The Köppen climate of Punta Arenas, Chile, is Cfc. This code identifies a subpolar oceanic climate: summers remain cool, winters are moderated by the nearby ocean, and no month has a high enough average temperature to qualify as warm or hot.
Punta Arenas lies near 53° south on the Strait of Magellan, at the southern tip of mainland Chile. Its maritime setting prevents the extreme seasonal temperature swings found farther inland. Rain and occasional snow can occur throughout the year, while strong winds are a defining feature of local weather.
The first letter, C, places the city in the temperate group. The f means precipitation is relatively evenly distributed rather than having a sharply dry season, and c indicates a cool summer. Cfc is therefore more precise than simply calling Punta Arenas “cold” or “Patagonian.”
A common mix-up is Dfc, a subarctic climate usually associated with colder continental interiors. Punta Arenas is chilly, but ocean influence keeps its monthly averages just mild enough for the C classification.