Climate

Climate

Chile's climate is as diverse as its geography, comprising a wide range of weather conditions. According to the Köppen system, Chile within its borders hosts at least seven major climatic subtypes, ranging from desert in the north, to alpine tundra and glaciers in the east and southeast, humid subtropical in Easter Island, Oceanic in the south and Mediterranean climate in central 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). Note that Chile's seasons are reversed to that of North American cities as Chile lies below the equator.

Much of Chile therefore has a mountain climate with perpetual snow and glaciers. Precipitation is light in the northern mountains, and so the snowline is high. Away from the mountains, the north is a desert. Most of the population lives in the lowlands of Central Chile, whilst the southern part of the country is rugged and densely forested with a cool wet changeable climate. The east of the country is very mountainous, with peaks up to 16000 feet. South of Santiago the mountains are lower and more broken, but the whole country is rugged with hundreds of small offshore islands.

The Atacama Desert found on Chile's north naturally has dry and arid conditions.