Calama weather in March
In March, Calama sees average daytime highs of 22°C and overnight lows near 9°C, with 6 mm of rain across 1.1 wet days and about 12.2 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 22°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 70% of the time in March, and the air most often feels dry.
Daylight stretches from about 12 h 30 min at the start of March to 11 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Calama's 9th-clearest and 12th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Calama's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 22°
- 6th warmest
- Overnight low
- 9°
- 9th coldest
- Rainfall
- 6 mm
- 1.1 wet days
- Daylight
- 12 h 12 min
- 7:41 AM – 7:50 PM
- Cloud cover
- 26%
- 9th clearest
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- 12th windiest
- Solar energy
- 7.37 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 8.7
- out of 10
Calama is city in Chile.
- Air quality
- Good
- PM2.5 6.8 µg/m³ · 2019
- Density
- 4,838/km²
- people per km²
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in March
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 22°C through the month.
A typical March day in Calama reaches about 22°C in the afternoon and slips back to 9°C overnight — a 13°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 20°C and 24°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs on par with February and on par with April.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Avg low (°C) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | 10 |
| 2 | 22 | 10 |
| 3 | 22 | 10 |
| 4 | 22 | 10 |
| 5 | 22 | 10 |
| 6 | 22 | 10 |
| 7 | 22 | 9 |
| 8 | 22 | 9 |
| 9 | 22 | 9 |
| 10 | 22 | 9 |
| 11 | 22 | 9 |
| 12 | 22 | 9 |
| 13 | 22 | 9 |
| 14 | 22 | 9 |
| 15 | 22 | 9 |
| 16 | 22 | 9 |
| 17 | 22 | 9 |
| 18 | 22 | 9 |
| 19 | 22 | 9 |
| 20 | 22 | 9 |
| 21 | 22 | 9 |
| 22 | 22 | 8 |
| 23 | 22 | 8 |
| 24 | 22 | 8 |
| 25 | 22 | 8 |
| 26 | 22 | 8 |
| 27 | 22 | 8 |
| 28 | 22 | 8 |
| 29 | 22 | 8 |
| 30 | 22 | 8 |
| 31 | 22 | 8 |
How March really feels in Calama
Once humidity and wind are folded in, March averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.
March sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Calama weather by month
How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 6th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22° / 10° | 9 | 2.4 | 13.2 | 8.2 |
| Feb | 22° / 10° | 11 | 2.7 | 12.8 | 8.2 |
| Mar | 22° / 9° | 6 | 1.1 | 12.2 | 8.7 |
| Apr | 22° / 7° | 2 | 0.3 | 11.5 | 8.9 |
| May | 20° / 5° | 5 | 0.5 | 10.9 | 8.6 |
| Jun | 19° / 3° | 4 | 0.3 | 10.7 | 8.3 |
| Jul | 19° / 3° | 3 | 0.6 | 10.8 | 8.2 |
| Aug | 20° / 4° | 3 | 0.4 | 11.2 | 8.7 |
| Sep | 21° / 6° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.9 | 9.0 |
| Oct | 22° / 7° | 0 | 0 | 12.5 | 9.2 |
| Nov | 23° / 8° | 0 | 0 | 13.1 | 9.3 |
| Dec | 23° / 9° | 1 | 0.3 | 13.4 | 8.9 |
Cloud cover in March
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 70% of the time in March.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 19%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 76 | 77 | 77 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 |
| Cloudier (%) | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 76 | 24 |
| 2 | 77 | 23 |
| 3 | 77 | 23 |
| 4 | 76 | 24 |
| 5 | 76 | 24 |
| 6 | 76 | 24 |
| 7 | 76 | 24 |
| 8 | 77 | 23 |
| 9 | 77 | 23 |
| 10 | 77 | 23 |
| 11 | 77 | 23 |
| 12 | 77 | 23 |
| 13 | 78 | 22 |
| 14 | 79 | 21 |
| 15 | 79 | 21 |
| 16 | 80 | 20 |
| 17 | 81 | 19 |
| 18 | 82 | 18 |
| 19 | 83 | 17 |
| 20 | 84 | 16 |
| 21 | 85 | 15 |
| 22 | 85 | 15 |
| 23 | 86 | 14 |
| 24 | 87 | 13 |
| 25 | 87 | 13 |
| 26 | 87 | 13 |
