is about 13–14°C, and night-time cooling rarely drops below 10°C.

A characteristic feature of the weather in this region is the almost complete absence of precipitation. Rains in La Serena are an exceptional phenomenon; even in the "wettest" winter months, the amount of rainfall is minimal, often tending towards zero. This makes the city one of the driest places to visit, allowing tourists to confidently plan excursions without worrying that their plans will be disrupted by downpours.

The climate of La Serena can safely be called one of the most comfortable and stable in Chile, as extreme temperature changes are practically absent here. The warmest season falls at the beginning of the year: in January and February, the air warms up during the day to an average of 21.7°C. This time is characterized by pleasant, mild warmth rather than exhausting heat, making the summer months ideal for beach holidays and long walks along the promenade.

With the onset of winter, which in the Southern Hemisphere lasts from June to August, the weather becomes cool but remains very favourable for tourism. The coldest month is usually July, when the average temperature drops to 13.0°C, and night-time figures can reach 9.8°C. Even during this period, there are no frosts here, and the climate rather resembles a mild European autumn, requiring a light jacket or jumper.

A distinctive feature of La Serena's temperature regime is the small difference between day and night figures. Throughout the year, the daily range is only about 3–5 degrees. This means that even after the warmest summer day, the night will bring refreshing coolness (about 16°C), and in winter, the daytime sun quickly raises the temperature to a comfortable 16°C, creating excellent conditions for excursions.

The climate in La Serena is distinguished by exceptional dryness, so precipitation here is an extremely rare phenomenon. For most of the year, especially in the high tourist season from December to March, rains are almost completely absent. In these months, statistics show 0 mm of precipitation and an absence of rainy days, guaranteeing travellers clear skies and ideal conditions for a beach holiday without the risk of getting wet.

The nominal "rainy season" falls during the winter months of the Southern Hemisphere; however, even during this period, humidity remains minimal. The "wettest" month is considered June, when there might be about 4 days with precipitation, but their total volume barely reaches 1 mm. In July and August, rains happen even less often — on average no more than twice a month. The nature of precipitation usually represents a light drizzle or short-term rain that passes quickly.

In the off-season, spring and autumn, the weather also remains stably dry. In April, May, and October, the probability of precipitation is extremely low — usually, no more than one rainy day is recorded. Thanks to such climatic features, an umbrella on a trip around this region of Chile will hardly be useful to you, and plans for excursions and walks will not be disrupted by bad weather.

La Serena is characterized by a mild and dry climate with small temperature changes, so when packing a suitcase, it is best to focus on the principle of layering. In summer (from December to February), it is warm here, but not exhaustingly hot: the average maximum is about 21°C. Take light T-shirts, shorts, and trousers made of natural fabrics, but be sure to grab a hoodie, a thick shirt, or a cardigan for evening walks, as the air cools down quickly after sunset.

In the winter months (June-August), the weather becomes cooler, but there are no severe colds here — the thermometer rarely drops below 10°C. For this time of year, jeans, jumpers, and a mid-season jacket or windbreaker, which will protect against the fresh sea breeze, are ideal. Since rains in this region fall extremely rarely and in minimal quantities even in winter, a heavy raincoat or a large umbrella will hardly be useful.

Regardless of the season, pay special attention to sun protection: in Chile, there is a high level of ultraviolet radiation, so sunscreen with a high SPF factor, quality sunglasses, and a hat are mandatory accessories. Also, La Serena invites long promenades along the seafront and exploration of the historical centre, so put comfortable shoes with flat soles or proven sneakers for comfortable walking in your luggage.