2. Weather

The characteristics of the southernmost area of Chile, from latitude 40º S to the south, are sudden changes in wind and sea conditions throughout the year. It is said that all four seasons can be experienced in the same day. 

Low pressures and associated bad weather fronts move from W to E and SE, intensifying as they increase in southern latitude, generating storms with strong NW winds and waves, mainly between March and August (Autumn and Winter in the Southern Hemisphere). 

In the oceanic area, there are heavy swells that normally produce a double swell, difficult to differentiate; from the SW as swell and from the NW as wind waves. 

The areas of Chiloé and Aysén are rainy, mainly in winter. On the other hand, during summer (December to March), weather is milder and sunny days are more frequent; however, this does not eliminate the possibility of showers. 

Winds from the south, associated with high-pressure systems, are strong, and commonly occur during spring and summer (September to March). In the Patagonian area, summer is known as the windy season. Both the Patagonian and Fuegian areas are cold and rainy throughout the year. Winter is colder and it snows mainly from May to August. 

The large network of inland channels, straits and fjords, from the Chacao Channel (latitude 41° 45'S) to Cape Horn (latitude 56°S), has safe navigation routes, with deep and clean waters, where the strong winds of oceanic storms are mitigated by the high peaks of the mountain range, and the swell disappears. During the thawing season (spring), it is possible to find small pieces of ice in some channels, which must be navigated with caution. 

General Maritime Forecast; Surface Chart; Wind, Wave and Surface 24-hour Forecast Chart, and Satellite Imagery at: www.directemar.cl-meteorología