| 27 | 88 | 12 |
| 28 | 88 | 12 |
| 29 | 88 | 12 |
| 30 | 88 | 12 |
| 31 | 88 | 12 |
Chance of precipitation in March
Calama gets around 6 mm of rain over 1.1 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 3% and peaks near 4% on the wettest days.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 4 | 3 |
| 5 | 3 |
| 6 | 3 |
| 7 | 3 |
| 8 | 3 |
| 9 | 3 |
| 10 | 4 |
| 11 | 4 |
| 12 | 4 |
| 13 | 4 |
| 14 | 4 |
| 15 | 4 |
| 16 | 4 |
| 17 | 4 |
| 18 | 4 |
| 19 | 4 |
| 20 | 4 |
| 21 | 4 |
| 22 | 4 |
| 23 | 4 |
| 24 | 4 |
| 25 | 3 |
| 26 | 3 |
| 27 | 3 |
| 28 | 3 |
| 29 | 2 |
| 30 | 2 |
| 31 | 2 |
Humidity in March
Most of March feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, March lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Dry (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 100 |
| 2 | 100 |
| 3 | 100 |
| 4 | 100 |
| 5 | 100 |
| 6 | 100 |
| 7 | 100 |
| 8 | 100 |
| 9 | 100 |
| 10 | 100 |
| 11 | 100 |
| 12 | 100 |
| 13 | 100 |
| 14 | 100 |
| 15 | 100 |
| 16 | 100 |
| 17 | 100 |
| 18 | 100 |
| 19 | 100 |
| 20 | 100 |
| 21 | 100 |
| 22 | 100 |
| 23 | 100 |
| 24 | 100 |
| 25 | 100 |
| 26 | 100 |
| 27 | 100 |
| 28 | 100 |
| 29 | 100 |
| 30 | 100 |
| 31 | 100 |
Wind in March
Winds average 11 km/h in March, the calmest month.
Across March, daily wind ranges from about 11 km/h on the calmest days to 11 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Feels | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | calm |
| 2 | 11 | calm |
| 3 | 11 | calm |
| 4 | 11 | calm |
| 5 | 11 | calm |
| 6 | 11 | calm |
| 7 | 11 | calm |
| 8 | 11 | calm |
| 9 | 11 | calm |
| 10 | 11 | calm |
| 11 | 11 | calm |
| 12 | 11 | calm |
| 13 | 11 | calm |
| 14 | 11 | calm |
| 15 | 11 | calm |
| 16 | 11 | calm |
| 17 | 11 | calm |
| 18 | 11 | calm |
| 19 | 11 | calm |
| 20 | 11 | calm |
| 21 | 11 | calm |
| 22 | 11 | calm |
| 23 | 11 | calm |
| 24 | 11 | calm |
| 25 | 11 | calm |
| 26 | 11 | calm |
| 27 | 11 | calm |
| 28 | 11 | calm |
| 29 | 11 | calm |
| 30 | 11 | calm |
| 31 | 11 | calm |
Sunrise & sunset in March
Daylight runs from about 12 h 30 min at the start of March to 11 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days shrink by about 42 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 7:34 AM to 7:46 AM, and sunset from 8:04 PM to 7:36 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.4 | 12.4 | 12.4 | 12.4 | 12.4 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.8 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 7:34 | 7:35 | 7:35 | 7:36 | 7:36 | 7:37 | 7:37 | 7:37 | 7:38 | 7:38 | 7:39 | 7:39 | 7:39 | 7:40 | 7:40 | 7:41 | 7:41 | 7:41 | 7:42 | 7:42 | 7:42 | 7:43 | 7:43 | 7:43 | 7:44 | 7:44 | 7:44 | 7:45 | 7:45 | 7:45 | 7:46 |
| Sunset (PM) | 8:04 | 8:03 | 8:02 | 8:01 | 8:00 | 7:59 | 7:58 | 7:58 | 7:57 | 7:56 | 7:55 | 7:54 | 7:53 | 7:52 | 7:51 | 7:50 | 7:49 | 7:48 | 7:47 | 7:46 | 7:45 | 7:44 | 7:43 | 7:42 | 7:41 | 7:40 | 7:39 | 7:38 | 7:37 | 7:36 | 7:36 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12.5 | 7:34 | 8:04 |
| 2 | 12.5 | 7:35 | 8:03 |
| 3 | 12.4 | 7:35 | 8:02 |
| 4 | 12.4 | 7:36 | 8:01 |
| 5 | 12.4 | 7:36 | 8:00 |
| 6 | 12.4 | 7:37 | 7:59 |
| 7 | 12.4 | 7:37 | 7:58 |
| 8 | 12.3 | 7:37 | 7:58 |
| 9 | 12.3 | 7:38 | 7:57 |
| 10 | 12.3 | 7:38 | 7:56 |
| 11 | 12.3 | 7:39 | 7:55 |
| 12 | 12.2 | 7:39 | 7:54 |
| 13 | 12.2 | 7:39 | 7:53 |
| 14 | 12.2 | 7:40 | 7:52 |
| 15 | 12.2 | 7:40 | 7:51 |
| 16 | 12.2 | 7:41 | 7:50 |
| 17 | 12.1 | 7:41 | 7:49 |
| 18 | 12.1 | 7:41 | 7:48 |
| 19 | 12.1 | 7:42 | 7:47 |
| 20 | 12.1 | 7:42 | 7:46 |
| 21 | 12.1 | 7:42 | 7:45 |
| 22 | 12.0 | 7:43 | 7:44 |
| 23 | 12.0 | 7:43 | 7:43 |
| 24 | 12.0 | 7:43 | 7:42 |
| 25 | 12.0 | 7:44 | 7:41 |
