El Calafate relocation guide
El Calafate Weather by Month
El Calafate stays cool in summer and cold in winter. Use airport averages to plan clothing, then check the home's heating and current forecast.
On this page
The short answer
El Calafate Aero's monthly climate table uses observations from 2001 to 2020. January averages 13.9°C (57.0°F), while July averages 0.6°C (33.1°F). Average daily lows stay below freezing from May through September. These are long-term airport averages, not a forecast, a record cold temperature or a heating bill for your home.
- January's mean is 13.9°C (57.0°F).
- July's average daily low is -4.4°C (24.1°F).
- The station table covers 2001 to 2020, rather than the full period in the publication title.
What does the climate mean for living here?
Tool
El Calafate by month
SMN El Calafate Aero, 2001 to 2020 normals.
Average highs range from 41°F to 67°F. Rainfall peaks at 20.3 mm a month. SMN El Calafate Aero statistics, 2001 to 2020 (opens in a new tab)
How to read the monthly averages
The high is the average daily maximum, and the low is the average daily minimum. Neither is the hottest or coldest day on record. The monthly mean describes the full temperature average.1
SMN labels this airport station's table 2001 to 2020, with 19 or 20 contributing years for most monthly temperature values. The larger publication's title says 1991 to 2020, but that longer period does not apply to this table.1
The reported annual precipitation is 160.9 mm. Monthly values are rounded, so adding the displayed months need not reproduce the reported annual figure exactly.1
Housing for the colder months
July's average daily high is 5.2°C (41.4°F) and its average daily low is -4.4°C (24.1°F). When viewing a home, check heating in the bedrooms, bathroom and work area rather than judging only the main room.1
- Ask for winter bills from the actual property.
- Check the heater type, ventilation and whether the home has the service connection it needs.
- Inspect windows, doors, hot water and the entrance route.
- Ask who handles equipment repairs and how you will contact that person.
Read gas and utility questions alongside the rental details. Do not estimate your heating bill from temperature alone.4,
Summer and outdoor plans
January's average daily high is 19.1°C (66.4°F) and its low is 7.2°C (45.0°F). Plan for cooler mornings and evenings as well as the daytime outing.1
Before going to Laguna Nimez or the glacier walkways, check the current forecast, opening arrangements and transport. The days-out guide has reserve and operator contacts.2,
Make the weather part of your weekly trips
Visit the route from the proposed home to school, medical care and the bus pickup. Check entrances and the paths you would actually use.2,
For remote work, inspect the room where you will spend the day and test the connection there. For children or retirement, check whether the home and routine remain comfortable in winter.4,
Questions people ask
What is the warmest month in the table?
January has the highest monthly mean at 13.9°C (57.0°F). February has a slightly higher average daily high, 19.2°C (66.6°F). These measure different things.
What is the coldest month in the table?
July has the lowest mean at 0.6°C (33.1°F) and the lowest average daily minimum at -4.4°C (24.1°F). These are airport averages for 2001 to 2020.
Are the low temperatures record lows?
No. They are averages of daily minimum temperatures. An individual day may be colder or warmer, so use a current forecast before traveling.
Why does this page use 2001 to 2020?
That is the period printed for El Calafate Aero. The full SMN publication has a 1991 to 2020 title, but the station's shorter record must keep its own period.
Can I use the climate table to estimate my gas bill?
No. Your heating, insulation, connection, tariff category and consumption determine the bill. Ask for recent bills for the actual home.
What should I check before a winter move?
Inspect heating, ventilation, hot water and the home entrance. Test the daily journeys you will make and arrange equipment repairs with the landlord before committing.
Plan your move
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Sources and how we check them
Sources and how we check them9 sources
Every figure on this page comes from the official or primary source listed here. We checked them in . Rules and prices change, so confirm anything important with the source before you act on it.
- SMN El Calafate Aero statistics, 2001 to 2020 (opens in a new tab)
- National Parks, Los Glaciares visitor services (opens in a new tab)
- Distrigas carbon-monoxide guidance (opens in a new tab)
- Distrigas Santa Cruz Sur gas tariffs, October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Cotecal internet offers, October 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Cotecal fiber contract terms (opens in a new tab)
- El Calafate tourism office, bus terminal directory (opens in a new tab)
- Santa Cruz gas-network tender announcement, September 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- El Calafate tourism office, Laguna Nimez (opens in a new tab)
Laguna Nimez Municipal Reserve, photographed in July 2017. Resized from a publisher-supplied rendition and converted to WebP. Hero photo by Danikr, CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab).