Ushuaia features a cold oceanic climate with chilly winters, very cool summers, and frequent wind. Rain and snow fall year-round, but precipitation is moderate and rarely extreme. The city’s dramatic southern latitude brings long summer days and short, dark winters, creating a unique environment for both outdoor adventures and winter sports at the end of the world.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Ushuaia, located at the southern tip of Argentina, has a subpolar oceanic climate with four distinct seasons. Summers (December–February) are short and very cool, with average highs of 12–14°C and lows around 4–6°C. Even in summer, nights can be cold, and temperatures rarely exceed 20°C. The days are long, with up to 17 hours of daylight in January, and sunshine averages 6 hours per day. Rainfall is moderate, with January being one of the wettest months (up to 120 mm), and humidity is around 75%. Despite the frequent rain, snow is rare in summer, and the surrounding mountains are often snow-capped.
Winters (June–August) are cold and snowy, with average highs of 3–5°C and lows near –1 to –3°C. Snowfall is common from April to November, with the heaviest snow in July and August. The snow season typically lasts from mid-June to late September, making Ushuaia a prime destination for winter sports like skiing and snowboarding at Cerro Castor. Winter days are short, with only 7–8 hours of daylight and 3 hours of sunshine, and strong winds can make the air feel even colder. Annual precipitation is moderate, ranging from 460 mm to over 1,000 mm depending on the source, and is well distributed throughout the year. Spring and autumn are transitional, with frequent rain, chilly temperatures, and rapidly changing weather. Winds are strong year-round, especially in spring and summer, averaging 20–28 km/h, and humidity remains high (72–82%).
| Average climate data for Ushuaia, Argentina | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | -0 | -2 | -3 | -3 | -1 | -0 | 1 | 2 | -3 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 69 | 58 | 62 | 49 | 44 | 50 | 40 | 50 | 39 | 42 | 57 | 66 | 626 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 27 | 23 | 25 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 239 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 6 | 15 | 16 | 69 | 88 | 227 | 163 | 201 | 160 | 101 | 102 | 32 | 1,181 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 96 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 77 | 79 | 80 | 85 | 88 | 89 | 88 | 86 | 84 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 82 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 65 | 61 | 59 | 57 | 57 | 58 | 57 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 62 | 62 | 59 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
The best time to visit Ushuaia is during the summer months of December to February, when temperatures are mildest (4–14°C), days are longest, and outdoor activities like hiking, glacier trekking, and boat tours are most accessible. This period offers the best conditions for exploring Tierra del Fuego’s landscapes and wildlife with relatively comfortable weather.
The least favourable time to visit is in winter (June to August), when Ushuaia is coldest, daylight hours are shortest, and snow, wind, and rain are frequent. While winter is ideal for skiing and snow sports, city exploration and hiking can be limited by harsh, unpredictable weather and short days.
Ushuaia has a cold oceanic climate with very cool summers (highs 12–14°C) and cold, snowy winters (highs 3–5°C). Rain and snow fall year-round, and strong winds are common in all seasons.
Winter temperatures in Ushuaia range from –3°C at night to 3–5°C during the day. Snowfall is frequent, especially from June to September, and strong winds can make it feel even colder.
Yes, snow is common from April to November, with the heaviest snow in July and August. The snow season typically lasts from mid-June to late September, making Ushuaia a top destination for winter sports.
Daylight varies greatly: up to 17 hours in January (summer) and as little as 7 hours in June (winter). Summer brings long, bright days, while winter days are short and often cloudy.
Ushuaia is windy year-round, with average speeds of 20–28 km/h, especially in spring and summer. Humidity is high (72–82%), peaking in winter, and can make the cold feel more intense.
Pack layers, a windproof and waterproof jacket, insulated boots, and warm clothing year-round. Even in summer, nights are cold. Sunglasses and sun cream are useful for bright, snowy days in winter.
Summer (Dec–Feb) is best for hiking and boat tours, while winter (Jun–Sep) is ideal for skiing and snow sports. Weather is unpredictable, so always be prepared for sudden changes and dress accordingly.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is February (11 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is July (1 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 6.3 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is January (3.9 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is July (-2.8 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 0.5 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is April (8 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is October (5.9 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 7 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is January (68.9 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is September (39.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 625.9 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is January (27.5 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is August (11.9 days). Over the whole year there are 238.9 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is June (227.4 mm). The month with the least snowfall is January (6 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,180.5 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is August (16.1 days). The month with the fewest days of snowfall is January (1.2 days). Over the whole year there are 96.5 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is June (89.2 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is December (75.3 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 82 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is November (16.5 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (13.1 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 14.6 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (65 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (54.5 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 58.7 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is December (Average daylight: 17 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is June (Average daylight: 7 h). Over the whole year there are 11.7 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 7 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 2.9 h). Over the whole year there are 5.2 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is February (UV index: 3). The months with the lowest average UV index are May, July and August (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 1.8.