| 26 | 11.9 | 7:44 | 7:40 |
| 27 | 11.9 | 7:44 | 7:39 |
| 28 | 11.9 | 7:45 | 7:38 |
| 29 | 11.9 | 7:45 | 7:37 |
| 30 | 11.9 | 7:45 | 7:36 |
| 31 | 11.8 | 7:46 | 7:36 |
Solar energy in March
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 7.37 kWh/m².
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.88 kWh/m² to a high of 9.11 kWh/m² in December across the year — March's 7.37 kWh/m² falls in the middle.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.0 |
| Level | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 2 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 3 | 7.6 | Intense |
| 4 | 7.6 | Intense |
| 5 | 7.6 | Intense |
| 6 | 7.6 | Intense |
| 7 | 7.5 | Intense |
| 8 | 7.5 | Intense |
| 9 | 7.5 | Intense |
| 10 | 7.5 | Intense |
| 11 | 7.4 | Intense |
| 12 | 7.4 | Intense |
| 13 | 7.4 | Intense |
| 14 | 7.4 | Intense |
| 15 | 7.4 | Intense |
| 16 | 7.3 | Intense |
| 17 | 7.3 | Intense |
| 18 | 7.3 | Intense |
| 19 | 7.3 | Intense |
| 20 | 7.3 | Intense |
| 21 | 7.3 | Intense |
| 22 | 7.2 | Intense |
| 23 | 7.2 | Intense |
| 24 | 7.2 | Intense |
| 25 | 7.2 | Intense |
| 26 | 7.2 | Intense |
| 27 | 7.1 | Intense |
| 28 | 7.1 | Intense |
| 29 | 7.1 | Intense |
| 30 | 7.1 | Intense |
| 31 | 7.0 | Intense |
Is March a good time to visit Calama?
Our two travel scores rate March for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
March is one of the better times to visit Calama for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Calama in March
From March's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In March, Calama sees daytime highs around 22°C and nights near 9°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes.
UV index in Calama in March
Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 15 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Calama peaks around January 1 at about 17 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near July 11 at about 7 (high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 17 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | High | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17 | Extreme |
| Feb | 16 | Extreme |
| Mar | 15 | Extreme |
| Apr | 11 | Extreme |
| May | 9 | Very high |
| Jun | 7 | Very high |
| Jul | 7 | High |
| Aug | 10 | Very high |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 15 | Extreme |
| Nov | 16 | Extreme |
| Dec | 17 | Extreme |
Where is Calama?
Calama sits at 22.5°S, 68.9°W, 2,275 m above sea level, in Chile. The nearest listed city is San Pedro de Atacama, 90 km away.
Topography around Calama
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Calama.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Calama has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 119 m around an average of 2,268 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,554 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,822 m.
The land around Calama is covered by artificial surfaces (56%) and bare terrain (29%) within 3 km, bare terrain (94%) within 16 km, and bare terrain (99%) within 80 km.
Chile travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type C / F / L
- 220 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 48% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $17,995
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.3 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 6.3
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 14.9
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- English
- Moderate
- EF EPI 517
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Calama (-22.4567°, -68.9237°, elevation 2,275 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).